SYSTEMS-DEVELOPMENT - A RESTRICTIVE PRACTICE

This paper sets out to question established practice in the design and implementation of information systems. It focuses on the systems deve lopment process and the interactions that take! place between the vari ous groups involved in that process. It will be argued that systems de velopment activities are interest-based in nature to the extent that a n 'unholy alliance' is struck between the interested parties. The usua l methods applied to (medium-to large-scale) systems development are f ormalised and mechanistic and tend to ignore the wider social and orga nisational issues involved. This bias and partialness often results in dysfunctional outcomes which have negative consequences for those usi ng the systems and their organisations. The dysfunctional effects are explored through a consideration of three recently considered case stu dies. The authors identify a form of technical subterfuge whereby tech nical experts, in an attempt to compensate for their own lack of chang e management expertise, project a false image of their knowledge and i ts representativeness of the wider context. We have referred to this p henomenon as 'virtual know-how'. The paper concludes by suggesting tha t creation of a change management space, that moves beyond merely tech nical issues, is a necessary but badly neglected element of systems de velopment practice. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All ri ghts reserved.