Language and a post-modern management approach to information systems

Words are windows onto ideas. This paper discusses how a new way of thinkin g about the practise of information systems management especially in the im plementation phase of a system, which the authors refer to as the post-mode rn approach (IJIM December 1997), requires a new way of thinking about lang uage and its management. But it is not enough to assert that post-modernism simply requires a new lexicon to cope with a new set of concepts. The post -modern paradigm to information systems management requires the active mana gement of language itself. This entails the establishment of meaning by all the key stakeholders of this approach and the tracking of the inevitable c hanges in meaning as understanding of the information systems outcomes deve lops and changes over the life of a major project. (C) 1999 Elsevier Scienc e Ltd. All rights reserved.