IS THE LACK OF KEYWORD SYNERGISM INHIBITING MATURATION IN THE MIS THEORY - AN EXPLORATORY PERSPECTIVE

This article explores previous research on keyword search techniques a nd evaluates the comprehensiveness of a well-known keyword classificat ion scheme. Comparison of literature reviews provide evidence that thi s topic is not well agreed upon and these contradictions have reduced reliance on keyword searches as a method of exploring prior research o n a given topic. Presently, there does not exist a comprehensive manag ement information systems (MIS) keyword list. Information regarding ke yword usage in 14 676 articles published in 27 MIS journals from 1985- 94 was collected electronically from an ABI Inform database. After sev eral levels of refinements on 4386 keywords, a comprehensive list of 1 056 keywords was obtained. Our MIS keyword list was compared with that of Barki and differences with Barki's list were identified, such as: (i) failing to include many keyword subjects that have frequently occu rred during the past decade, and (ii) inclusion of keywords that have not had a single occurrence in MIS journals for the same period. (C) 1 998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.