The practice of information system development and use: a dialectical approach
Ann Lind, Bertil Lind · Systems Research and Behavioral Science · 2005
The society of today is characterized by a change rate higher than ever before caused by an enormous amount of information. To be able to handle this situation in our professional life as well as in our spare time, it is necessary to have efficient computer-based information systems to store and process information. More and more complex information systems are therefore developed and implemented but instead of reaching the intended facilitation and making the business more efficient, the complexity has become so high that users sometimes experience increased difficulty and reduced efficiency. The nature of information in a context of system development is discussed from a theoretical point of view. An empirical study concerning different perceptions of information of 376 respondents is presented. The results are subdivided into categories found in the theoretical study. As a result of our study, models are created to illuminate important factors to consider in the interaction between computer-based information systems and human information systems represented by developers and end-users. We conclude that it is very important to be aware of the differences between different perceptions of information, and to work consciously to unite user and developer practices into one integrated view as a basis for system development. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.