Analysis of future development opportunities for OIS methods and tools

摘要

Over the last two decades, formal methods and tools have been introduced into the process of planning, developing, implementing, and managing applications of information technology (IT). For the practical usage existing methods and tools often are seen as incomplete, poorly integrated, often ineffective, and typically insensitive to the application environment. How to make the most of what is available today? Methods and tools to support the newer and more integrated forms of IT applications are still at an early stage of development and are not in common use. A guidance on the selection of methods and tools is needed which shows both what can be achieved now and where developments will come in the future. To a considerable extent the solution of behavioural and organizational design problems are seen as critical. But are methods and tools available for this objective? How to bring together approaches which have so far been pursued along separate paths? What is the most suitable product supporting different environments? The selection and evaluation of appropriate methods and tools for a specific project in a company requires a considerable effort and is itself a difficult and complex task. Method and tool vendors are confused about the development priorities. More and more they raise questions about market potentials and the pay back period for their investments. The purposes of HECTOR project (Harmonized European Concepts and Tools for Organizational Information Systems, ESPRIT project no. 2082) have been to determine what is needed in the marketplace, where opportunities lie to better meet these needs, and to present a framework within which these issues could be studied. The term Organizational Information System (OIS) is used to describe any socio-technical system which supports the work of an organization by facilitating the collection, flow, and analysis of information within or between organizations. The HECTOR market analysis has shown that a good initial choice of methods and tools is very important presupposed for the success of a project. A wrong initial choice often leads to the failure of a project or at least to higher costs. A decision support tool, supported by a comprehensive database of methods and tools would improve the process of selection and evaluation in organization acquiring these products.