Bridging the IS academic-practitioner relationship divide: a review, a theoretical framework, and an example of interaction

It is commonly postulated that a divide exists between the academic and the practitioner wings of the Information Systems (IS) discipline. In recent years, causes and appropriate remedial actions have been widely canvassed in the literature. The paper begins with an analysis of the literature relevant to the ongoing debate, and presents summaries of issues pertinent to the causes of the divide, and to the achievement of enhanced cooperation between the two wings. A theoretical framework is proposed which identifies the necessary actions that are required at the individual and the organisational level. It indicates that radical rethinking may be required with regard to the structure of the IS discipline, both within and outside academia. An illustrative Action Research (AR) project is described. It provides insights into what is achievable by planned cooperation between academics and practitioners. It arises, from an approach to one of the authors by an in-house group of Business Analysts (BAs). Some preliminary feed-back, from the practitioners is included. The paper concludes with some reflections on the need for reform, across the IS discipline, at both individual and organisational level.