Analysis of future development opportunities for OIS methods and tools

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Abstract

Over the last two decades, formal methods and tools have been introduced into the process of planning, developing, implementing, and managing applications of information technology (IT). For the practical usage existing methods and tools often are seen as incomplete, poorly integrated, often ineffective, and typically insensitive to the application environment. How to make the most of what is available today? Methods and tools to support the newer and more integrated forms of IT applications are still at an early stage of development and are not in common use. A guidance on the selection of methods and tools is needed which shows both what can be achieved now and where developments will come in the future. To a considerable extent the solution of behavioural and organizational design problems are seen as critical. But are methods and tools available for this objective? How to bring together approaches which have so far been pursued along separate paths? What is the most suitable product supporting different environments? The selection and evaluation of appropriate methods and tools for a specific project in a company requires a considerable effort and is itself a difficult and complex task. Method and tool vendors are confused about the development priorities. More and more they raise questions about market potentials and the pay back period for their investments. The purposes of HECTOR project (Harmonized European Concepts and Tools for Organizational Information Systems, ESPRIT project no. 2082) have been to determine what is needed in the marketplace, where opportunities lie to better meet these needs, and to present a framework within which these issues could be studied. The term Organizational Information System (OIS) is used to describe any socio-technical system which supports the work of an organization by facilitating the collection, flow, and analysis of information within or between organizations. The HECTOR market analysis has shown that a good initial choice of methods and tools is very important presupposed for the success of a project. A wrong initial choice often leads to the failure of a project or at least to higher costs. A decision support tool, supported by a comprehensive database of methods and tools would improve the process of selection and evaluation in organization acquiring these products.

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There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

Cited by (0)

1

John Hawgood received a BA in Theoretical Physics from Oxford University and a Dr Phil in Quantum Chemistry from Oxford University. He was director of computing services and head of department of computing at university of Durham and senior consultant in the computers and telecommunication division of PA Consulting Group. He is a leading authority on participative systems design and on knowledge based decision support systems. He has taken a leading part in the ESPRIT I project 814 “PIMS”, which was developing a knowledge based system to support the work of software project managers, and in the ESPRIT II project 2082 “HECTOR”.

2

Edda Pulst received a diploma degree in Business Administration from University of Wuppertal, Germany. She worked as organizational assistant for Pechiney-Tréfimétaux, Düsseldorf and for the Société Générale des Minerais, Düsseldorf. She joined BIFOA (Betriebswirtschaftliches Institut für Organisation und Automation), Köln, in 1986, first as a researcher than as group leader. She works in research-oriented and consultancy-oriented projects dealing with the organizational analysis of companies and office support systems: requirements' analysis, design and implementation planning and strategic management of information systems. Edda Pulst also worked within the ESPRIT projects 56 “FAOR”, 813 “TODOS” and 2082 “HECTOR”.

3

Joachim Niemeier received a diploma degree in Business Administration and a doctoral degree in Management Science from University of Stuttgart, Germany. He is head of the “Business Management” department at Fraunhofer-Institut für Arbeitswirtschaft und Organisation (IAO) in Stuttgart, Germany. He was project manager of ESPRIT II project 2082 “HECTOR” and is project leader and senior consultant for system analysis, strategic management of information systems, requirements analysis, organizational re-design for and implementation of information systems in industry and service organizations.

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