A dynamic framework for classifying information systems development methodologies and approaches

This paper proposes a four-tiered framework for classifying and understandi ng the myriad of information systems development methodologies that have be en proposed in the literature. The framework is divided into four levels: p aradigms, approaches, methodologies, and techniques. This paper primarily f ocuses on the two intermediate levels: approaches and methodologies. The pr incipal contribution of the framework is in providing a new kind of "deep s tructure" for better understanding the intellectual core of methodologies a nd approaches and their interrelationships. It achieves this goal by articu lating a parsimonious set of foundational features that are shared by subse ts of methodologies and approaches. To illustrate how the framework's deep structure provides a better understanding of methodologies' intellectual co re, it is applied to eleven examples. The paper also introduces and illustr ates a procedure for "accommodating" and "assimilating" new information sys tems development methodologies in addition to the eleven already discussed. This procedure provides the framework with the necessary flexibility for h andling the continuing proliferation of new methodologies.