A hierarchical model of organizational control for the analysis of information systems requirements

摘要

The organizational control systems model (OCSM) is presented and its value as a tool for the analysis of user-defined information needs discussed. The model is based on the view of goal-oriented organizations as adaptive systems with a hierarchical control structure. With the use of this model, the structure of an organization's control system is characterized in terms of functional and control hierarchies. The logical information processing network (LIPN) model is then used in the identification and specification of the information processing structure underlying the organization's control system. The interplay of these two models in the analysis and specification of information system requirements is also discussed in the context of the abstraction-synthesis methodology of information systems development. This methodology aims at the development of information systems that support the organization's control system with due regard to the modes of interaction required by the information system users. The approach presented here is also discussed in relation to current methodologies of information systems development.