M. Lundeberg

A systematic approach to information systems development—I. Introduction

Abstract We shall in two articles describe the ISAC approach to information systems development. ISAC (Information Systems work and Analysis of Changes) is a research group at the department of Administrative Information Processing at the Royal Institute of Technology and the University of Stockholm, Sweden. Since 1971 research has been performed in the ISAC group around a new approach to information systems development with special emphasis on analysis and design of information systems. This work has been conducted in close contact with practical applications in different business companies and other organizations. The ISAC approach has now been developed so far that it represents an interesting alternative with great possibilities for many applications in different organizations. (Many large Swedish business companies have tried parts of the ISAC approach in one way or another. Some companies have decided that parts of the ISAC approach should be used within the company. An ISAC user group has been formed with representatives mainly from such companies. As to the other Scandinavian countries most ISAC applications are found in Norway, but also some in Denmark and Finland. Outside of Scandinavia, the ISAC approach has begun to be applied primarily in the Netherlands.) We hope that these two articles can help you to learn as much about the ISAC approach as you are interested in—e.g. in order to — be able to compare it with other approaches; —to find out if you could make use of it; —to find out if you want to learn more about it; or for other reasons that you may have.

A systematic approach to information systems development—II problem and data oriented methodology

Abstract We have in two articles described the ISAC approach to information systems development. The purpose of the first article was to give an introduction and overview of this approach and to describe change analysis, the development area that precedes information systems development. Information systems development consists of analysis, design and realization of information systems. In the ISAC approach we divide analysis and design of information systems into the following four areas: 1. (1) Activity studies, 2. (2) Information analysis, (Problem oriented work); 3. (3) Data system design, 4. (4) Equipment adaptation, (Data oriented work). The purpose of this second article is to describe each of these four areas in the same manner as we described change analysis in the first article. We then show how these different areas are related to each other in a summary. The article ends with short discussions about the effects of information systems development and how to learn more about the ISAC approach.