This paper, presented at the 1988 International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS), explores the combination of qualitative and quantitative methods in information systems research. The authors, Bonnie Kaplan and Dennis Duchon, conducted a longitudinal study at a midwestern urban university medical center, focusing on the implementation of a commercial laboratory computer information system. The study involved open-ended interviews, participant observation, and a survey of laboratory staff to understand their perceptions and experiences with the new system. The research found that combining qualitative and quantitative methods enriched the findings, revealing important differences in how individual technologists and laboratories perceived the system. Factor analysis of the survey data confirmed themes from qualitative data, such as increased workload and improved report quality. However, no systematic differences were found in job characteristics due to the computer system, suggesting that the system's impact was more nuanced. A theoretical model was developed to explain these differences, highlighting that technologists could be categorized into those oriented towards process (laboratory bench work) and those oriented towards product (result reporting). This model helped interpret the results and explain why job characteristic measures did not correlate with system outcomes. The study concludes that combining qualitative and quantitative methods is valuable for gaining a deeper understanding of information systems. It emphasizes the need for context-specific measures and a focus on the processes rather than just outcomes. The authors advocate for a variety of research approaches to advance the field of information systems.This paper, presented at the 1988 International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS), explores the combination of qualitative and quantitative methods in information systems research. The authors, Bonnie Kaplan and Dennis Duchon, conducted a longitudinal study at a midwestern urban university medical center, focusing on the implementation of a commercial laboratory computer information system. The study involved open-ended interviews, participant observation, and a survey of laboratory staff to understand their perceptions and experiences with the new system. The research found that combining qualitative and quantitative methods enriched the findings, revealing important differences in how individual technologists and laboratories perceived the system. Factor analysis of the survey data confirmed themes from qualitative data, such as increased workload and improved report quality. However, no systematic differences were found in job characteristics due to the computer system, suggesting that the system's impact was more nuanced. A theoretical model was developed to explain these differences, highlighting that technologists could be categorized into those oriented towards process (laboratory bench work) and those oriented towards product (result reporting). This model helped interpret the results and explain why job characteristic measures did not correlate with system outcomes. The study concludes that combining qualitative and quantitative methods is valuable for gaining a deeper understanding of information systems. It emphasizes the need for context-specific measures and a focus on the processes rather than just outcomes. The authors advocate for a variety of research approaches to advance the field of information systems.