The authors of this book help the reader understand the technological, organizational, social, and economic factors that influence the success of new information systems (IS). Using a variety of approaches from the social sciences, management theory, and software engineering, they try to help readers explore the current problems of developing and managing information systems in organizations, and developing appropriate policy responses.

The book is organized into four main themes, each reflecting the history of IS, as well as presenting core themes in the IS research field: IS systems development, implementation of IS in a business setting, human factors, and IS policy challenges.

Information technology (IT) is absorbing an ever-increasing proportion of the resources of organizations and governments, in terms of both money and human resources. Consequently, there is a need for people who are educated to understand and assess the complex interactions between information technology and people. To do this, it is essential to look beyond the technologies themselves, and investigate the rich social and organizational contexts in which they are deployed.

Because of gaps in socioeconomic development, education, and income levels, and because of language and geographical barriers, not all countries and individuals have equal access to new advances in information technology.

As information technology spreads into every aspect of life, those who have access to IT and knowledge have more sources of information and ways to gain support. In contrast, people in developing countries may not even have access to information that is crucial to their basic survival.

As IT becomes a dominant communication channel, poor people in developing countries will be further deprived of opportunities to express opinions and participate in social development. Social exclusion has become a very real possibility for the already-marginalized people in developing countries.

IT and its implementation are no longer viewed as imposing threats on workers, by being implemented in order to take away jobs from workers. Instead, the focus is on how IT can be used to create more jobs and economic development, and enhance the quality of life for people in various regions of the world. There are chapters in this book that address a strategy for collaboration between the research and the business communities to address this issue.

The book puts IS research dealing with IS problems into perspective. IS problems are surveyed and classified. Research perspectives focusing on the IS operations environment, IS development process, IS development organization, IS development methods, and IS theories are distinguished. The book concludes with suggestions for future research, and information on how to deal with IS problems in practice.