Two times four integrative levels of analysis: A framework

Abstract

Walsham (2000) urged Information Systems researchers to truly cover all levels of analysis from the individual to the societal in their research agenda. In this paper, we accept his challenge by proposing a research framework offour integrative levels of analysis: individual, group/activity, organizational, and societal. Each level is divided into two viewpoints: intra (single case) and inter (multiple cases, relational, comparative). In addition, the temporallhistorical dimension should be applied on all levels and viewpoints. We argue that although all of the levels and viewpoints of the "2 x 4 + history" framework cannot be thoroughly covered in any single study, researchers should always identify their specific research scope and context on all four levels, allowing other researchers to assess the peculiarity or wider applicability of the study. All of the levels and viewpoints are relevant to practical IS development in certain situations. © 2001 by Springer Science+Business Media New York.