Critical Reflection in IS Research Methodology: considerations for research design selection and deployment

In information systems (IS) academic debates on the comparative merits of particular methodological approaches, reflection on the role of personal preference in initial methodology selection remains rare. More significantly, while most IS researchers identify limitations in their research approaches, rarely do they engage in detailed examination of the appropriateness of their research designs to their specific research contexts or acknowledge the constraints imposed by the phenomena being studied. This paper contributes to the on- going development of critical reflection in IS research design by exploring these issues as part of the development of a research approach to ISS (Information Systems Strategy) amongst Australian biotechnology firms