Information Systems Design Methodologies Research Articles

Smart City Architecture Development Framework (SCADEF)

Smart City is a city that implements the latest technologies, such as big data, IoT, Artificial Intelligence, and other new technologies. Smart City has different system characteristics than other systems. Smart City involves several independent stakeholders, so the development of a smart city needs to be designed with a system analysis system and service-based planning. Smart City Architecture Development Methodology (SCADM) has been defined from the previous research. However, the existing Enterprise Architecture approach has yet to specify the artefact to complete the framework. This study recommends the Smart City Architecture Framework (SCADEF) as a comprehensive Enterprise Architecture Framework to develop Smart City Architecture. The architecture framework produced by SCADEF becomes the proposed architecture framework for realizing Smart City. SCADEF consists of SCADM, Meta-model Smart City Architecture Development Methodology Artefact, and guidelines by the implementation SCADEF. The research uses observation, classification, and construction methodologies in Information System Design Methodology. In addition, this study also tested the framework by implementing it on city objects. This implementation is a practical test tool for the resulting enterprise architecture framework. This study implemented SCADEF in the education and health field at Bandung Smart City. Implementing testing on the implementation of SCADEF is to explain the implementation in Bandung Smart City and ask for an assessment from enterprise architecture experts. The results of the expert assessments were calculated statistically to assess the methodology, artefacts, and uses. The measurement results show that SCADEF can be accepted and used to develop enterprise smart city architecture.

Information Systems Development Methodologies: A Review Through a Teleology Approach

The information systems analysis and design methodologies devised at the outbreak of the third industrial revolution shaped the systems analysis disciple and have trickled down to all systems influencing most aspects of human development. To cope with the explosion of digital technology, these methodologies had to be developed rapidly, drawing from a wide range of theoretical backgrounds, based mainly on the “hard” scientific method and the “softer” systems approach. In the run-up to industry 4.0, with multiple information systems emerging, reflection on systems’ design fundamentals is important. Intended to serve human activity and well-being, information systems are anthropocentric. Their success lies in their ability to serve human goals. Information systems analysis and design methodologies play a role in this by ensuring the best match between what is sought from systems and what they deliver in terms of the systems’ underlying final cause, or “telos”. The paper investigates the teleological orientation of four founding systems analysis and design methodologies. Using the Wood-Harper and Fitzgerald taxonomy in order to identify the conceptual origins of the four methodologies under review, it categorizes and subsequently incorporates them in an extended taxonomy, assesses whether and how they are devised to cater to the incorporation of goals and explains the inferred results based on the taxonomy. The paper posits that the founding information systems analysis and design methodologies do not have a marked teleological orientation and do not dispose of techniques for adequately incorporating systems’ goals. Doi: 10.28991/HIJ-2021-02-04-09 Full Text: PDF

Designing antifragile social-technical information systems in an era of big data

PurposeTo explore the value and the case for designing antifragile socio-technical information systems (IS) in an era of big data, moving beyond traditional notions of IS design towards systems that can leverage uncertainty for gains.Design/methodology/approachA design science research (DSR) approach was adopted, comprising four stages, including problem identification and solutions definition, conceptual artifact or socio-technical system design, preliminary evaluation, and communication and knowledge capture.FindingsA conceptual socio-technical artifact that identifies antecedents to antifragile IS design. When operationalised, the antecedents may produce the desired antifragile outcome. The antecedents are categorised as value propositions, design decisions and system capabilities.Research limitations/implicationsThis research is conceptual in nature, applied and evaluated in a single big data analytics case study in Facebook-Cambridge Analytica. Future research should empirically validate across a range of real-world big data contexts, beyond the presented case study.Practical implicationsUncertainty generally results in socio-technical system failures, impacting individuals, organisations and communities. Conversely, antifragile IS can respond favourably to the shocks and stressors brought forth by periods of elevated uncertainty.Social implicationsAntifragile IS can drive socio-technical systems to respond favourably to uncertainty and stressors. Typically, these socio-technical systems are large, complex structures, with increased connectivity and the requirement to generate, process, analyse and use large datasets. When these systems fail, it affects individuals, organisations and communities.Originality/valueExisting IS design methodologies and frameworks largely ignore antifragility as a possible designable outcome. Extant research is limited to abstract architectural design, and approaches based on the proposition of principles. This research contributes to knowledge of antifragile IS design, by deriving a conceptual artifact or socio-technical system based on antecedent-outcome relationships that leverage uncertainty towards performance gains.

Evolution and Development Prospects of Information System Design Methodologies

AbstractThe article investigates different approaches to the design of information systems. Much attention is paid to comparative analysis of criteria for selecting methodologies for software development, and also to not well-known methodology of DevOps (Development & Operation) [1], [2], which aims at consolidation of software developers (Development) and IT professionals’ (Operation) efforts, and automation of implementation process. In conclusion, based on the retrospective analysis and practical experience, the authors formulate regularities and prospects of information systems design methodology development.

