Tracing the History of the Information Systems Field

This article attempts to look at factors and events that led to the birth of the information system (IS) field, and traces how the field has changed over time and evolved. It also explains why at various times different names such as MIS, IT, IS, information management, information science, etc., have been proposed to label the IS field. Each framework's architects are thought to have discovered the true core of IS. Despite significant and seemingly continuous efforts toward defining the boundary of the IS field, the boundary remains fluid. The first step in trying to understand and resolve these issues is to step back and reflect on the history of the IS field. Such an understanding would facilitate IS researchers in answering the questions about IS, differentiating the IS field from other disciplines, and developing a sense of an IS identity

Aesthetics · Boundary (topology) · Data science · Epistemology · Field (mathematics) · Identity (music) · Information system · Political science · Tracing · Big Data and Business Intelligence · Computer Science · Information Systems Theories and Implementation · Information Technology Governance and Strategy · Mathematics · Philosophy