Causal maps of information technology and information systems

Abstract

It is becoming increasingly recognised that a cognitive view of the individual user executing various tasks at the interface is an inadequate conceptual framework for developing information systems. The conventional cognitive setting has disregarded the importance of how these users execute work tasks in the real world when using information systems. Furthermore, the design process is heavily biased towards scientific problem solving methodologies that omit the psychological cognitive styles of the users. In this paper, IT and IS managers are considered as the ‘influencers’ in the development of information systems; a role that forms the shape of the system. A methodology for deriving the causal maps is described and then applied to twenty IT and IS managers. The maps are analysed from three perspectives; information analysis, end-users involvement in the development stages and characteristics of the users. The resulting causal maps are used to develop a conceptual framework for development of IS.