Post-Hunton: Reclaiming our integrity and literature

A Bentley University investigation of allegations of data fabrication by Jim Hunton concludes that “[t]he whole body of Dr. Hunton’s extensive research while a faculty member at Bentley University must now be considered suspect” (Malone 2014, 5). Jim served as president of the Information Systems (IS) Section of the American Accounting Association (AAA) in 2002–2003, and is the most cited author in the Journal of Information Systems (JIS) (Guffey and Harp 2013). This essay is a personal reflection on, with proposed lessons for the AIS community from, the Hunton fraud. These include developing skepticism, recognizing the limited usefulness of Cressey’s fraud “stump” (formerly triangle), noting the dysfunctional implications of agency theory, and adopting contemplative practices designed to increase observational awareness.