Beyond Models of National Culture in Information Systems Research

This paper explores an alternative way of framing information systems research on the role and impact of national culture. It argues that the widely accepted structural framework of Hofstede reduces interpretation to a simplistic categorical description which in many cases ignores differentiation within cultures. The alternative model suggests, that national culture can be better understood by seeking out the dominant codes that frame the discourse pervasive in a culture and understanding how that discourse affects the obvious social codes of ritual, custom and behavior and the textual codes which express the nature of that culture. This framework is applied to two different case studies — one in New Zealand and one in Thailand — to demonstrate its applicability.

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Beyond Models of National Culture in Information Systems Research

Advanced Topics in Global Information Management, Volume 2 - Advances in Global Information Management ◽

10.4018/9781591400646.ch002 ◽

2011 ◽

Author(s):

Michael D. Myers ◽

Felix B. Tan

Keyword(s):

Information Systems ◽

National Culture ◽

Systems Research ◽

Information Systems Research

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Beyond Models of National Culture in Information Systems Research

Advanced Topics in Global Information Management, Volume 2 - Advances in Global Information Management ◽

10.4018/978-1-59140-064-6.ch002 ◽

2011 ◽

pp. 14-29 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

Michael D. Myers ◽

Felix B. Tan

Keyword(s):

Information Technology ◽

Information Systems ◽

Cultural Differences ◽

National Culture ◽

Research Literature ◽

Global Organizations ◽

Is Research ◽

Systems Research ◽

Dynamic View ◽

Information Systems Research

Many IS scholars argue that global organizations need to understand cultural differences if they are to successfully deploy information technology. We agree that an understanding of cultural differences is important, but suggest that the concept of “national culture” that has tended to dominate the IS research literature is too simplistic. In this article, we challenge information systems researchers to go beyond models of national culture. We propose that IS researchers should adopt a more dynamic view of culture – one that sees culture as contested, temporal and emergent.

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Beyond Models of National Culture in Information Systems Research

Human Factors in Information Systems ◽

10.4018/978-1-931777-10-0.ch001 ◽

2011 ◽

pp. 1-19 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Michael D. Myers ◽

Felix B. Tan

Keyword(s):

Information Technology ◽

Information Systems ◽

Cultural Differences ◽

National Culture ◽

Research Literature ◽

Global Organizations ◽

Is Research ◽

Systems Research ◽

Dynamic View ◽

Information Systems Research

Many IS scholars argue that global organizations need to understand cultural differences if they are to successfully deploy information technology. We agree that an understanding of cultural differences is important, but suggest that the concept of “national culture” that has tended to dominate the IS research literature is too simplistic. In this article, we challenge information systems researchers to go beyond models of national culture. We propose that IS researchers should adopt a more dynamic view of culture – one that sees culture as contested, temporal and emergent.

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An Insight into the Debates Surrounding the Changing Nature, Scope and Focus of Information Systems Research

SSRN Electronic Journal ◽

10.2139/ssrn.2408809 ◽

2014 ◽

Author(s):

Ibrahim Osman Adam

Keyword(s):

Information Systems ◽

Systems Research ◽

Information Systems Research ◽

Insight Into

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A Bridge Too Far?

10.1093/oso/9780198733249.003.0006 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Charlotte P. Lee ◽

Kjeld Schmidt

Keyword(s):

Information Systems ◽

Science And Technology Studies ◽

Large Scale ◽

Cooperative Work ◽

Computer Supported Cooperative Work ◽

Practical Action ◽

Systems Research ◽

Information Infrastructures ◽

Information Systems Research ◽

Critical Investigation

The study of computing infrastructures has grown significantly due to the rapid proliferation and ubiquity of large-scale IT-based installations. At the same time, recognition has also grown of the usefulness of such studies as a means for understanding computing infrastructures as material complements of practical action. Subsequently the concept of “infrastructure” (or “information infrastructures,” “cyberinfrastructures,” and “infrastructuring”) has gained increasing importance in the area of Computer-Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) as well as in neighboring areas such as Information Systems research (IS) and Science and Technology Studies (STS). However, as such studies have unfolded, the very concept of “infrastructure” is being applied in different discourses, for different purposes, in myriad different senses. Consequently, the concept of “infrastructure” has become increasingly muddled and needs clarification. The chapter presents a critical investigation of the vicissitudes of the concept of “infrastructure” over the last 35 years.

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