Standalone literature reviews in IS research: What can be learnt from the past and other fields?

Abstract

This panel addresses the divergent expectations of the IS community on new directions in the genre of standalone literature reviews (SLRs), which synthesize and interpret a body of literature within a domain. The primary purpose of the panel is to spur a controversial discussion on a) what the IS field can learn from other fields and where it should be specific, b) how the IS field should move forward to foster the genre of SLRs, and c) what are the best approaches to train doctoral IS students in publishing SLRs. The panelists initiate a vital discussion on where the IS field can profit from considering approaches of other fields and where it should focus on IS specifics that are not shared by other fields, which SLR processes are of particular importance for the IS field, and whether and how doctoral IS students should be trained in writing SLRs.