Action research in information systems design

Abstract

This is the second of two papers on research in information systems design. The first looked at current problems in the design of computer-based information systems and at the threads in the design process, ie the designer, the methodology and the situation. The outcome was a proposal for methods of information systems analysis and design which took account of the various different viewpoints of the proposed system (the organization, the information model, the socio-technical system, the human-computer interaction and the technical perspective). The proposal needed to be tested and the only real test would have to be a real-life design exercise in which the proposed methods were used. This paper describes how the author selected a method of testing the proposed methods and the action research project that was undertaken.