Systems analysis and design in an uncontrolled management environment

  • Authors:
  • John C. Stoob

  • Affiliations:
  • Humboldt State Univ., Arcata, CA

  • Venue:
  • ACM SIGCSE Bulletin
  • Year:
  • 1987

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Abstract

Most published schemes for developing computer data systems base themselves on very structured, well established milestones in the development process. Further, they emphasize frequent and complete liason with users. They also imply that the funding required to form and operate the development teams and oversight committees are reasonably available and that the management environment is flexible enough to establish these requisite management organizations. What if, though, a computer system was being developed in an environment where there was no ready agreement as to the approach towards the development, where current information systems decisions were made by a high level committee and where that committee could not agree on basic information systems concepts. Further, what if there was no one individual or authority in management who had the stature to provide the necessary leadership to get the process going properly. This paper outlines such a situation, how systems are being designed and implemented in that situation, and suggests that any course on systems analysis and design must include this much less that ideal management environment in its content.