MIS Design Methodology

From Information Systems at Pitt Business

Most traditional system development methodologies, before the 1980s, were described as occurring in phases and were discussed as ideals or principles. However, understanding how to perform these principles and showing some track record of these principles occurring in practice is still lacking. As such, this paper describes a methodology for management information systems design that employs a formalized framework for significantly involving manager-users in the design process. This approach provides an objective framework for analyzing information requirements while also involving managers in the design process. A key element of the methodology is the development of descriptive and normative system models based on the concept of a "linear responsibility chart."

The major steps of the process are listed below, with each step having its own section describing it in detail within the paper: 1. Identification of user set and interfacing organizations 2. Identification of decision areas 3. Definition of decision areas 4. Development of a descriptive model of a system 5. Development of a normative model of the system 6. Development of a consensus model of the system 7. Decision model identification and specification 8. Specification of information requirements

[edit] Abstract

This paper describes a methodology for management information systems design which employs a formalized framework for significantly involving manager-users in the design process. The process seeks to develop a system design on the basis of a criterion which considers both technical cost-benefit considerations and the manager's perception of the potential utility of the system. A key element of the methodology is the development of descriptive and normative system models which are based on the concept of a "linear responsibility char." These models serve as the basis for the negotiated development of a consensus system model which defines the framework for the decision-oriented analysis of information requirement. The process of information analysis involves joint manager-analyst activities which are aimed at the explication of the implicit decision models which are used for decision making.

[edit] Paper Information

Authors: William King, David Cleland

Check out the paper at The Design of Management Information Systems: An Information Analysis Approach

This article was originally published in Management Science, Vol 22, No. 3, November 1975.

[edit] Keywords

Systems Design, Systems Development, Methodology