Theme 3

Journal: International Journal of Computer Vision
A popular journal which publishes journals in the growing field of Computer vision. Covers math, applications and the connection between computer and the human eye. The journal have a broad content in the field. [1]

Paper: Smart Grid Technologies: Communication Technologies and Standards
(journal: Industrial Informatics, IEEE Transactions on [6])
A research paper presenting the current state of the smart grid, a new, more efficient and reliable infrastructure compared to the current power grid. It focuses on providing an understanding on the current state of technologies in the field, and also on what is happening in the current research.
The paper goes through the current power grid and why it needs an upgrade, and the smart grid technologies with advantages, disadvantages and requirements [3]. Facts, backed up with references are represented along with figure and tables. The paper is quite easy to read for the common reader (some tech things in the later part of the paper can get tricky). The paper is also divided into chapters that make sense in the way they are arranged.

Question 1: What theories are and what they are not
According to the published paper “What Theory Is Not”, it is easier to claim what theory is not, rather what it is. In short, 1.references, 2. data 3. lists of variables or constructs (theory must bind them together) 4. diagrams or figures - are not theories. However, the authors agree that the answer to Why? can be a theory. ([4], pages 371-377)

Question 2: Major theory and which theory type
The major theory I would say, is the establishment of an understanding on the current state of the smart grid. Therefore, I believe the theory type to be Explanation ([5], pages 619-620).

Question 3: Benefits and limitations of using the selected theory or theories?
The Explanation theory can be used to promote further research in the field for the interested ([5], page 619). In the abstract, the authors of the paper mentions this, “… provoke interest among the the research community…” ([3], page 529). In the conclusion, the authors also invites to future work and suggests a number of topics to complete the overview on Smart Grid Technologies ([3], page 537).
The limitation of the theory is that it doesn’t have propositions and predictions. ([5], page 620)

References
[1]
http://www.springer.com/computer/image+processing/journal/11263 Retrieved 2015 sep.
[3]
Gungor, V.C.; Sahin, D.; Kocak, T.; Ergut, S.; Buccella, C.; Cecati, C.; Hancke, G.P., "Smart Grid Technologies: Communication Technologies and Standards," in Industrial Informatics, IEEE Transactions on , vol.7, no.4, pp.529-539, Nov. 2011
[4]
Sutton, R. I. & Staw, B. M. (1995). What Theory is Not. Administrative Science Quarterly, 40(3), 371-384.
[5]
Gregor, S. (2006). The Nature of Theory in Information Systems. MIS Quarterly, 30(3), 611-642.
[6]
http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/RecentIssue.jsp?punumber=9424 Retrieved 2015 sep.