Creating and Developing a Program of Global Research

Abstract

This is the first part of a two-part chapter that describes and analyzes a program of research (PR) in international IT studies begun in the fall of 1992 and continuing through 2004. The chapter presents the first two stages which span the years of 1992 through 2000, focusing on the creation and development process for a PR, examining the concept of a PR, the inception of our PR and its maturation both in terms of theory and methodology, research team dynamics, and program implementation. We offer guidelines for initiating and maintaining programs of research, highlighting the inevitable trade-offs that occur when high administrative work loads and intensive data gathering in the global setting, often involving long periods of time abroad, have to be balanced against the ability to carry out the research at all and the rarity of the data.