The goal of this book is to serve as a gathering of knowledge and ideas
at the intersection of the human resource management (HRM) and
management information systems (MIS)/information technology (IT) fields.
In striving toward achieving this goal we have relied on authors who
responded to our call for work within this intersection. As described
more fully below, the chapters clustered into four topic areas: (1)
effective management of IT workers, (2) IT workers and their careers,
(3) diversity in IT, and (4) organizational issues. Thus, this book
focuses on selected areas within the intersection of these fields rather
than covering the entire intersection. Of course, the broad goal of this
book could not be completely fulfilled - and even if it were, such
knowledge would be continually overtaken by the ongoing evolution of
people, technology, and their interactions. However, in the process of
undertaking this project, we have had the opportunity to make some
observations about the current state of knowledge regarding IT workers,
the human capital that makes it possible for organizations in a
knowledge-based economy to plan, create, integrate, operate, and
maintain their various IT-based systems.