With the evolution of Information Technology, especially the Internet, system integration is becoming a common way to expand IT systems within and beyond an enterprise network. Although system integration is becoming more and more common within large organizations, however, the literature review had found IS research in this area had not been sufficient, especially for the development of integration solutions within large organizations. It has made research like this one conducted within a large NZ government agency necessary. Four system integration projects were selected and studied using case study research methodology. The case study was designed and conducted using guidelines mainly from the well-known R. K. Yin’s (2002) “Case Study Research” book. The research was set to seek answers for a series of research questions, which were related to requirements of system integration and challenges for solution development. Special attention had been given to XML applications, as system integration and XML were found to be coupled in many system integrations and frameworks during the literature review. Data were first gathered from all four projects one by one, and then the bulk of analysis was done on the summarized data. Various analysis methods including chain-of-evidence, root-cause-analysis and pattern-matching were adopted. The principles of interpretive research proposed by Klein and Myers (1999) and triangulation were observed. In conclusions, a set of models have been derived from the research, namely a model for clarifying integration requirements; a model for integration solution architecture; a model for integration development life cycle and a model of critical success factor for integration projects. A development framework for small to medium size integration projects has also been proposed based on the models. The research also found XML application indeed would play an important role for system integration; the critical success factors for XML application included suitable development tools, development skills and methodologies.

The key objective of this research is to develop a selection methodology that can be used to support and aid the selection of development processes for e-Commerce Information Systems (eCIS) effectively using various decision methods. The selection methodology supports developers in their choice of an e-Commerce Information System Development Process (e-Process) by providing them with a few different decision making methods for choosing between defined e-Processes using a set of quality aspects to compare and evaluate the different options. The methodology also provides historical data of previous selections that can be used to further support their specific choice. The research was initiated by the fast growing Information Technology environment, where e-Commerce Information Systems is a relatively new development area and developers of these systems may be using new development methods and have difficulty deciding on the best suited process to use when developing new eCIS. These developers also need documentary support for their choices and this research helps them with these decision-making processes. The e-Process Selection Methodology allows for the comparison of existing development processes as well as the comparison of processes as defined by the developers. Four different decision making methods, the Value-Benefit Method (Weighted Scoring), the Analytical Hierarchy Process, Case-Based Reasoning and a Social Choice method are used to solve the problem of selecting among e-Commerce Development Methodologies. The Value-Benefit Method, when applied to the selection of an e-Process from a set of e-Processes, uses multiple quality aspects. Values are assigned to each aspect for each of the e-Processes by experts. The importance of each of the aspects, to the eCIS, is defined in terms of weights. The selected e-Process is the one with the highest score when the values and weights are multiplied and then summed. The Analytic Hierarchy Process is used to quantify a selection of quality aspects and then these are used to evaluate alternative e-Processes and thus determining the best matching solution to the problem. This process provides for the ranking and determining of the relative worth of each of the quality aspects. Case-Based Reasoning requires the capturing of the resulting knowledge of previous cases, in a knowledge base, in order to make a decision. The case database is built in such a way that the concrete factual knowledge of previous individual cases that were solved previously is stored and can be used in the decision process. Case-based reasoning is used to determine the best choices. This allows the user to either use the selection methodology or the case base database to resolve their problems or both. Social Choice Methods are based on voting processes. Individuals vote for their preferences from a set of e-Processes. The results are aggregated to obtain a final result that indicates which e-Process is the preferred one. The e-Process Selection Methodology is demonstrated and validated by the development of a prototype tool. This tool can be used to select the most suitable solution for a case at hand. The thesis includes the factors that motivated the research and the process that was followed. The e-Process Selection Methodology is summarised as well as the strengths and weaknesses discussed. The contribution to knowledge is explained and future developments are proposed. To conclude, the lessons learnt and reinforced are considered.

Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo principal investigar a possível contribuição do modelo de organização de Karl Weick (1973) para a compreensão teórica do processo de entendimento compartilhado entre usuários e desenvolvedores sobre as demandas de desenvolvimento de sistemas de informação. A pesquisa se justifica pela atualidade do tema e pela relevância da abordagem. Embora existam muitas pesquisas sobre o tema, o problema de comunicação (misunderstanding) sobre as demandas permanece atual nas empresas. Além disso, as pesquisas existentes adotam abordagens preponderantemente pragmáticas e deixam uma lacuna em relação à adoção de abordagens mais compreensivas. Dentre as teorias adotadas nos estudos organizacionais, o modelo de organização como processo, de Karl Weick (1973), pareceu oferecer potencial explicativo para processos dinâmicos como o entendimento compartilhado sobre as demandas. Esse modelo foi adotado como base conceitual do trabalho, sendo estendido na forma de proposições que expressam sua possível aplicação ao objeto de pesquisa. Essa aplicação foi investigada com uso do método Estudo de Caso único em profundidade com múltiplas fontes de coleta de dados (entrevistas individuais, observação participante e consulta documental) e múltiplas unidades de análise (dez projetos de desenvolvimento ou alteração de sistemas de informação). Os resultados da pesquisa foram provenientes da técnica de Análise de Conteúdo, utilizada para a descrição analítica de cada projeto, a identificação de indícios dos conceitos do modelo teórico e a geração de categorias dos dados empíricos. Esse processo de análise permitiu a verificação da plausibilidade de cada proposição. Com base nessa análise, a consolidação feita por comparação e agrupamento dos projetos, por verificação das transições entre os elementos, e pela identificação de divergências entre o modelo teórico e os dados empíricos permitiu a investigação e o desenvolvimento de uma possível contribuição do modelo de Weick (1973) como alternativa para a compreensão teórica do objeto de pesquisa. Esse resultado também permitiu identificar outras diferentes perspectivas para novas pesquisas baseadas na abordagem adotada (como a perspectiva de serviços, de sensemaking e a de subculturas organizacionais), o que pode configurar uma contribuição acadêmica inovadora e relevante. / The present study aims to investigate the potential contribution of Weick’s organizing model (1973) to theoretical comprehension of the shared understanding process between users and developers about demands of information systems. The relevance of this issue rises from the existence of many other investigations about it and the remaining of the misunderstanding problem about demands in practice. A great deal of papers has approached this issue pragmatically, showing an opportunity to researches which adopt comprehensive approaches. One of the most studied organizational theories, namely Weick’s organizing model (1973), potentially offer an alternative point of view to this dynamic process and was adopted as the conceptual basis of this investigation. An extension or application of the model to the research object was developed in form of research propositions. An in-depth case-study was developed with multiple data sources (individual interviews, participant observation and documents consulting) and multiple analysis units (ten information systems development projects). Content Analysis techniques offered the results, including analytical descriptions of each project, identification of clues of model concepts and generation of categories from empirical data. This analytical process allows verifying plausibility of each theoretical proposition. A consolidation was done by comparing projects, verifying transitions among elements, identifying divergences between conceptual model and empirical data. This entire process made possible an investigation and the development of a potential contribution of Weick’s organizing model as an alternative mode for theoretical comprehension of this research object. These results also allow identifying other alternative perspectives for new investigations based on this approach (for example, perspectives of services, sensemaking and organizational subcultures), which can be seen as innovative and relevant academic contributions.