In 1994 Rick Watson challenged the MIS community to "take the lead in using technology to create a broad, dynamic, productive community" [Watson, 1994]. Four years later, we contend that the infrastructure for knowledge creation and dissemination within the information systems field remains inadequate and lags considerably behind other technologically sophisticated fields. Analysis of some previous initiatives suggests lack of effective leadership, inadequate institutional support, as well as a tendency towards exploratory rather than theory driven studies. We have also seen that reward system issues have hindered electronic publishing as well as investigations of new forms of instructional technology.

We propose a broad research program and methodology similar to that of the Space Shuttle, that we believe responds to many of these concerns. The essential objective is to harness researchers, faculty, and students from throughout the United States and the rest of the world to the creation, use, and exploration of a virtual learning environment. Such a vehicle would initially focus on a particularly dynamic body of knowledge, electronic commerce.

We would emulate three key elements of the Space Shuttle program. First is the notion of a shared platform with certain known capabilities and mission. In this case the platform has joint objectives of providing on-line education in electronic commerce while also providing a platform for the study of virtual organization and virtual learning environments. The second element is comprised of the various independent research initiatives that are carried aboard the shuttle and then executed by the shuttles crew. The third is the wide spread sharing of research results. Similarly to NASA, that is " deeply committed to spreading the unique knowledge that flows from its aeronautics and space research [NASA, 1998], we would seek worldwide distribution of our data and methodologies as well as our research reports.

While it does allow experimentation with new forms of instruction, the research focus is on the principles of virtual organization, a topic falling appropriately within the purview of information systems and its closely related fields. A number of mechanisms are included, so as to increase the credibility, visibility, and institutionalization of the initiative. Among these are attempts to attract external funding, involvement of affiliated faculty, the global reach of the project, the choice of the subject matter, the involvement of a practitioner advisory board, and, to provide legitimization, potential linkages with key institutions within the field.