Sustainable Development Indicators: The Tyranny of Methodology Revisited

Indicators are increasingly dominating our lives; whether we are aware of it or not. They have been popular tools for sustainable development policy makers, planners and managers, largely because they do the hard work of condensing complexity into single values that can be more easily digested and acted upon. But much power rests with those who select the indicators deemed to be important. This paper explores some of these issues at what is now regarded by some as the new frontier in „indicatorology‟; their use and influence. The authors argue that a new tyranny of methodology may be at play. Author’s Note Dr. Simon Bell is a Senior Lecturer in Information Systems at the Open University. His background is multidisciplinary, with a strong emphasis on research methods development, information systems design and monitoring and evaluation. Simon co-developed and refined the information systems analysis and design methodology „Multiview‟ and developed various project planning methods. Working with the European Union and UNEP he worked across the Mediterranean on a series of coastal area management projects refining and adapting participatory methods in information collection and presentation from a diverse variety of stakeholder groups. More recently, with Professor Stephen Morse, he has co-developed the Triple Task Method for the European Union FP7 programme. The method innovates in the area of engaging with and exploring group dynamics in a range of stakeholder participatory engagements. Dr. Bell has written and published widely in the areas of participatory methods, information systems and methodology development. Stephen Morse is Chair in Systems Analysis for Sustainability at the Centre for Environmental Strategy, University of Surrey. His background is in the biological sciences, with a specialism in the theory and practice of sustainability. Steve has been involved in sustainable development projects and research for nearly 30 years, and his research interests are broad spanning both the natural and social sciences. Research projects have included work on the socioeconomic impacts of genetically modified crops, the analysis of partnership within faith-based aid chains and the influence of indicators on policy (with Simon Bell). Steve is an author of more than 80 research papers and 15 books including „Sustainability; A biological perspective‟

The Innovation of Multiview3 for Development Professionals

AbstractThe Multiview Methodology for Information Systems Development has never been a widely used or mass‐market approach. It has always had a small user base, a localised approach to a global issue: coherent IS development. This paper concerns the underreported innovation of the Multiview3 methodology for Information systems analysis, design and development –specifically designed for non‐specialists working in developing countries. The innovation emerged from the identification of a methodological ‘gap’ in support for non‐specialists struggling with Information Systems problem structuring challenges. The Multiview3 story tells us how IS methodology can be innovated to address the needs of users. This version of Multiview is argued to be theoretically distinct from previous versions in terms of its focus (developing countries) and application (problem solving and co‐learning in practice).

A Tale of Action-Research in Information Systems: Memories of a Ph.D. Student

This paper tells the tale of a Ph.D. student who used action-research to establish an information systems design methodology. It describes how he initiated his project, how he came across action-research, and how he slowly evolved in his search for coherence until he felt he could progress confidently. The paper is mainly intended to offer to readers who are unfamiliar with action-research a context where they can become aware of some of the difficulties of its use how they can be solved, and recognize some criteria that can be met to ensure that the results obtained are scientifically valid. The paper concludes by reflecting on the close relationship between action-research and the epistemology of the information systems field, suggesting that this relationship should be the object of further exploration.

A Synergy Between the Technological Process and a Methodology for Web Design: Implications for Technological Problem Solving and Design

Traditional instructional methodology in the Information System Design (ISD) environment lacks explicit strategies for promoting the cognitive skills of prospective system designers. This contributes to the fragmented knowledge and low motivational and creative involvement of learners in system design tasks. In addition, present ISD methodologies, including web design methodologies, do not focus sufficiently on technological problem solving and design. Engagement in system design tasks demands critical thinking [Shelly, Cashman & Rosenblatt, 2001, Systems Analysis and Design, 4th edn. Course Technology, Boston] and abstraction skills [Harris, 1999, Systems Analysis and Design for the Small Enterprise, The Dryden Press, Harcourt Brace College Publishers, Fort Worth]. The aim of this paper is to explain a synergy between the technological process and web design methodology and its influence on the development of the cognitive skills of learners in the ISD context. In this research, the Team Structure Software Process (TSSP) methodology was integrated with the stages of the technological process. An interface approach between Information Systems and Technology Education was adopted during the implementation of an Instructional Web Design Program (IWDP), which served as a framework for building a software product. This research was based on a qualitative, action-research approach where individual interviews, focus group interviews, observation and document sources were used to gather data. Seventeen students at an institution of higher education were observed and their experiences were investigated through a focus group interview, journals and an essay. In addition, an interview with the teacher was conducted to investigate her thoughts and feelings during the implementation of the IWDP. During the implementation of the IWDP, multi-method learning was promoted, enlarging learners' insight into the design process and a climate for enhancing intellectual processes and skills created [Jakovljevic, 2002, An Instructional Model for Teaching Complex Thinking through Web Page Design, DEd thesis, Rand Afrikaan University, Johannesburg]