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-16T14:49:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 1087884 bytes, checksum: 429902be9382cf69a51711eb3b6a7a19 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-07-22 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Studies in the field of Information Technology (IT) have always been concerned with the technical aspects of the technology and neglect the social and organizational aspects. It is recognized that information systems (IS) have had some impact on the workplace, and the decision making process in the organizational environment. In the field of decision support systems, it is mentioned that the technology of Data Warehouse (DW) provides efficient access to integrate data and historical heterogeneous sources, helping the decision making process. With this function, the Data Warehouse technology is classified as analytical systems, which differentiated it from other kind of information systems such as the well recognized transaction information systems. However, the success of Data Warehouse is dependent upon many factors, including its development methodology steps. The information system development process has always emphasized the technological problems, neglecting that users are severe affecting by the technology. Studies in Information systems development methodology in Data Warehouse are very rare. So, how to develop Data Warehouse? The purpose of this study is to propose a methodology for the initial phase of a Data Warehouse development, increasing user s participation in the development context, based on the Participatory Design approach. The qualitative research method and action research were used in this work. The study was developed in the public agency named DATAPREV, which is the government information technology company for social security issues. One of DATAPREV project is to replace the analytical systems of the Brazilian Labour and Employment Ministry. For contractual reasons, the Employment and Income Generation Program, name PROGER, was selected for this study. As result of this, the PROGER s system was chosen, and among the seven phases proposed, the initiation phase was selected and divided into five activities as a guide to start the development of a Data Warehouse with users participation. The initiation phase was validated and used in other projects with the same objectives. Furthermore, as an action research work that involved system analysts, the study promoted the reduction in the gap between business practice and academic literature in the research field. / Estudos no campo de Tecnologia de Informação (TI) tem sempre se preocupado com os aspectos da tecnologia, negligenciando os aspectos sociais e organizacionais. Reconhece-se que os Sistemas de Informação (SI) tem tido alguns impactos no ambiente de trabalho e no processo de tomada de decisão nas organizações. No campo de sistemas de apoio às decisões, tem sido mencionado que a tecnologia de Data Warehouse (DW) proporciona acesso eficiente aos dados integrados e ao histórico de fontes heterogêneas. Por este motivo auxiliam o planejamento e o processo decisório, sendo classificados como sistemas analíticos, diferenciando-se de outras espécies de sistemas de informação, a exemplo dos reconhecidos sistemas de informações transacionais. Contudo, o sucesso do Data Warehouse depende de muitos fatores, incluindo os passos para sua construção. O processo tradicional de desenvolvimento de sistemas tem sempre enfatizado os problemas tecnológicos. Entretanto, os usuários que são severamente afetados pela tecnologia não são valorizados. Os estudos sobre metodologia de desenvolvimento de sistemas de Data Warehouse são muito raros. Então, como desenvolver Data Warehouse? O propósito deste estudo é propor uma metodologia para a fase inicial de desenvolvimento de um Data Warehouse, aumentando a participação do usuário no contexto de desenvolvimento, com base no enfoque do Desenho Participativo. A pesquisa qualitativa e a pesquisa-ação foram utilizadas no trabalho. O trabalho foi desenvolvido na empresa pública DATAPREV, que possui um projeto responsável por atender à solicitação do Ministério do Trabalho e Emprego (MTE) para a substituição de parte de seus sistemas analíticos, destacando o PROGER (Programa de Geração de Emprego e Renda). Como resultado chegou-se a elaboração de sete fases, sendo a fase de iniciação detalhada em cinco atividades. Em conjunto essas atividades apresentam um guia para iniciar o desenvolvimento de um Data Warehouse em parceria com os usuários. Todas as atividades para a iniciação do PROGER são apresentadas. Assim, a fase de iniciação foi validada e colocada em uso para outros projetos com a mesma necessidade. Além disso, por se tratar de uma pesquisa-ação que envolveu os próprios desenvolvedores, promoveu, em seu universo de estudo, a diminuição do abismo existente entre práticas comerciais e a literatura acadêmica.

Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo principal investigar a possível contribuição do modelo de organização de Karl Weick (1973) para a compreensão teórica do processo de entendimento compartilhado entre usuários e desenvolvedores sobre as demandas de desenvolvimento de sistemas de informação. A pesquisa se justifica pela atualidade do tema e pela relevância da abordagem. Embora existam muitas pesquisas sobre o tema, o problema de comunicação (misunderstanding) sobre as demandas permanece atual nas empresas. Além disso, as pesquisas existentes adotam abordagens preponderantemente pragmáticas e deixam uma lacuna em relação à adoção de abordagens mais compreensivas. Dentre as teorias adotadas nos estudos organizacionais, o modelo de organização como processo, de Karl Weick (1973), pareceu oferecer potencial explicativo para processos dinâmicos como o entendimento compartilhado sobre as demandas. Esse modelo foi adotado como base conceitual do trabalho, sendo estendido na forma de proposições que expressam sua possível aplicação ao objeto de pesquisa. Essa aplicação foi investigada com uso do método Estudo de Caso único em profundidade com múltiplas fontes de coleta de dados (entrevistas individuais, observação participante e consulta documental) e múltiplas unidades de análise (dez projetos de desenvolvimento ou alteração de sistemas de informação). Os resultados da pesquisa foram provenientes da técnica de Análise de Conteúdo, utilizada para a descrição analítica de cada projeto, a identificação de indícios dos conceitos do modelo teórico e a geração de categorias dos dados empíricos. Esse processo de análise permitiu a verificação da plausibilidade de cada proposição. Com base nessa análise, a consolidação feita por comparação e agrupamento dos projetos, por verificação das transições entre os elementos, e pela identificação de divergências entre o modelo teórico e os dados empíricos permitiu a investigação e o desenvolvimento de uma possível contribuição do modelo de Weick (1973) como alternativa para a compreensão teórica do objeto de pesquisa. Esse resultado também permitiu identificar outras diferentes perspectivas para novas pesquisas baseadas na abordagem adotada (como a perspectiva de serviços, de sensemaking e a de subculturas organizacionais), o que pode configurar uma contribuição acadêmica inovadora e relevante. / The present study aims to investigate the potential contribution of Weick’s organizing model (1973) to theoretical comprehension of the shared understanding process between users and developers about demands of information systems. The relevance of this issue rises from the existence of many other investigations about it and the remaining of the misunderstanding problem about demands in practice. A great deal of papers has approached this issue pragmatically, showing an opportunity to researches which adopt comprehensive approaches. One of the most studied organizational theories, namely Weick’s organizing model (1973), potentially offer an alternative point of view to this dynamic process and was adopted as the conceptual basis of this investigation. An extension or application of the model to the research object was developed in form of research propositions. An in-depth case-study was developed with multiple data sources (individual interviews, participant observation and documents consulting) and multiple analysis units (ten information systems development projects). Content Analysis techniques offered the results, including analytical descriptions of each project, identification of clues of model concepts and generation of categories from empirical data. This analytical process allows verifying plausibility of each theoretical proposition. A consolidation was done by comparing projects, verifying transitions among elements, identifying divergences between conceptual model and empirical data. This entire process made possible an investigation and the development of a potential contribution of Weick’s organizing model as an alternative mode for theoretical comprehension of this research object. These results also allow identifying other alternative perspectives for new investigations based on this approach (for example, perspectives of services, sensemaking and organizational subcultures), which can be seen as innovative and relevant academic contributions.

Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo principal investigar a possível contribuição do modelo de organização de Karl Weick (1973) para a compreensão teórica do processo de entendimento compartilhado entre usuários e desenvolvedores sobre as demandas de desenvolvimento de sistemas de informação. A pesquisa se justifica pela atualidade do tema e pela relevância da abordagem. Embora existam muitas pesquisas sobre o tema, o problema de comunicação (misunderstanding) sobre as demandas permanece atual nas empresas. Além disso, as pesquisas existentes adotam abordagens preponderantemente pragmáticas e deixam uma lacuna em relação à adoção de abordagens mais compreensivas. Dentre as teorias adotadas nos estudos organizacionais, o modelo de organização como processo, de Karl Weick (1973), pareceu oferecer potencial explicativo para processos dinâmicos como o entendimento compartilhado sobre as demandas. Esse modelo foi adotado