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Minitrack Title: Using IS for Good 

AMCIS 2021 TRACK: SOCIAL INCLUSION AND SOCIO-TECHNICAL ISSUES 

August 9-13, 2021

Submission Due March 1, 2021: Completed research and ERF submissions are due at 5 p.m. EST

Information systems (IS) have the potential to improve social welfare through redistribution of power, providing a voice for marginalized people, improving access to education, and increasing economic opportunity (George & Leidner, 2019; Lin, et al., 2015; Ortiz et al., 2019; Silva & Hirschheim, 2007; Vaidya & Myers, 2017). Some development programs that sought to use IS for a good cause have been highly successful, but many other projects, even those well designed and well-funded, have never gotten off the ground (Chipidza & Leidner, 2019). This track is dedicated to research on how IS has been used for societal good, how and when it is successful, and how and when it tends to fail. The contribution of the minitrack, which is part of the Social Inclusion track, is the development of theory and methods for improving outcomes when IS is used for Good. 

All submissions must be made via the AMCIS 2021 PCS submission system 

What we are looking for 

We welcome papers that theoretically, conceptually, or empirically advance research on the impact of IS on society when IS and ICTs specifically target the improvement of social welfare. Papers may use any acceptable methodology and theory. Submissions are encouraged at any level of analysis or progress. Both full papers and emerging research are encouraged so that authors can gain valuable feedback for moving their projects forward. Possible topics may include (but are not limited to): 

·         The role of Fintech in economic development 

·         Projects or systems focused on the digital divide 

·         Social connections of geographically distant groups with a common cause 

·         Digital strategies to fight disenfranchisement and marginalization 

·         Corporate social responsibility success and failure 

·         Digital activism that advances human rights

·         Emancipatory technologies

Minitrack Co-Chairs 

Jordana George (Primary Contact), Mays Business School, Texas A&M University and Wallace Chipidza, Claremont Graduate University 

Co-Chair Biographies 

Jordana George is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the Mays Business School at Texas A&M University. Her research explores data management, the social impact of information systems, and the intersection of these two topics, such as data philanthropy and technology benefit corporations. She holds a PhD from Baylor University, an MBA from Penn State University and an MFA from the University of California at Davis. Jordana currently serves as Managing Editor for Workshops for the Journal of the AIS. She has published in Information and Organization, Communications of the AIS, and AIS Transactions on Replication Research. 

Wallace Chipidza is an assistant professor in the Center for Information Systems and Technology at Claremont Graduate University. He holds a PhD in information systems from Baylor University and an MS in computer science from the University of Arizona. Chipidza mainly researches how and why social networks change over time, the impacts of those changes, and the interventions that moderate those impacts. His other interest lies in designing ICT-based solutions to problems afflicting vulnerable populations in developing countries. Wallace has published in The Journal of Strategic Information Systems, Communications of the Association for Information Systems, Information Systems Education Journal, and the Journal of Computer Information Systems. 

Email for more information: Jordana George jgeorge@mays.tamu.edu 

References 

Chipidza, W., & Leidner, D. (2019). A review of the ICT-enabled development literature: Towards a power parity theory of ICT4D. The Journal of Strategic Information Systems, S0963868717302391. 

George, J. J., & Leidner, D. E. (2019). From clicktivism to hacktivism: Understanding digital activism. Information and Organization. 

Gogan, J., Conboy, K., Weiss, J., 2020. Dangerous Champions of IT Innovation, in: Proceedings of the 53rd Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences | 2020. Presented at the 53rd Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences, Maui.

Lin, C. I., Kuo, F.-Y., & Myers, M. D. (2015). EXTENDING ICT4D STUDIES: The value of critical research. MIS Quarterly, 39(3), 697–712. 

Ortiz, J., Young, A., Myers, M., Bedeley, R., Carbaugh, D., Chughtai, H., ... Wigdor, A. (2019). Giving Voice to the Voiceless: The Use of Digital Technologies by Marginalized Groups. Communications of the Association for Information Systems, 45(1). 

Silva, L., & Hirschheim, R. (2007). Fighting Against Windmills: Strategic Information Systems and Organizational Deep Structures. MIS Q., 31(2), 327–354. 

Vaidya, R., & Myers, M. (2017). Power in ICT4D projects: The case of an Indian Agricultural Marketing Board. ICIS 2017 Proceedings.