¹Information Systems and Innovation Group, Department of Management, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, U.K.

Correspondence: Leslie Willcocks, Information Systems and Innovation Group, Department of Management, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, U.K. E-mail: willcockslp@aol.com

Received 2 January 2008; Revised 5 March 2008; Accepted 9 March 2008.

Abstract

The Information Systems and Innovation Group at the London School of Economics has developed a distinct profile of social theory driven research across a wide range of mainstream and specialist IS topics. In this paper, we explain why we do not find existing IS journal rankings appropriate for the assessment of quality of the publications of our Group. We present a set of lists of internationally recognised outlets that we provide to the committee responsible for promotions decisions in our university and we use to advise junior staff and students on where they should publish their work. In addition to these lists, decisions on research quality in our university require the opinion of specialist experts on both the particular outlet of a publication and the publication itself. We argue for the merits of our research quality assessment approach and reflect on its risks.