This thesis is concerned with the use of prototyping during the development of information systems. Prototyping is a process which involves early practical demonstration of relevant parts of the desired system. This is carried out with a view to improving both the quality and timeliness of the target system. The quality of an information system is largely determined by its adequacy as a tool for human users. Prototyping serves to enhance the communication between developers and users, and through this to increase the suitability of the resulting information system. An investigation into the traditional phase oriented approach to systems development reveals that in certain circumstances it can result in incorrect or at best disappointing systems. The prototyping approach is examined as a possible alternative. Particular attention is paid to its use with respect to typical characteristics of information systems. This is followed by an investigation into all aspects of prototyping. One aspect, that of the construction of prototypes, is dealt with separately and includes an examination of a variety of tools and techniques. Three of these approaches form part of an experiment in building prototypes. Each method is used to build prototypes of the same system. This provides the opportunity to compare approaches in terms of time, cost, and ease of maintenance, with the existing system. Prototyping is used during the development of a genuine system in a commercial environment. Special consideration is given to both the organisation and the control of prototyping. This project is closely monitored and documented in detail. In conclusion, recommendations are made concerning the use of prototyping during information systems development. Further research areas are also highlighted.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

This system is concerned with the design and implementation of a community health information system which fulfils some of the local needs of fourteen nursing and para-medical professions in a district health authority, whilst satisfying the statutory requirements of the NHS Korner steering group for those professions. A national survey of community health computer applications, documented in the form of an applications register, shows the need for such a system. A series of general requirements for an informations systems design methodology are identified, together with specific requirements for this problem situation. A number of existing methodologies are reviewed, but none of these were appropriate for this application. Some existing approaches, tools and techniques are used to define a more suitable methodology. It is unreasonable to rely on one single general methodology for all types of application development. There is a need for pragmatism, adaptation and flexibility. In this research, participation in the development stages by those who will eventually use the system was thought desirable. This was achieved by forming a representative design group. Results would seem to show a highly favourable response from users to this participation which contributed to the overall success of the system implemented. A prototype was developed for the chiropody and school nursing staff groups of Darlington health authority, and evaluations show that a significant number of the problems and objectives of those groups have been successfully addressed; the value of community health information has been increased; and information has been successfully fed back to staff and better utilised.

The main goal of this work is to analyze the information needs of a translation agency, with an emphasis on optimizing and automatization of the translation processes. The analysis is the base for the design of an information system for this agency. This work includes the system design and also the choice of technologies. The system manages regular agenda of information systems and also the translation processes. Except for human users the system is using also a number of automatic tools and other software systems. The order and elements in translation processes may change, therefore the system allows user configuration of processes. There is also time consumption estimation for the project and methodology selection for the analysis.

L’objectif central de cette recherche est d’étudier les caractéristiques de la flexibilité des SI, dans la perspective d’apporter une aide à la construction de SI plus flexibles, pouvant s’adapter rapidement aux changements, notamment en cas d’évolution stratégique. La question posée est donc : comment atteindre la flexibilité dans les SI ? Cette recherche s’appuie sur les recherches antérieures décrivant les caractéristiques de la flexibilité d’un SI et les enrichit en prenant en compte les différentes dimensions d’un système d’information. Elle inclut ensuite dans son analyse les caractéristiques contextuelles du système d’information dont on recherche la flexibilité, avec l’idée sous-jacente d’une flexibilité polymorphe, c’est-à-dire pouvant prendre des formes différentes selon le contexte. Le but est donc d’identifier ce que représente la flexibilité d’un SI et quels sont les moyens pour l’atteindre. Les résultats de deux études de cas montrent que les éléments qui favorisent la flexibilité ne sont pas toujours les mêmes, ils dépendent des caractéristiques spécifiques du SI. Ceci montre que le caractère de polymorphisme, mis en évidence dans les études sur la flexibilité stratégique, s’applique également à la flexibilité des SI. La conclusion générale de cette recherche est que les facilitateurs de flexibilité nécessaires pour un système d’information donné dépendent de la place qu’occupe le SI dans la mise en œuvre de la stratégie, notamment leur orientation (interne ou externe) et le moment où la flexibilité est requise (en relation à la formulation de la stratégie). La réponse à notre question de recherche (comment atteindre la flexibilité des SI ?) est apportée par l’identification des facilitateurs de flexibilité nécessaires à un SI spécifique. D’un point de vue pratique, cette conclusion se traduit par la nécessité, pour les managers qui interviennent dans la prise de décisions concernant la flexibilité, de comprendre qu’il existe des facilitateurs que l’entreprise peut développer ou acquérir. Cependant, pour doter un SI particulier des facilitateurs pertinents, il est important que ceux-ci soient sélectionnés par rapport aux caractéristiques du SI, notamment sa situation par rapport aux évolutions stratégiques. Le cadre conceptuel de la flexibilité d’un SI développé dans cette recherche et les résultats des deux études de cas menées sur deux systèmes d’information flexibles, étroitement liés aux stratégies de changement, constituent un guide pour les managers qui souhaitent déployer des SI pouvant s’adapter rapidement à des changements fréquents de stratégie. / The focus of this research is to study the characteristics of flexibility in order to help building more flexible IS. The objective is to achieve flexibility in the IS in order to adapt them swiftly for facing changes, and be able to adjust for new strategies. The main questioned posed is: How can IS flexibility be achieved?. This constitutes the research question. This research extends previous studies related to flexibility by focusing on the various dimensions of Information Systems. To cover all the aspects of an IS the problem of enabling an IS with flexibility will be approached, in this research, by analyzing the relevant elements in an Information System. This research will try to identify what IS flexibility is in the people, process, IT, and data dimensions; and how IS flexibility can be achieved. The conclusion that can be drawn is that the flexibility enablers needed for an Information System are contingent upon its unique characteristics. The findings of both case studies show that the elements that sustain flexibility are not the same for every IS; they depend on certain characteristics of the specific IS. The fact that the elements or enablers needed to sustain flexibility are different can be explained by the polymorphic property of flexibility: for an IS, flexibility displays the same polymorphism characteristic found in strategic flexibility. The answer to the research question of how IS flexibility can be achieved, lies in the flexibility enablers needed for a specific IS. From a practical point of view this means that the managers involved in flexibility decisions or initiatives should understand that there are flexibility enablers in the resources of a firm that can be deployed or acquire. Then, they should become familiar and understand them. But in order to really enable a particular IS with the correct set of flexibility enablers (or the correct form of flexibility needed) it is very important that these enablers be selected according to the unique characteristics of the IS in hand. The conceptual IS flexibility framework developed in this research and the findings presented as a result of two case studies (of two different flexible Information systems tightly linked to changing strategies) conducted, constitutes a valuable guide for managers to deploy flexible IS to rapidly adapt them when faced to changes needed for strategies implementation in a continuous manner.