COM332 – SA3 Methods and Methodologies

Themes –Methods and methodologies –Tools and techniques for IS development –Responsible systems development –Why things go wrong?

Questions to be asked: –What is a methodology? –What is a method? –What is a tool? –What is a technique? –What is responsible systems development?

Information system –Processes and information –Effective operation of the organisation Computer-based information system –Use computer –To process data. Speedily & accurately –Provide information When and where required Which is complete and correct level of detail Technology is a part of the system

Methodology = Study of methods In information systems –Methodology = method Methodology –Collection of procedure, techniques, tools and documentation aids which will help the system developers in their efforts to implement a new information system

Methodology (SSADM) is a collection of Methods/Procedures (data analysis – orderly arrangement of ideas about a particular topic) PLUS Techniques (normalisation - way of doing a particular activity) WITHIN the framework of an Approach or paradigm (reductionalist, functionalist) Not merely a collection of procedures, techniques and tools –Based on some ‘philosophical’ view

Methodologies differs in –Recording accurately the user requirements –Providing a systematic method of development so that the progress can be effectively monitored –Providing an information system within an appropriate time limit and acceptable cost –Producing a system which is well documented and easy to maintain –Providing an indication of changes that need to be made as early as possible in the development process –Providing a system that is liked by those people affected by that system Applying a particular development method has important social consequence

Classifying the methodologies Classification by focus – Leavitt’s diamond technology | ETHICS | SSADM | people tasks | SSM | planning (CSFs) | organisation

Leavitt’s Diamond Leavitt’s diamond model describes organisations as consisting of four interrelated components –Tasks –Technology –People –Structure They have strong interdependence –Changes in technology affect the way individuals relate to the tasks they are responsible for performing as well as the organisational structure

Leavitt’s theory can be applied in the study of software development –Tasks Expected outcomes in terms of Goals and Deliverables –Technology Development tools and Technical platform –People Users, Managers and Designers –Structure Organisation

Technology – Tasks –How technologies fit with tasks –Selection of an appropriate software development technology Technology – People –Matching people with technology –Job satisfaction –Professional esteem –Motivation

People – Organisation –Interaction between people and organisation –Values and beliefs –Behaviour and expectations Technology – Organisation –How organisations can carry out development tasks –Planning –CSF

Classification by paradigm (world–view) –Allows to distinguish the alternative approaches in a simplified manner objectivesubjective order conflict Radical structuralism The analyst as labour partisan Neo-humanism The analyst as emancipator or social therapist Functionalism The analyst as systems expert Social relativism The analyst as facilitator

Paradigm –Specific way of thinking about a problem –Consists of Assumptions about knowledge and How to acquire it and about the physical and social world System developers –Conduct enquiry as a part of system design –Intervene social world as a part of system implementation Epistemological assumptions –Those associated with the way in which system developers acquire knowledge needed to design the system Ontological assumptions –Those which relate to the social and technical world

Two types of assumptions about knowledge and the world are given by Burrel and Morgan [1979] –Subjectivist–objectivist dimension –Order–conflict dimension

–Objectivist Apply models and methods derived from the natural science to the study of human affairs Treats social world as natural world –Subjectivist Denies the appropriateness of natural science methods for studying social world Subjective experience of individuals –The way in which the individual creates modifies and interprets the world –Order Emphasize the social world characterised by order, stability, integration, consensus and functional co-ordination –Conflict Emphasize change, conflict, disintegration etc.

Functionalist –Concerned with providing explanations of the social order, social integration, need of satisfaction and rational choice –Individual elements of a social system interact to form an integrated system Social relativist –Individual consensus and subjectivity Radical structuralist –Emphasize the need to overthrow the limitations placed on existing social and organisational arrangements –Focuses on the structure and analysis of economic power relationships Neohumanist –Seeks radical change, emancipation and potentiality –Stresses the the role that different social and organisational forces play in understanding the change –Focuses on all kind of barriers and seeks ways to overcome them

The analyst as System Expert –All information system are designed to contribute to specific ends –Management provide leadership Knows the ends –Ends are translated and specified in terms of systems objectives –Ends can be viewed and articulated –Tools and methods are choice of means to a pre- specified end –Analyst an expert in technology, tools and methods of systems design and project management –Makes the development more formal and rational

Analyst as Facilitator –Recognises the ends is not easily obtained Complex and elusive –There is no single reality, only different perceptions about it –The role of people in shaping reality is unclear –Management tries to make sense of the confusion –IS are part of continually changing social environment Should help in finding which ends are suitable and feasible –System developer Interact with managers to find out what type of system required –No objective criteria Should work from within the users perspective to help them to find the preferred view Should ease the transition from one view point to other –Systems emerge through social interaction

Analyst as a Labour Partisan –There is a fundamental social conflict Exists between those who own the sources of production and labor –Systems development intervene the conflict Owners become the beneficiaries and labor become the victims –Developer Side with management and become their agent –Systems would rationalise the interests of management and the owners –Developer will direct the system rationalisation against workers interests »Replacing the typewriter with a word processor Join the interest of labor –Designing systems to help their interests –Use of technology enhance the labor’s traditional skill –Make the work more rewarding and deliver better product

Analyst as Emancipator – Social Therapist –Constructed from theory –Through IS development organisational life changed, rationality of the change is constrained by social influence –Human being seeks knowledge to exercise better control over nature and people and there by rationalise the work – technical knowledge interest –IS is an important resource for achieving technical knowledge also mutual understanding (improving the understanding of one’s culture) and emancipation (establishment of truth and justice to regulate all human affairs) –In persuing the knowledge interest in emancipation the developer elicit a shared understanding of many obstacles to human communication –Developer needs to acquire appreciation of different view points

Analyst as Emancipator – Social Therapist –Systems would have features to support technical knowledge interest (functionalist influence) –Systems should support the creation of shared meanings and reflect the knowledge in mutual understanding (similar to social relativism) –There would be a comprehensive set of features to support emancipatory discourse –IS development goal Information systems are developed to remove distorting influences and other barriers to rational discourse. Institutionalise the ideal speech situation which in turn validates a consensus about system objectives and modes of design implementation –Ideal speech situation would legitimate a moving balance between the three objectives of system development »Improved technical control »Better mutual understanding »Continued emancipation from unwarranted social constraints and psychological compulsions