Journal Article•
Analyzing the past to prepare for the future: writing a literature review
01 Jun 2002-Management Information Systems Quarterly (Society for Information Management and The Management Information Systems Research Center)-Vol. 26, Iss: 2, pp 3
TL;DR: A review of prior, relevant literature is an essential feature of any academic project that facilitates theory development, closes areas where a plethora of research exists, and uncovers areas where research is needed.
Abstract: A review of prior, relevant literature is an essential feature of any academic project. An effective review creates a firm foundation for advancing knowledge. It facilitates theory development, closes areas where a plethora of research exists, and uncovers areas where research is needed.
Citations
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28 May 2006
TL;DR: This tutorial is designed to provide an introduction to the role, form and processes involved in performing Systematic Literature Reviews, and to gain the knowledge needed to conduct systematic reviews of their own.
Abstract: Context: Making best use of the growing number of empirical studies in Software Engineering, for making decisions and formulating research questions, requires the ability to construct an objective summary of available research evidence. Adopting a systematic approach to assessing and aggregating the outcomes from a set of empirical studies is also particularly important in Software Engineering, given that such studies may employ very different experimental forms and be undertaken in very different experimental contexts.Objectives: To provide an introduction to the role, form and processes involved in performing Systematic Literature Reviews. After the tutorial, participants should be able to read and use such reviews, and have gained the knowledge needed to conduct systematic reviews of their own.Method: We will use a blend of information presentation (including some experiences of the problems that can arise in the Software Engineering domain), and also of interactive working, using review material prepared in advance.
4,352 citations
Cites background from "Analyzing the past to prepare for t..."
...) Such reviews employ carefullydefined protocols to determine which studies are to be included, as well as for analysing their contribution in as unbiased a form as possible [5, 7]....
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TL;DR: A model of IT business value is developed based on the resource-based view of the firm that integrates the various strands of research into a single framework and provides a blueprint to guide future research and facilitate knowledge accumulation and creation concerning the organizational performance impacts of information technology.
Abstract: Despite the importance to researchers, managers, and policy makers of how information technology (IT) contributes to organizational performance, there is uncertainty and debate about what we know and don't know. A review of the literature reveals that studies examining the association between information technology and organizational performance are divergent in how they conceptualize key constructs and their interrelationships. We develop a model of IT business value based on the resource-based view of the firm that integrates the various strands of research into a single framework. We apply the integrative model to synthesize what is known about IT business value and guide future research by developing propositions and suggesting a research agenda. A principal finding is that IT is valuable, but the extent and dimensions are dependent upon internal and external factors, including complementary organizational resources of the firm and its trading partners, as well as the competitive and macro environment. Our analysis provides a blueprint to guide future research and facilitate knowledge accumulation and creation concerning the organizational performance impacts of information technology.
3,318 citations
Cites methods from "Analyzing the past to prepare for t..."
...Appendix 1: Methodology Used to Identify Research Articles Our methodology for identifying IT business value studies proceeded in three stages (Webster and Watson 2002)....
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...Appendix 1: Methodology Used to Identify Research Articles Our methodology for identifying IT business value studies proceeded in three stages (Webster and Watson 2002)....
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06 Jan 2014
TL;DR: The review indicates that gamification provides positive effects, however, the effects are greatly dependent on the context in which the gamification is being implemented, as well as on the users using it.
Abstract: This paper reviews peer-reviewed empirical studies on gamification. We create a framework for examining the effects of gamification by drawing from the definitions of gamification and the discussion on motivational affordances. The literature review covers results, independent variables (examined motivational affordances), dependent variables (examined psychological/behavioral outcomes from gamification), the contexts of gamification, and types of studies performed on the gamified systems. The paper examines the state of current research on the topic and points out gaps in existing literature. The review indicates that gamification provides positive effects, however, the effects are greatly dependent on the context in which the gamification is being implemented, as well as on the users using it. The findings of the review provide insight for further studies as well as for the design of gamified systems.
3,108 citations
Cites methods from "Analyzing the past to prepare for t..."
...In accordance with Webster and Watson [40], we collected and combined the different motivational affordances found in the studies into 10 different motivational affordance categories, based on the terminology used in the reviewed papers....
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...In order to incorporate our discussion on the definition of gamification into our results, we combine the model of motivational affordances in ICT [44] with a modified version of the concept matrix presented by Webster and Watson [40] as a way of systematically collecting and analyzing the different motivational affordances and resulting outcomes....
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TL;DR: This paper discusses literature review as a methodology for conducting research and offers an overview of different types of reviews, as well as some guidelines to how to both conduct and evaluate a literature review paper.
2,729 citations
13 May 2014
TL;DR: It is concluded that using snowballing, as a first search strategy, may very well be a good alternative to the use of database searches.
Abstract: Background: Systematic literature studies have become common in software engineering, and hence it is important to understand how to conduct them efficiently and reliably.Objective: This paper presents guidelines for conducting literature reviews using a snowballing approach, and they are illustrated and evaluated by replicating a published systematic literature review.Method: The guidelines are based on the experience from conducting several systematic literature reviews and experimenting with different approaches.Results: The guidelines for using snowballing as a way to search for relevant literature was successfully applied to a systematic literature review.Conclusions: It is concluded that using snowballing, as a first search strategy, may very well be a good alternative to the use of database searches.
2,279 citations
Cites background or methods from "Analyzing the past to prepare for t..."
...Similar ideas have been brought into information systems research, e.g. by Webster and Watson [2]....
