Given the pervasive nature of information technology and information systems in the modern world, the design and development of IS and IT are critical issues of concern. New research topics continuously emerge in tandem with the latest developments in technology-E-Business, Knowledge Management, Business Process Reengineering, for example. However, when the initial flurry of research abates and the "gloss" of these areas has diminished somewhat, as it inevitably does, the enduring core issue remains as to how to develop systems to fully exploit these new areas. Both information systems and information technology are interpreted fairly broadly in this book. Of particular interest to the editors were research studies that facilitate an understanding of the role and impact of information technology on society, organizations, and individuals, and which strive to improve the design and use of information systems in that context. The contributions to the book are categorized into four broad themes. First is the core issue of developing information systems in the current environment. In this section several fundamental challenges to current assumptions and conventional wisdom in information systems development are posed. The second section considers the management of information systems. Again, the conventional wisdom is challenged. The penultimate section focuses on researching information systems. Here, various issues to do with research methods are surfaced, and the use of leading-edge research methods in information systems development is pioneered and discussed. Finally, a section is devoted to understanding information systems. This section addresses the perennial challenge in the IS field in relation to the conceptual foundations of the field. This volume comprises the proceedings of the Working Conference on Realigning Research and Practice in Information Systems Development: The Social and Organizational Perspective, which was sponsored by the International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP) and held in Boise, Idaho, USA in July 2001. Given the central importance of information systems development in the current age, this eclectic book, which considers the topic from a rich and varied set of perspectives, will be essential reading for researchers and practitioners working in all areas of IS and IT.

This book constitutes the proceedings of the 2010 Joint International Working C- ference of the International Federation for Information Processing Working Groups 8.2 and 8.6. Both working groups are part of IFIP Technical Committee 8, the tech- cal committee addressing the field of Information Systems. IFIP WG 8.2, the Inter- tion of Information Systems and Organizations, was established in 1977. IFIP WG 8.6, Diffusion, Transfer and Implementation of Information Technology, was est- lished in 1994. In accordance with their respective themes, both IFIP WG 8.2 and IFIP WG 8.6 have long had an interest in the human impact of information systems. In December 1998, they held a joint working conference in Helsinki, Finland, on the theme "Inf- mation Systems: Current Issues and Future Challenges." The two working groups' joint interest in and collaboration on research concerning the human side of IS is c- tinued and extended through this joint working conference, held on the campus of Curtin University of Technology, from March 30 to April 1, 2010, in Perth, Western Australia. This conference, "Human Benefit Through the Diffusion of Information Systems Design Science Research," combines the traditional themes of the two working groups with the growing interest within the IS research field in the area of design science research.

Given the pervasive nature of information technology and information systems in the modern world, the design and development of IS and IT are critical issues of concern. New research topics continuously emerge in tandem with the latest developments in technology-E-Business, Knowledge Management, Business Process Reengineering, for example. However, when the initial flurry of research abates and the "gloss" of these areas has diminished somewhat, as it inevitably does, the enduring core issue remains as to how to develop systems to fully exploit these new areas. Both information systems and information technology are interpreted fairly broadly in this book. Of particular interest to the editors were research studies that facilitate an understanding of the role and impact of information technology on society, organizations, and individuals, and which strive to improve the design and use of information systems in that context. The contributions to the book are categorized into four broad themes. First is the core issue of developing information systems in the current environment. In this section several fundamental challenges to current assumptions and conventional wisdom in information systems development are posed. The second section considers the management of information systems. Again, the conventional wisdom is challenged. The penultimate section focuses on researching information systems. Here, various issues to do with research methods are surfaced, and the use of leading-edge research methods in information systems development is pioneered and discussed. Finally, a section is devoted to understanding information systems. This section addresses the perennial challenge in the IS field in relation to the conceptual foundations of the field. This volume comprises the proceedings of the Working Conference on Realigning Research and Practice in Information Systems Development: The Social and Organizational Perspective, which was sponsored by the International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP) and held in Boise, Idaho, USA in July 2001. Given the central importance of information systems development in the current age, this eclectic book, which considers the topic from a rich and varied set of perspectives, will be essential reading for researchers and practitioners working in all areas of IS and IT.