Context, Process and Outcomes of ISD: An Allegorical Tale

摘要

In this paper we use a sporting allegory to reflect on the different approaches to studying Information Systems Development (ISD) and to reflect on the two main traditions in ISD research: factor studies and process modeling. We show that studying outcomes alone is of marginal interest only. Additionally, like a sports journalist focuses on major events during the game, researchers tend to focus on what we and others interpret to be important to the trajectory of the ISD project. Finally we show the importance of explicating the context(s) of the project and in particular the historical context or "form ". Repeated cycles of failure can be broken by decisive management interventions.