A research discipline with no boundaries: Reflections on 20 years of defining AIS research

Some twenty years ago, Sutton (1992) posed the question, “Can we research a field we cannot define?” This article provides an assessment of the AIS research discipline's current state and future prospects. In reflecting upon the state of the discipline twenty years earlier, I find that the concerns voiced in the earlier paper have been largely addressed and the discipline's research quality has greatly improved. The AIS research discipline has all the appearances of a vibrant discipline generating relevant, high quality research. However, underneath that exterior, a closer examination reveals a discipline that may not be sustainable in the long term and still faces many challenges. I discuss these concerns and briefly touch on the key areas the discipline needs to focus in order to better insure its long-term sustainability.