Surviving and Thriving in the Evolving Digital Age

Abstract

In this celebratory 50th anniversary issue of The DATA BASE for Advances in Information Systems, I take a look back at IS research and its corresponding relationship with information technology. I argue that we have done well as a field as evaluated by changes in methodological quality, theorizing, citations, and impact factors. However, we are at a phase of transition as we evolve from an IT to a digital world. I describe the fundamental assumptions of the digital world and argue that our future phenomena are going to be far more unpredictable and dynamic and will require us to exhibit more flexibility in our research approach. We have to change gears to survive and thrive in the digital age.