Workflow analysis with communication norms

The language/action perspective (LAP) as orginally introduced by Winograd and Flores has inspired several tools and information system design methodologies. The goal of this article is to make the communication norms underlying various LAP workflow loop models (DEMO, ActionWorkflow) explicit and to contrast them with the auditing norms of internal control. It appears that the communicative action paradigm embedded in DEMO and the customer satisfaction orientation of ActionWorkflow lead to norms which resemble the ones required by internal control, but there are some important differences. For that reason, we propose an extended workflow loop model that distinguishes between customer relations and agency relations. Whereas current LAP approaches do not take agency relations explicitly into account, the extended workflow loop model allows us to analyze the effects of delegation on communicative processes. A framework is offered for the normative analysis of workflows based on a number of formalized communication norms.

Towards an integrating programme for information systems design: an Oriental case

The field of information systems design (ISD) is in a state of fragmentation; further, it has proved not easy to integrate embracing ontology and pluralist epistemology into user-friendly methodologies able to facilitate disciplinary and creative ISD actions. These difficulties are addressed via an Oriental approach, WSR (relations with the world, the mind and others), which draws upon ancient Chinese thought and contemporary management practice in China. WSR has been used to help IS developers and users in viewing ISD as a technical–cognitive–social whole, shaping ISD as an issue–task matrix, guiding ISD as a spiral learning and bubble-management process, enhancing participation by transforming management–ISD methodologies, and identifying further research areas. It is suggested that ISD will benefit from conscious mutual learning between the Western spirit of critical rigour and the Eastern flexible pragmatic mindset.

FOOM - Functional and Object-Oriented Analysis and Design of Information Systems

We propose FOOM (Functional and Object-Oriented Methodology), an integrated methodology for information systems analysis and design, which combines two essential software-engineering paradigms: the functional/data approach (or process-oriented) and the object-oriented (OO) approach. System analysis phase, where user requirements are set and defined, includes functional analysis and data modeling activities. This phase produces a hierarchy of data flow diagrams (DFD) and an initial OO schema, which can be created directly or from an entity-relationship diagram (ERD). The design phase is performed according to the OO approach, producing a complete OO schema and a behavior schema. The seamless transition from analysis to design is enabled thanks to ADISSA methodology, which facilitates the design of the menus, forms and reports classes, and the system behavior schema, from the DFDs and the application transactions. The paper introduces the motivation for the combined approach, outlines the methodology, and presents an example that demonstrates it.

The use of business process modelling in information systems security analysis and design

The increasing reliance of organisations on information systems connected to or extending over open data networks has established information security as a critical success factor for modern organisations. Risk analysis appears to be the predominant methodology for the introduction of security in information systems (IS). However, risk analysis is based on a very simple model of IS as consisting of assets, mainly data, hardware and software, which are vulnerable to various threats. Thus, risk analysis cannot provide for an understanding of the organisational environment in which IS operate. We believe that a comprehensive methodology for information systems security analysis and design (IS‐SAD) should incorporate both risk analysis and organisational analysis, based on business process modelling (BPM) techniques. This paper examines the possible contribution of BPM techniques to IS‐SAD and identifies the conceptual and methodological requirements for a technique to be used in this context. Based on these requirements, several BPM techniques have been reviewed. The review reveals the need for either adapting and combining current techniques or developing new, specialised ones.

Object-oriented process development in the M*-OBJECT methodology

This paper describes a methodological step for the construction of process specifications in the M*-OBJECT information system design methodology. The process construction integrates an object-oriented approach to the specification of system components with a set of composition rules for the integration of components' behavior. First of all, the Process and Data Net (PDN) model (which is the basic specification tool of the M*-OBJECT methodology) is briefly illustrated. The PDN model integrates the representation of static, dynamic, and behavioral aspects of a database application, and it is based on an object-oriented data model and a process model. The first is used to describe static and behavioral aspects of objects which represent system components, while the latter describes in which way organization activities are co-ordinated. Then the co-ordination method for behavior composition is specified. It starts from the nets which describe the communications and the control of the classes that represent the system components involved into the process, and constructs the executable specification of the same process.

Process and data nets: the conceptual model of the M*-OBJECT methodology

The paper describes a specification model, called the Process and Data Net (PDN) model, used as the modeling tool for the M*-OBJECT information system design methodology. The model integrates the representation of static, dynamic, and behavioral aspects of a database application. PDN consists of two components: an object-oriented data model that describes static and behavioral aspects of objects of the system under analysis, and a process model that specifies a way organization activities must be coordinated. The major features of the proposed approach are: 1) the system representation captures all relevant properties from the end-user viewpoint without unnecessary details concerning implementation, 2) complex data structures and data manipulations can be specified, and 3) specifications are executable for rapid prototyping.

