True systems thinking can contribute to resolving all three dilemmas.

As for the technology vs. behavior dilemma, a true systems approach tells us that the concept of “technology vs. behavior” is a false dichotomy and that the correct concept is “technology-behavior interactions.”  The resolution to the dilemma is not to choose either technology or behavior, or to do some research on technology and to do other research on behavior; the resolution is for IS research to study both technology and behavior where, moreover, both are studied at the same time.  This means that behavioral IS researchers need to master the technological, and technological IS researchers need to master the behavioral.

As for the “reference discipline” vs. “independent discipline” dilemma, a true systems approach tells us that no existing reference discipline – whether technological or behavioral – is adequate to address the interactive dynamics between the two subsystems.  This leaves us with the “independent discipline” alternative.  Earlier, I said that this horn of the dilemma was infeasible because there are no clear expectations or blueprints for how we should develop the IS field.  Well, my conclusion now is that there is a necessity and there is an imperative for the IS field to become an independent discipline, and we can proceed to make this option feasible by drawing up a blueprint using a true systems approach as our guide.  Ironically, this is how our field originally started out and this was even reflected in our name, “information systems.”  I believe that returning to one of our founding ideals can hardly be controversial.

As for the rigor vs. relevance dilemma, I know of nobody who would argue that the systems approach lacks rigor.  And depending on how the systems approach is applied, it can be entirely relevant and applicable to real-life people in real-life organizations – and for examples of this, I refer you to the sociotechnical systems studies that were performed in Europe, but which, unfortunately, never really took hold in North America.