Information system science, defined broadly, is highly interdisciplinary because it can be seen as the effective analysis, design, delivery, use, and impact of infor­ mation technology in organizations and society. Many basic as well as advanced books on information systems and their development apply approaches and theo­ ries from such disciplines as technology, management science, economics, math­ ematics, psychology, sociology, and philosophy. Such new branches of information system science as mobile information systems, multimedia informa­ tion systems, telematic commerce, and cooperative work support systems have incorporated theories from such disciplines as organization science, education sciences, communication science, and musicology. Objectives and Uses of This Book This book focuses on various issues in information systems and their develop­ ment, as well as on the advanced utilization of new information technology. The fields and issues that are analyzed in this book have not been discussed in the same context in the current scientific literature, although they are becoming more important in information systems development. This book includes both theoreti­ cal foundations and practical approaches for each topic, and therefore it is of rel­ evance both to scientists of information systems and to practitioners in information systems development, introduction, and use. Large companies and software houses will also find this book useful in its discussion of methods for evaluating information technologies, systems, methodologies, and tools. Our col­ leagues have expressed a need for this kind of book. We offer new perspectives on key topics in information systems research.