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...This was done by comparing the outcome of two studies on the same topic using the guidelines by Kitchenham and Charters [7] and the steps for snowballing outlined by Webster and Watson [2] for finding the relevant literature....
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...Thus, other alternative approaches may be considered, for example, the use of a snowballing procedure [2]....
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...It builds on ideas presented by for example Webster and Watson [2] in information systems and the procedure outlined by Wohlin and Prikladnicki [10]....
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...It builds on ideas presented by for example Webster and Watson [2] in information systems and the procedure outlined by Wohlin and Prikladnicki [10]....
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References
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TL;DR: A large number of studies have been conducted during the last decade and a half attempting to identify those factors that contribute to information systems success, but the dependent variable in these studies-I/S success-has been an elusive one to define.
Abstract: A large number of studies have been conducted during the last decade and a half attempting to identify those factors that contribute to information systems success. However, the dependent variable in these studies-I/S success-has been an elusive one to define. Different researchers have addressed different aspects of success, making comparisons difficult and the prospect of building a cumulative tradition for I/S research similarly elusive. To organize this diverse research, as well as to present a more integrated view of the concept of I/S success, a comprehensive taxonomy is introduced. This taxonomy posits six major dimensions or categories of I/S success-SYSTEM QUALITY, INFORMATION QUALITY, USE, USER SATISFACTION, INDIVIDUAL IMPACT, and ORGANIZATIONAL IMPACT. Using these dimensions, both conceptual and empirical studies are then reviewed a total of 180 articles are cited and organized according to the dimensions of the taxonomy. Finally, the many aspects of I/S success are drawn together into a descriptive model and its implications for future I/S research are discussed.
10,023 citations
"Analyzing the past to prepare for t..." refers background in this paper
...For instance, DeLone and McLean (1992) include a set of tables summarizing the literature on IS success by level of analysis, type of study, and success measures....
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TL;DR: The objective of KMS is to support creation, transfer, and application of knowledge in organizations by promoting a class of information systems, referred to as knowledge management systems.
Abstract: Knowledge is a broad and abstract notion that has defined epistemological debate in western philosophy since the classical Greek era. In the past few years, however, there has been a growing interest in treating knowledge as a significant organizational resource. Consistent with the interest in organizational knowledge and knowledge management (KM), IS researchers have begun promoting a class of information systems, referred to as knowledge management systems (KMS). The objective of KMS is to support creation, transfer, and application of knowledge in organizations. Knowledge and knowledge management are complex and multi-faceted concepts. Thus, effective development and implementation of KMS requires a foundation in several rich literatures.
9,531 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors describe and compare a number of alternative generic strategies for the analysis of process data, looking at the consequences of these strategies for emerging theories, and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the strategies in terms of their capacity to generate theory that is accurate, parsimonious, general, and useful.
Abstract: In this article I describe and compare a number of alternative generic strategies for the analysis of process data, looking at the consequences of these strategies for emerging theories. I evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the strategies in terms of their capacity to generate theory that is accurate, parsimonious, general, and useful and suggest that method and theory are inextricably intertwined, that multiple strategies are often advisable, and that no analysis strategy will produce theory without an uncodifiable creative leap, however small. Finally, I argue that there is room in the organizational research literature for more openness within the academic community toward a variety of forms of coupling between theory and data.
5,218 citations
TL;DR: This survey characterizes an emerging research area, sometimes called coordination theory, that focuses on the interdisciplinary study of coordination, that uses and extends ideas about coordination from disciplines such as computer science, organization theory, operations research, economics, linguistics, and psychology.
Abstract: This survey characterizes an emerging research area, sometimes called coordination theory, that focuses on the interdisciplinary study of coordination. Research in this area uses and extends ideas about coordination from disciplines such as computer science, organization theory, operations research, economics, linguistics, and psychology.A key insight of the framework presented here is that coordination can be seen as the process of managing dependencies among activities. Further progress, therefore, should be possible by characterizing different kinds of dependencies and identifying the coordination processes that can be used to manage them. A variety of processes are analyzed from this perspective, and commonalities across disciplines are identified. Processes analyzed include those for managing shared resources, producer/consumer relationships, simultaneity constraints, and task/subtask dependencies.Section 3 summarizes ways of applying a coordination perspective in three different domains:(1) understanding the effects of information technology on human organizations and markets, (2) designing cooperative work tools, and (3) designing distributed and parallel computer systems. In the final section, elements of a research agenda in this new area are briefly outlined.
3,447 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a discussion about steps involved in developing a theory, such as seeing which factors logically should be considered as part of the explanation of the social or individual phenomena of interest, is presented.
Abstract: The article focuses on the development of a theory. A discussion is presented about steps involved in developing a theory, such as seeing which factors logically should be considered as part of the explanation of the social or individual phenomena of interest. The authors assert that authors developing theories are considering these factors, they should err in favor of including too many factors, recognizing that over time their ideas will be refined. The article presents information about the importance of sensitivity to the competing virtues of parsimony and comprehensiveness.
3,224 citations
"Analyzing the past to prepare for t..." refers background or methods in this paper
...However, there are other means of making a significant contribution (Whetten 1989)....
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...It represents the theoretical glue that welds the model together (Whetten 1989, p. 491)....
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...Boundaries include issues like level(s) of analysis, temporal and contextual limitations, the scope of your review, and your implicit values (Bacharach 1989; Whetten 1989)....
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...Drawing on our editorial experiences, as well as other editors experiences in related areas (e.g., Daft 1985; Sutton and Staw 1995; Whetten 1989), we believe that we can help prospective MISQ Review authors and IS scholars in general by setting forth some guidelines and thoughts on how to write a…...
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