Editorial Preface
Abstract
Editor's Desk The World IT Project: A Program on International Research and Call for Participation Prashant Palvia, Editor in Chief, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, pcpalvia@uncg.edu Much of the research in information systems and information technology (IS/IT) has been dominated by a U.S-centric or a Western-centric view. Research paradigms and models developed for the U.S. and Western Europe are just that; they are applicable primarily to the western context. Unsuspecting researchers have taken the same models and applied them to other nations, e.g., underdeveloped countries, emerging economies, transitional economies, and middle-eastern countries. The results have been misguided and spurious in many cases. This is not to suggest that serious efforts have not been made by selected investigators to address unique issues in various regions of the world using paradigms applicable to the context. In fact, some have risen to the challenge in limited domains. But these efforts have been limited at best. What is sorely lacking is a world view that tries to understand the major IS issues in the world in the context of their unique cultural, economic, political, religious and societal environments. If we are able to accomplish this rather expansive goal, it will not be