Applying seven images of science in exploring whether information systems is a science

Abstract

This paper contributes in two parts to a debate that McBride (2018) initiated. The first part focuses on clarifying the discussion topic. It defines science, information system, and the scope of the IS discipline because McBride does not define those terms clearly. The second part responds to particular aspects of McBride’s arguments. It is framed around a multi-metaphor approach that proposes and applies seven “images of science”.