Systems Planning and Analysis Research 1970 to 2002: A Comparison of Academic and Practitioner Activities

Systems planning and analysis is an integral part of information systems research, education, and business practice. This study identifies differences between academic and practitioner research during the period 1970 to 2002. The Wetherbe and Vitalari (1994) systems framework classifies the literature within the domains of systems planning and analysis. An expanded version of the Singleton, Straits, and Straits (1993) structure organizes the data based on the inquiry method. A seven dimension classification schema, proposed by the authors, is used to organize the data based on study orientation. The Tapscott and Caston (1993) information age segmentations, pre-1990 and post-1990s, support the existence of two analytical time frames and are used to identify shifts in research focus. Thirteen internationally recognized journals within the IS community—ten academic and three practitioner—provide the data source for this comparative research. Content analysis is used as the primary data coding technique. Correspondence analysis is used to identify themes, patterns, and trends across the classifications structures. Independent rater reliability procedures verified coding classifications. ANOVAs determined significance and direction of research differences. Graphic plots were derived for interpretation of the results. This study contributes to field knowledge by systematically analyzing the differences in research schema for academics and practioners. Research gaps will be highlighted and areas of future investigation will be suggested.