Volume 4

V4 N2 Pages 28-37

August 2011


A Methodology Tailoring Model for Practitioner Based Information Systems Development Informed by the Principles of General Systems Theory


Timothy Joseph Burns
Ramapo College of New Jersey
Mahwah, NJ 07430, USA

Fadi Deek
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Newark, NJ 07102, USA

Abstract: Information system development practitioners tailor system development methodologies to match the specific circumstances of their software projects. This is not surprising as research has shown that information systems development is a highly circumstantial process and that no one system development methodology can be optimal for every context of every project. Several formal techniques such as the contingency factors approach and situational method engineering have been introduced to facilitate the tailoring of system development methodologies to fit the needs of a project. However, there is evidence that system development practitioners have largely neglected these techniques in favor of ad hoc methodology tailoring approaches. This paper presents a formal methodology tailoring model geared towards the practitioner. The model is based on the principles of general systems theory and is designed to provide practitioner utility, which has been shown to be a determining factor in the employment of a technological innovation.

Keywords: Information System Development Methodologies, Methodology Tailoring, Method Engineering, General Systems Theory

Download this article: JISAR - V4 N2 Page 28.pdf


Recommended Citation: Burns, T. J., Deek, F. (2011). A Methodology Tailoring Model for Practitioner Based Information Systems Development Informed by the Principles of General Systems Theory. Journal of Information Systems Applied Research, 4(2) pp 28-37. http://jisar.org/2011-4/ ISSN: 1946-1836. (A preliminary version appears in The Proceedings of CONISAR 2010)