Ethnographic research in information systems (panel session): an exploration of three alternative approaches to ethnography

Interpretive research is now accepted as a valid research framework for information systems research. There are many interpretive research methods of which ethnography is one. Ethnography is an approach adopted from anthropology and used by information systems researchers to gain an understanding of information systems in organizations. It is currently treated in the information systems discipline as a single approach with no significant differences between researchers who adopt ethnography. Now that interpretive methods have gained a stance in the information systems discipline, it has become more acceptable to explore differences both across and within methods. This panel explores current differences seen as being relevant within ethnography. The panel does not attempt to reconcile the differences but, rather, to open up debate so that variety can be introduced to this area of interpretive information systems research. This allows for the ethnographic information systems researcher to be introduced to a wider choice on qualitative methods