como base conceitual do trabalho, sendo estendido na forma de proposições que expressam sua possível aplicação ao objeto de pesquisa. Essa aplicação foi investigada com uso do método Estudo de Caso único em profundidade com múltiplas fontes de coleta de dados (entrevistas individuais, observação participante e consulta documental) e múltiplas unidades de análise (dez projetos de desenvolvimento ou alteração de sistemas de informação). Os resultados da pesquisa foram provenientes da técnica de Análise de Conteúdo, utilizada para a descrição analítica de cada projeto, a identificação de indícios dos conceitos do modelo teórico e a geração de categorias dos dados empíricos. Esse processo de análise permitiu a verificação da plausibilidade de cada proposição. Com base nessa análise, a consolidação feita por comparação e agrupamento dos projetos, por verificação das transições entre os elementos, e pela identificação de divergências entre o modelo teórico e os dados empíricos permitiu a investigação e o desenvolvimento de uma possível contribuição do modelo de Weick (1973) como alternativa para a compreensão teórica do objeto de pesquisa. Esse resultado também permitiu identificar outras diferentes perspectivas para novas pesquisas baseadas na abordagem adotada (como a perspectiva de serviços, de sensemaking e a de subculturas organizacionais), o que pode configurar uma contribuição acadêmica inovadora e relevante. / The present study aims to investigate the potential contribution of Weick’s organizing model (1973) to theoretical comprehension of the shared understanding process between users and developers about demands of information systems. The relevance of this issue rises from the existence of many other investigations about it and the remaining of the misunderstanding problem about demands in practice. A great deal of papers has approached this issue pragmatically, showing an opportunity to researches which adopt comprehensive approaches. One of the most studied organizational theories, namely Weick’s organizing model (1973), potentially offer an alternative point of view to this dynamic process and was adopted as the conceptual basis of this investigation. An extension or application of the model to the research object was developed in form of research propositions. An in-depth case-study was developed with multiple data sources (individual interviews, participant observation and documents consulting) and multiple analysis units (ten information systems development projects). Content Analysis techniques offered the results, including analytical descriptions of each project, identification of clues of model concepts and generation of categories from empirical data. This analytical process allows verifying plausibility of each theoretical proposition. A consolidation was done by comparing projects, verifying transitions among elements, identifying divergences between conceptual model and empirical data. This entire process made possible an investigation and the development of a potential contribution of Weick’s organizing model as an alternative mode for theoretical comprehension of this research object. These results also allow identifying other alternative perspectives for new investigations based on this approach (for example, perspectives of services, sensemaking and organizational subcultures), which can be seen as innovative and relevant academic contributions.

Submitted by Lucelia Lucena (lucelia.lucena@ufpe.br) on 2015-03-06T18:19:42Z No. of bitstreams: 2 DISSERTAÇÃO Carlos Diego Cavalcanti Pereira.pdf: 4207386 bytes, checksum: 1b429f9663fd012cb9da480f02ee5391 (MD5) license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-06T18:19:42Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 DISSERTAÇÃO Carlos Diego Cavalcanti Pereira.pdf: 4207386 bytes, checksum: 1b429f9663fd012cb9da480f02ee5391 (MD5) license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-03-18 / As metodologias ágeis de desenvolvimento de software emergiram como alternativa para processos prescritivos, os quais são classificados como excessivamente formais. Com objetivo de viabilizar entregas frequentes, processos adaptáveis, flexíveis e focados no cliente, as metodologias ágeis se tornaram referência sobre como produzir software de forma produtiva. Contudo, com objetivo de tornar o processo mais simples, essas abordagens invariavelmente incorrem em problemas como: modelos pouco generalistas para cobrir todo o ciclo de vida da Engenharia de Software; foco em disciplinas específicas do processo de software; subestimação de aspectos relevantes em iniciativas de desenvolvimento, como esforços de arquitetura, design e documentação; e indicação para equipes e projetos de pequena escala. A proposta desta dissertação de mestrado é propor um framework de processo eficiente de desenvolvimento de software, o qual se baseia nos ideários das metodologias ágeis, porém cobre todo o ciclo de vida de projeto desde a concepção, gestão, implementação e entrega. O framework inclui ferramentas como princípios, valores, atividades, artefatos e práticas específicas, incluindo esforços como arquitetura, design e documentação, concebendo um processo ágil, eficiente e extremamente produtivo para projetos de concepção e manutenção software, independentemente da sua escala.

