A Guide to Conducting a Systematic Literature Review of Information Systems Research

Chitu Okoli Concordia University, Canada

Kira Schabram Concordia University, Canada

Abstract
Levy and Ellis (2006) and Webster and Watson (2002) lament the fact that information systems (IS) scholars tend to be unaware of the need for structure in literature reviews. Even today, the rigorous, standardized methodology for conducting a systematic literature review (SLR) that has developed from the health sciences and other fields is virtually unknown in IS research. In this paper, we adapt Fink's (2005, p. 3) definition of a research literature review as our operative definition of a systematic literature review: "a systematic, explicit, [comprehensive, (p. 17)] and reproducible method for identifying, evaluating, and synthesizing the existing body of completed and recorded work produced by researchers, scholars, and practitioners." Although there exists an abundance of guides to conducting such reviews in other research fields, none entirely meet the unique needs of IS researchers. In response to this shortage of guides, we present here the features and value of a systematic literature review, and adapt the methodology to the particular context of IS research.

Full Text Document:	Preview PDF (May 12, 2010 version) 961Kb
Reference:	Okoli, C., Schabram, K. (2010). "A Guide to Conducting a Systematic Literature Review of Information Systems Research," . Sprouts: Working Papers on Information Systems, 10(26). http://sprouts.aisnet.org/10-26
Keywords:	Systematic literature reviews, literature reviews, information systems research, research methodology, doctoral studies
Item Type:	Article - Volume 10 Article 26 (2010)
Language:	English
Email:	Chitu Okoli (Chitu.Okoli@concordia.ca) Kira Schabram (k_scha@jmsb.concordia.ca)
Additional Information:	This study is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

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