On the Dissemination of I.S. Research Findings into Practice

Abstract

Because research findings often do not have direct or immediate relevance to practitioners, the question arises as to how those findings should be disseminated to them in a suitable form at such time as they do become relevant. A central argument of this paper is that the traditional mechanisms whereby IS researchers disseminate their work are prone to numerous communication breakdowns, and that much work which could potentially make valuable contributions to practice is haplessly lost within the vaults of academia. Using the well-known Shannon & Weaver communication model, three major problems are analysed: the choice of dissemination channels, language barriers, and the alienation of academia from industry. It is then argued that these problems are primarily caused by deep-rooted institutionalised norms, and the enduring absence of a cumulative tradition within IS research. A number of suggested reforms are presented.