METHODS COMPARE AND CONTRAST

Two Methods Compare and Contrast Using the NIMSAD Framework



Two Methods Compare and Contrast Using the NIMSAD Framework

1. Introduction

Along with the rapid development in computer technology from the 1970s? development of information systems has emerged to meet user needs and system requirements in organizations. (Cook? 1992)Failure of information systems development projects is mainly caused by miscommunication and misspecification of requirements. Standish Group's report listed incomplete requirements and specifications as the second most important factor that caused projects to be challenged and the top factor that caused projects to be impaired and ultimately canceled. (Cook? 1992) A survey on a corporation and an analysis of the corporation's planning database showed that 40% of the requirements specified in the feasibility and requirements phase of the life cycle were redefined in the later phases? which cost this corporation an average of 50% more than the budgeted amount. (Avison? 1995)

IS researchers propose the use of system engineering tools for information modeling. This study discusses in detail three of the well-known systems development techniques that have been used as information modeling methods:

(i) Use case diagram

(ii) Rich picture diagram

(iii) Entity-relationship diagram

This study also proposes the use of cognitive mapping methods for information modeling. Researchers believed that “advances in cognitive psychology and related sciences lead us to the conclusion that knowledge of human cognitive behavior is sufficiently advanced to enable its applications in computer science and other practical domains”. (Davis? 1982? 4) There has been a strong and growing interest for researchers to understand IS stakeholders' cognition about information systems and technology they develop and use. Kelly's personal construct theory and its methodological extensions? the RepGrid and the causal mapping techniques have been proposed and employed in a variety of published IS studies with different research objectives. (Avison? 1995)



2. An outline of each methodology

2.1. Information modeling methods

Information modeling is a technique that can be used to facilitate the understanding of the processes of an organization. Information models can be used to help define systems and their applications? and they provide ways of expressing the processes in terms of system activities and collaborative behavior to facilitate one's understanding of system process itself and participants' behaviors involved in the process. Leffingwell and Widrig believed the purpose of information modeling is twofold: (i) to understand the structure and dynamics of the organization? and (ii) to ensure that customers? end users? and developers have a common understanding of the organization. (Avison? 1990)

These ideas have been expanded in use by social and behavioral scientists for the last few decades. (Eden? 1992? 261-265) The cognitive mapping approach is also known as concept mapping? causal mapping? flowcharting? mind mapping? semantic mapping? and so on. Researchers do not share a common conception of cognitive mapping (or concept mapping)? and we observe significant variations in the way a map is constructed in its content and in its analysis. Cognitive mapping methods provide a powerful and effective way to capture the thinking of an individual about a particular issue or problem in a ...