Towards client‐led development of information systems

Abstract

Abstract. With the incorporation of Information Technology into most areas of modern life, the methods used by the Computer System Analyst (CSA) needs to be reconsidered. To suppose Systems Analysis to be concerned solely with computing is to minimize the task as an information system is greater than a computer system. As such, the information system designer needs to be able to ‘appreciate’ the wider implications of a clients information needs. An argument is put forward that Information System Design should be undertaken by the client with the CSA acting as facilitator. This paper attempts to provide a re‐appraisal of the CSA and arising from this re‐appraisal, suggest that ideas originating from organizational analysis could be usefully embodied in the design process for Information Systems.