In its quest for knowledge and understanding the Information Systems (IS) field has generally been torn between positivist and interpretivist approaches. However, in this paper an approach that accepts many of the underlying beliefs of both positivism and interpretivism is presented: the fictive approach. This blended approach - most comprehensively developed by Vaihinger - reveals how much of what we do in the IS field can be seen as creating and working with fictions. From the abstractive to the aesthetic all fictions are evident to some extent in the IS discipline. While the fictional approach has its challenges it is paradigmatically creative, rich and holistic; all important and arguably necessary characteristics when it comes to understanding Information Systems. Perhaps by legitimizing and exploring fictions in all their forms the IS field may finally mend the tear between the two warring paradigms and move forward in a bid to achieve the disciplines raison d'etre: making better sense of Information Systems.

1. Fact or Fiction: The Philosophy of Fictions in IS Research Ms. Sandy Behrens School of Management and Information Systems Central Queensland University http://farm1.static.flickr.com/38/80098386_fd5fa2285f_b.jpg

2. Purpose

4. Positivists http://farm1.static.flickr.com/178/445075918_0e0435361a_o.jpg

5. Interpretivists http://farm1.static.flickr.com/220/495953104_8d2da151cf_o.jpg

6. Either/Or Proposition http://farm1.static.flickr.com/71/156209922_ada2634626_o.jpg

7. Really? Weber (2004) Guba & Lincoln (2004)

8. Vaihinger (1924) Interpretivism Positivism http://farm1.static.flickr.com/32/88736268_14414801a9_o.jpg

9. Making sense http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3148/2698708497_59b12da13e_o.jpg

10. Value?

11. Reconciliation http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2157/2263962161_5793eff764_o.jpg

12. Vantage Point http://farm1.static.flickr.com/76/218885785_e2b886d5e4_o.jpg

13. Fictions

14. Abstractive Meridian of Ferro Zero point determination Water as measure of gravity

15. Abstractive Fictions in IS Schemas, models and diagrams Theories eg. TAM Methods for implementation and design

16. Symbolic http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2091/2232897539_1abdf7d2f8_b.jpg Metaphors

17. Symbolic Fictions in IS http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2091/2232897539_1abdf7d2f8_b.jpg Methodologies used for systems development Designing effective IS interfaces Conceptual Bias in IS research

18. Heuristic http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1234/896873841_02cc5d367b_b.jpg Ptolemaic cosmic system Newton’s laws of gravitation Teleology

19. Heuristic Fictions in IS http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1234/896873841_02cc5d367b_b.jpg Data modelling Teleology - primary metaphors

21. Practical Fictions in IS http://farm1.static.flickr.com/33/99413816_150c463c9b_o.jpg Ethical issues in organizations Ethical behavior of researchers

22. Aesthetic http://farm1.static.flickr.com/47/112013515_a5d8e6e094_o.jpg Mythology

23. Aesthetic Fictions in IS http://farm1.static.flickr.com/47/112013515_a5d8e6e094_o.jpg Systems Design - Look and feel Ciaborra - creativity and strategy

24. Vantage Point http://farm1.static.flickr.com/76/218885785_e2b886d5e4_o.jpg

25. Moving Forward

26. [email_address] Read the paper: Conference proceedings Talk with me: Questions after this session At the conference [email_address] Slides: Freely available at Slide Share www.slideshare.net