It is tempting to think that, in the year 2001, our technology is very sophisticated and accordingly, it is very tempting to believe that present-day computer technology is “very advanced” (begging the question of to what?). The fact is that we have only just begun to develop computer technology, and the recent implementation of the Internet brings us to a special threshold in that development. Development stages require very careful and thoughtful management. What we do now in this present development stage will be profoundly important for future generations. The management of the foundation for the 'evolution' of computer technology is a very special case because it will also become intimately connected with the management of mankind itself, not only in groups or collectively but also, eventually, as a species.

The Internet is a vast multi-disciplined array of information that potentially invades and affects the very essence of our lives. It is no thundering insight to say that we all have to manage our lives. But at the beginning of the twenty-first century–for those of us who consider information, knowledge, global third-dimensional communication and local and global business important–our lives are becoming inextricably bound into the Internet: we now need to manage our lives and our interests vis-à-vis the Internet. Accordingly, any collection of papers about ‘management issues’ arising out of the use of the Internet should be, given the prior basis, to some degree multi-disciplined in nature.

This book extends the existing discipline of information systems insofar as it has been put together as a collection of chapters with what is anticipated to be elements of the future discipline of information systems in mind. Most of the chapters have been contributed by academics from within the area of information systems, but importantly, in addition, there is one chapter on Internet data mining from two mathematicians, one chapter on on-line data from two psychologists and two chapters from academics working in the area of the philosophy of information technology. Another two chapters elucidate the theme of sustainability on the Internet.