Global Information Technology Research: Past, Present And Future¹

Research into Global Information Technology is only a few years old. However, even in this short span, the definition of global IT has evolved. This article first provides a three-part definition of global IT, and then goes on to examine the state of global IT research to date. Most research until now has been descriptive and exploratory. A case is made for conducting more rigorous and meaningful research in the future. Dubbed as "second generation research in global IT", the various elements of such research are described. The intent is to provide a good foundation for research in global IT.