Putting the power in power, politics, and MIS implementation : a reworking of Markus (1983) 20 years on

This paper examines Markus' (1983) paper, using literature from the sociological and philosophical disciplines to provide an updated view of power and its influence on politics and Information Systems (IS). Using these different literature sources, which are becoming more accepted in the IS discipline, provides a richer understanding of power and politics in Information Systems. An alternative research methodology, critical ethnography, has also been described in the context of Markus' study and a case study has been provided which adopts this alternate approach.

Trends, fads and futures : computers in learning in tertiary education, 1983-2002

ASCILITE, the Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education, is a professional society focusing on computers in learning in tertiary education that has been sponsoring conferences for its membership since 1986. Prior to this, three earlier conferences formed the genesis of ASCILITE. Over that period there have been significant changes in pedagogy and technology but few attempts, if any, have been made to analyse the ways in which conference proceedings have reflected these changes and shifts. The purpose of this research paper is to review the ASCILITE proceedings and provide an analysis of “trends, fads and futures” to reflect on past initiatives, propose potential directions and assist the society identify strategic directions. In addition, the analysis will provide a basis from which further research can be justified in terms of better understanding “computers in learning in tertiary education”.

Confidence in Australian institutions 1983-2005

This paper examines changes in the level of institutional confidence in Australia between 1983 and 2005. The principal aim of the paper is to disaggregate the general trend in social trust and overall institutional confidence. Using data drawn from three waves of the World Values Survey undertaken in 1983, 1995 and 2005 we examine whether social trust and confidence have declined and the differing patterns of confidence for different birth cohorts in Australia. The results show a significant decrease in social trust and a large decline in confidence between 1983 and 1995. There was little change in confidence between 1995 and 2005, but social trust returned to the 1983 level over that period. A cohort analysis shows that the oldest cohort, those born before WWII, reported the largest decline in confidence, while by 2005 the baby boomers (or middle cohort born between 1944 and 1955) were the most confident, with the oldest group reporting the least confidence. Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s confidence has been at a much lower level than in the early 1980s.

‘“Rediscovery”, ‘“Reinvigoration” and “Redefinition” in perpetuity: Australian engagement with India 1983-2011

This paper examines the various strands of Australia-India relations between 1983 and 2011, from the early initiatives of the Hawke-Keating Governments, Australia's response to the Pokhran nuclear tests and the vexed issue of supplying uranium to India. It examines the undulating nature of realtions in an effort to understand why, over this period, it has been so difficult to establish nroms.