Abstract:
Information Systems (IS) research is often conducted under the assumption that technology use leads to positive outcomes for different stakeholders. However, many IS studies demonstrate limited evidence of having engaged with the stakeholders that they claim benefit and speak on behalf of. It is therefore not surprising that examples abound of where technology use has failed ‘to make the world a better place’, or worse still has contributed towards unintended negative outcomes. In light of these concerns, calls have recently emerged for responsible research and innovation (RRI) studies in IS to understand how different stakeholder groups can have a voice in complex socio-technical issues. In this paper, we take steps towards addressing this call by presenting case study findings from a responsible IS research project which combined ‘blended’ face-to-face and online participatory techniques. The case study relates to a large-scale consultation undertaken in a 24-month European project involving 30 countries. The project engaged over 1,500 stakeholders in the co-creation of future research agendas for the European Union. We discuss case study findings using Stilgoe, Owen, & Macnaghten’s (2013) RRI framework (Anticipation, Reflexivity, Inclusion, Deliberation, Responsiveness) and reflect on lessons learned for responsible IS research going forward.
