Novice-based Data Collection Methods for the Study of IOIS : Practice Probes and Learning Communities

Reimers Kai, Johnston Robert B, Guo Xunhua, Klein Stefan, Xie Bin, Li Minzhi


Abstract
In response to the increasing influence of practice theory perspectives for studying organisational and inter-organisational information systems, we demonstrate that an important dilemma from this perspective for data collection methods is between authentic access to practices and the ability to thematize knowledge of practices. We propose a promising new approach to this dilemma that uses the learning experiences of novice practitioners to collect data as they are progressively enrolled in the practice, and describe two instantiations of this new approach, practice probes and learning communities.

Keywords
Inter-organisational information systems(IOIS); Research methods; Data collection; Practice theory; Communities of practice; Embodied knowledge; JEL classification C8; Responsible Editor: Hans-Dieter Zimmermann and Nilm



Publication type
Research article (journal)

Peer reviewed
Yes

Publication status
Published

Year
2013

Journal
Electronic Markets - The International Journal on Networked Business

Volume
23

Issue
4

Start page
285

End page
293

Language
English

DOI