Four Paradigms of Information Systems Development

A proposed empirical study

• Hirscheim & Klein(1989) suggest that fundamental assumptions about reality are the basis for systems development. They posit four paradigms to exist on which information systems are developed;

– Functionalism - based on the premise that information systems are developed to contribute to a specific end. Management determines what specific ends are to be accomplished and analysts are responsible for developing an IS with the means for achieving such results. Much of the success of such systems are based on objective economic reality.

– Social Relativism - system development paradigm portrays the system analyst as a facilitator helping to make the transition to a new system while gaining the consensus of affected parties.

– Radical Structuralism - paradigm that suggests the system developer as an agent acting on behalf of labor.

– Neohumanism - system development should serve as a means to improve those within the organization.

Data collection

• Define organizations with newly developed systems.

• Survey systems developer(s) to ascertain their epistemological and ontological views.

• Survey the users and management of the organization in which these systems have been implemented.

Data collection

• Survey instrument should be such as to reflect management and user’s role in the system development process and perceived success of system.

• From the survey, differentiate between objective vs. subjective and order vs. conflict (realizing that this will be somewhat of a subjective process).

Methodology

• Using a form of regression analysis such as LOGIT, let success be a dichotomous varible and each of the four paradigms be donoted by a dummy variable.

• Success = f(paradigm)

• Test the validity of each of the paradigms for significance

Problems with study

•Matrices may not be able to be inverted due to all of the variables be dichotomous

•Classification as to whether a system is a success is a subjective response and may be biased by respondent

•May be limited data available for paradigms other than the functionalist.