Shopping.com: When E-Commerce Isn't A Bargain

This paper tells the tale of a Ph.D. student who used action-research to establish an information systems design methodology. It describes how he initiated his project, how he came across action-research, and how he slowly evolved in his search for coherence until he felt he could progress confidently. The paper is mainly intended to offer to readers who are unfamiliar with action-research a context where they can become aware of some of the difficulties of its use, how they can be solved, and recognize some criteria that can be met to ensure that the results obtained are scientifically valid. The paper concludes by reflecting on the close relationship between action-research and the epistemology of the information systems field, suggesting that this relationship should be the object of further exploration.

StoryNet: an evolving network of cases to learn information systems design

One approach to learning information systems design is case-based reasoning (CBR). However, learning from design cases can be superficial, if cases are not accessible at the level of meaningful design components and are not contextualised in the situation in which they have been conceived. StoryNet is a learning environment inspired by CBR and by a methodology for information systems analysis and design grounded in scenario-based modelling. StoryNet features ‘cases’ produced by a community of learners and linked in a network to highlight how design solutions evolve across time and different groups of learners. This fosters in the learners the ability to perform a deeper analysis of the business organisation and stimulates innovative solutions. Also, the network of cases affords the opportunity to capitalise on the learners' differences. It provides a richer context, in which design quality can be better understood and advanced, through the interplay of the different roles, motivations and expectations of the actors involved and a collective process of selection of the best-fit design features.

Integrating modelling systems for environmental management information systems

Special purpose modelling packages can become more accessible and more effective for decision support when integrated into a spatial information system. Integration is made difficult by differences in the models due to scope, underlying data models, and command languages. This paper extends a federated information systems design methodology and architecture by identifying parallels of the model integration problem with the database integration problem in federated database design. A schema architecture is proposed together with associated schema translation functions. The role of a problem statement, analogous to a federated database query, is defined. Our design approach is demonstrated in HYDRA, a decision support system for water quality management.

Enterprise information system modeling for continuous improvement

A three-phase information system analysis and design methodology is being used to continuously improve enterprise information systems as part of a six-step annual business improvement process. Following senior management's strategic decisions on next year's product and/or service portfolio content, interacting financial, management, engineering, and quality improvement processes are analyzed to determine their output product and/or service quality and timeliness. Concurrently, facilities, equipment, and personnel resources required for individual processes are inspected for possible immediate or future improvement. Throughout these analyses minimum essential information (MEI) requirements are derived using the Object Transformation Process Model (OTPM). Individual OTPM models are linked to help identify all pertinent data sources, information destinations, and timing requirements. The linked OTPM models are mapped onto an Embedded Computer System (ECS) model that defines a physical architecture for improving telecommunication paths between all humans, machines and embedded computers that are component parts of the integrated processes. This approach yields comprehensive information system logical and physical architectural models that can recursively guide high-leverage enterprise-wide improvement projects over succeeding fiscal years.

Formulating multiperspective systems-based (MPSB) frameworks, using logistics management as an example

This Research Note is stimulated by two recent conference presentations by me and a few recent papers on topics related to Logistics Management, either in this journal or elsewhere by others. The two recent presentation topics are (i) a Meta-Framework for Information Systems Design (Ho et aL, 1994) and (ii) a review of computer-based Logistics Management Methodologies (Ho and Sculli, I994). Both presented papers share the same concern that existing Information Systems Design Methodologies and Computer-Based Logistics Management Methodologies are dominated by the unitary (Hard Systems) perspective, while the pluralist (Soft Systems) perspective is not given sufficient attention to, especially for the latter. As for the critical (Emancipatory Systems) perspective, it is largely ignored in the respective management literatures. [The three schools of Systems Thinking have been well explained by Jackson (1991).] While this phenomenon is briefly noted here, the main aim of this Research Note is to propose a. way to formulate and enhance Multiperspective/Systems-Based (MPSB) frameworks for studying management disciplines, taking Logistics Management as the example for an illustration of such a process. It also suggests how these frameworks can be employed.

The M*-OBJECT methodology for information system design in CIM environments

M*-OBJECT is a methodology for information system analysis, design and implementation developed for CIM environments. It is based on an object-oriented approach and it covers in-depth analysis of static and dynamic aspects of CIM information systems. M*-OBJECT is made of three major phases: organization analysis, conceptual design, and implementation design. The conceptual design phase is supported by the Process and Data Net (PDN) model which integrates an object-oriented data model and a process model. The major features of the specification approach are: (1) static, dynamic, and behavioral properties of information are fully covered, (2) complex data structures and data manipulations can be specified, and (3) specifications are executable for rapid prototyping.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>