Challenges for Participatory Action Research in Industry-Funded Information Systems Projects

The purpose of this position paper is to open a discussion about the practicability of participatory action research (PAR) within industry-funded information systems (IS)research. We reflect on a project in which the undue exercise of power by the practitioners on the research team compromised the methodological rigor of the inquiry. Theories of power are used to articulate our reflections and develop suggestions for mitigating power imbalances on PAR research teams, although we conclude that PAR cannot be followed faithfully to its principles in industry-funded engagements.