Today I talk with dr. Steven Alter, Professor Emeritus at University of San Francisco. Prof. Alter is the author of seven published books and many journal articles. His work is published in some of the top journals in the IS field. Over the course of many years of research he developed a systems analysis method for business professionals called the Work System Method. His published work describes work system theory and useful extensions related to work system principles, work system design spaces, workarounds, system interactions, and tools for establishing more effective communication between business and IT professionals. Through his work prof. Alter is recognized for creating an integrated conceptual basis for understanding and analyzing IT-reliant systems from a business viewpoint. Today with professor Alter we discuss research motivated by philosophical pragmatism. We discuss the need for clear concepts, the quest to be pragmatic, the problem of method in IS field and  the issue of whether the wider world would care if the IS academic field stops existing. With this I bring you prof. Alter.