Is information systems an intellectual subject? (Is IS an IS?)

Is Information Systems an Intellectual Subject, or an Academic Subject, or an Academic Discipline? And does it matter? Taking the particular perspective of the author, this paper discusses these questions with a view to raising debate in the Information Systems (IS) community about some of the current pitfalls in IS, such as inappropriate claiming of expertise in other disciplines, and the widespread malpractice concerning research methods and methodologies. The issue of change is addressed from the perspective of misuses (Exaggerations, Explanations and Enigmas) of the issue and how this adds to the pitfalls. A particular definition of research is examined, whose inclusiveness provides some potential relief. The conclusions offer hope and a way forward.