Doncho Petkov

Mixing Multiple Criteria Decision Making with soft systems thinking techniques for decision support in complex situations

This paper shares experiences of the authors with combining Multiple Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) and techniques from soft systems approaches for decision support at particular stages of complex problem solving. These are based on their involvement in three projects within the Information and Communications Technology sector. The justification for the combined use of MCDM and separate techniques from systems thinking is discussed. The contribution of this paper is in the demonstration of how combinations of methods that are parts of soft systems methodologies and MCDM may support multiple perspective representations of complex managerial problems, and in the lessons learned from the three cases.

Prioritizing software development productivity factors using the analytic hierarchy process

Abstract This article describes a model, based on the analytic hierarchy process, that allows prioritization of software development productivity factors. The model handles both quantitative and qualitative variables affecting the problem in a multicriteria decision-making framework. The results may serve as guidelines for software managers to enhance the productivity of software development.

Development of Scoring Rubrics for IS Projects as an Assessment Tool

This paper describes the experience of the authors with the development of scoring rubrics for projects in the core subjects of an Information Systems program. It presents an overview of student learning assessment issues in professional courses and the role of educational projects for that purpose. Then the steps of deriving project rubrics in different subjects across the Information Systems program are shown along with some suggestions for future work.

Information Systems, Software Engineering, and Systems Thinking: Challenges and Opportunities

This article traces past research on the application of the systems approach to information systems development within the disciplines of information systems and software engineering. Their origins historically are related to a number of areas, including general systems theory. While potential improvement of software development practices is linked by some leading experts to the application of more systemic methods, the current state of the practice in software engineering and information systems development shows this is some way from being achieved. The authors propose possible directions for future research and practical work on bringing together both fields with systems thinking.

The Analytic Hierarchy Process and Systems Thinking

The purpose of this research is to determine the similarities between the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and various strands of thought in the systems movement, and where AHP stands in the System of Systems Methodologies, proposed by Jackson and Keys. It is claimed that there can be found a common foundation for the complementarist use of AHP with other well known systems methodologies.

On the Suitability of Soft Systems Methodology and the Work System Method in Some Software Project Contexts

This paper proposes the use of the System of Systems Methodologies SOSM framework by Jackson and Keys for mapping of diverse software project contexts analyzed previously in the software development literature. In addition it presents an evaluation of the suitability of Soft Systems Methodology by Checkland and the Work System Method by Alter for those specific situations within SOSM. Thus we extend the work by Bustard and Keenan and by Alter and Browne on software project contexts that may lead to better tailoring of software development processes by mixing methods within a particular project.

A holistic approach towards the validation and legitimisation of information systems

The research aims to show that validation and legitimisation of an information systems (IS) project need to be treated simultaneously to improve software project management. A starting assumption is that traditional aspects of model validity and legitimisation in operational research can be applicable to the field of IS. However, non‐traditional types of IS are more suitable to be viewed from an interpretive viewpoint. Validation is explored both from hard systems and also from soft systems point of view. Some extensions on the notion of validation for soft systems are provided for that purpose. Issues regarding both validation and legitimisation in IS are illustrated on a case study regarding the management of an academic research management IS project. Issues related both validation and legitimisation in IS are illustrated on a case study regarding the management of an academic research IS project. The latter had eventually to be abandoned. The case study shows how the non‐adherence to the principles of validation and legitimisation lead to that situation.

Improved Understanding of Software Development Productivity Factors to Aid in the Management of an Outsourced Project

Abstract This article articulates an approach to identify the differences in the perceptions and values of the client and vendor about what factors drive developers’ productivity in a specific outsourcing project. A combination of some techniques from Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) was used to measure the differences in those values. It is argued that this approach is applicable to other software development environments.

On Some Lessons from Modeling Contexts in Complex Problem Solving in Information Technology

This paper reviews current research on context in problem solving and existing two-dimensional frameworks for expressing project contexts in Systems Thinking and Software Engineering. It makes the case for modeling of context with Problem Structuring Methods. The authors present lessons learnt from applying such methods in the context of their experience with several complex management interventions in Information and Telecommunications Technologies. The paper aims to contribute to the understanding of project contexts in complex problem solving in Information Technology.

On an Application of Critical Systems Heuristics in a Framework for Evaluation of Software Development Productivity

The multiple dimensions of the factors affecting software development productivity represent a challenge for an interdisciplinary research to their nature. Because of the significant role played by people, software engineering is already one of the computer science disciplines that is closest to the social sciences (Kemerer, 1998:66). Lederer and Prasad (1998:138) report that past published research in that area includes experiments on cost estimation using algorithmic techniques, without formal techniques but only using expert judgment, using analogy or case based reasoning, expert systems, simulation and in a few cases action research and case studies. The majority of these approaches are of a technical nature. Pfleeger (2001) concludes that the statistics for most models are disappointing, indicating that no model appears to have captured the essential characteristics and their relationships for all types of development. Similar concerns about the accuracy of normative models for software development effort estimation have been expressed by Subramanian and Breslawski (1993) and others.