Knowledge has become one of the most important assets for companies nowadays. Knowledge Management (KM) uses organizational knowledge as a resource to make companies more competitive. Knowledge Management Systems (KMS) are gaining popularity, however, the failure rate remains high, with many projects not achieving their goals or being shut down early. KMS are often underestimated and treated as normal systems. IS practices do not cover certain aspects specific to KMS, aspects that do not show in other IS (e.g. socio-cultural issues). There are many studies concerning the KMS failures but they just focus on the symptoms and do not provide a solution to the problem. The goal of this master’s dissertation is to generate a preventive tool that will help the KM field. With The experience gained by working in a real KMS project within a textile agency in Sweden and relevant literature, an Information Systems Design Theory (ISDT) for KMS was developed. As some authors suggest, KM needs an ISDT of it’s own. An ISDT will guide practitioners through the process by restricting practices and features of the system to a more effective set. It will also encourage the academia to work on this theory for its improvement, completion, and validation

Requirements analysis is an essential part of the System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) in order to achieve success in a software development project. There are several methods, techniques and frameworks used when expressing, prioritizing and managing requirements in IT projects. It is widely established that it is difficult to determine requirements for traditional systems, so a question naturally arises on how the requirements analysis is executed as AI solutions (that even fewer individuals can grasp) are being developed. Little research has been made on how the vital requirements phase is executed during development of AI solutions. This research aims to investigate the requirements analysis phase during the development of AI solutions. To explore this topic, an extensive literature review was made, and in order to collect new information, a number of interviews were performed with five suitable organizations (i.e, organizations that develop AI solutions). The results from the research concludes that the requirements analysis does not differ between development of AI solutions in comparison to development of traditional systems. However, the research showed that there were some deviations that can be deemed to be particularly unique for the development of AI solutions that affects the requirements analysis. These are: (1) the need for an iterative and agile systems development process, with an associated iterative and agile requirements analysis, (2) the importance of having a large set of quality data, (3) the relative deprioritization of user involvement, and (4) the difficulty of establishing timeframe, results/feasibility and the behavior of the AI solution beforehand.

This paper examines developers' experience of participation in decisions through agile system development methods in long-term projects. Participation is meant as an opportunity for developers to influence and realize decisions in their work through independence and freedom. The research question reads as follows: "How are developers' perceived participation in decisions during long-term projects affected?". Through five qualitative interviews with developers from an international military company, institutional logics are used as a complementary theoretical framework and analytical support. Tensions between a professional logic and a management logic are indicated to be the two main logics that pressure developers' perceived participation in decisions over a long-term period. By combining development methods over time within long-term projects, daily follow-up varies and developers' perceived participation in decisions may be affected. Partial deliveries promote developers' perceived participation in decisions because developers can receive ongoing feedback on their decisions. Developers are required to make constant considerations in their decisions in order to achieve flexibility and meet requirements, but are limited by access to information due to defense-secrecy. / Uppsatsen undersöker utvecklares upplevelse av delaktighet i beslut genom agila systemutvecklingsmetoder inom långsiktiga projekt. Delaktighet avses som möjlighet för utvecklare att genom självständighet och frihet påverka samt realisera beslut i sin arbetssituation. Forskningsfrågan som tagits fram lyder enligt följande: “Hur påverkas utvecklares upplevelse av delaktighet i beslut under långsiktiga projekt?”. Genom fem kvalitativa intervjuer med utvecklare från ett militärt internationellt företag används institutionella logiker som ett kompletterande teoretiskt ramverk och analysstöd. Spänningar mellan en professionslogik och en management-logik indikeras vara de två huvudsakliga logiker som sätter press på utvecklares upplevelse av delaktighet i beslut under en lång tidshorisont. Genom att systemutvecklingsmetoder blandas över tid inom långsiktiga projekt varieras daglig uppföljning och utvecklares upplevelse av delaktighet i beslut kan komma att påverkas. Delleveranser främjar utvecklares upplevelse av delaktighet i beslut eftersom utvecklare kan få löpande återkoppling på sina beslut. Utvecklare erfordras göra ständiga avvägningar i sina beslut för att uppnå flexibilitet och möta krav, men begränsas av tillgång till information till följd av försvarssekretess.