Panel 8 IS Action Research: Can We Serve Two Masters?

A key characteristic of action research (AR) sets it apart from other research approaches. In AR, investigators try to fulfill the needs of their study subjects and, at the same time, generate new knowledge. As such, IS action researchers have to serve two masters: their immediate research clients, who directly benefit from the research while it is being conducted, and the IS academic community in general. The goal of this panel is to discuss the pros and cons of AR’s dual goal in the context of IS studies.