AIS Community Spotlight: SIG DITE's PhD Research Academy, Digital Research Seminars, and More

The AIS Special Interest Group on Digital Innovation, Transformation, and Entrepreneurship (AIS SIG DITE) has recently announced the launch of the AIS SIG DITE PhD Research Academy and the continuation of the SIG DITE Digital Research Seminar Series. These educational programs support the SIG’s vision to become a strong, supportive, and engaged community in IS scholarship by building the strategic pillars of education, empowerment, and engagement. SIG leadership sees these initiatives and their PhD workshop series and annual professional development workshop (PDW) as foundational seeds for building a robust community.

The AIS SIG DITE PhD Research Academy is a newly launched collaborative initiative designed to connect top scholars with PhD students and early-career researchers. Spearheaded by AIS SIG DITE PhD Student Ambassadors Ann-Katrin Eicke of the University of Münster and Oliver Vetter of TU Darmstadt, this program facilitates mentorship by hosting presenters who will share practical tips and hands-on advice on various research methodologies.

SIG leaders conducted a small survey among their junior scholars in 2023, in which “choosing and applying methods that are suitable for their research questions” was often mentioned as a significant hurdle faced by the participants. When asked what they would like to take away from SIG events, 70 % of junior scholars said they would like to gain hands-on knowledge of methods used in DITE studies and 77 % wished to network with senior scholars. The Academy is the SIG’s response to help them overcome their pain points on their journey to becoming the next generation of DITE scholars.

Now in its third year, the AIS SIG DITE Digital Research Seminar Series is established as a platform for scholars, PhD students, and early-career researchers to engage in meaningful discussions on cutting-edge digital research. The monthly seminars feature well-established as well as emerging scholars on topical subjects within the DITE domain. The series is a forum for the members of SIG DITE and interested fellow scholars to exchange the latest research ideas, update the community about breakthrough papers, and get feedback about work in progress. Presenters in the first quarter of the 2024 series include Sabine Brunswicker of Purdue University, Eleu Ellinger of Stockholm School of Economics, and Tobias Kircher of TU Munich.

Besides such digital initiatives, AIS SIG DITE has organized an in-person paper development workshop in late 2023. At the University of Miami, over 50 participants, including 14 distinguished mentors, came together to discuss papers and posters, engage in panel discussions, and strengthen the bond of the community. Building on the successful first in-person paper development workshop after two digital rounds, SIG DITE has now started planning for a subsequent edition in 2024.

All programs reflect AIS SIG DITE's commitment to nurturing a vibrant and inclusive digital research community. By providing a space for knowledge sharing, mentorship, and collaborative learning, these initiatives contribute significantly to the growth and advancement of digital research practices.

Established in 2019, AIS SIG DITE has been recognized as an AIS Outstanding Community in each of the three years of its eligibility. To learn more about the special interest group and to RSVP for SIG DITE programming, visit http://sigdite.aisnet.org.