Perspectives of Information Systems

Information system science, defined broadly, is highly interdisciplinary because it can be seen as the effective analysis, design, delivery, use, and impact of infor mation technology in organizations and society. Many basic as well as advanced books on information systems and their development apply approaches and theo ries from such disciplines as technology, management science, economics, math ematics, psychology, sociology, and philosophy. Such new branches of information system science as mobile information systems, multimedia informa tion systems, telematic commerce, and cooperative work support systems have incorporated theories from such disciplines as organization science, education sciences, communication science, and musicology. Objectives and Uses of This Book This book focuses on various issues in information systems and their develop ment, as well as on the advanced utilization of new information technology. The fields and issues that are analyzed in this book have not been discussed in the same context in the current scientific literature, although they are becoming more important in information systems development. This book includes both theoreti cal foundations and practical approaches for each topic, and therefore it is of rel evance both to scientists of information systems and to practitioners in information systems development, introduction, and use. Large companies and software houses will also find this book useful in its discussion of methods for evaluating information technologies, systems, methodologies, and tools. Our col leagues have expressed a need for this kind of book. We offer new perspectives on key topics in information systems research.

This book focuses on several essential issues of information systems and their development, incorporating the latest advances in new information technology. It should prove highly useful to researchers in information technology, IS software developers and students studying information systems development.

I Methodologies and Metamodels for Information System Development and Their Evaluation.- 1. Framework for Information Activities.- 2. Analysis of Three IS and ISD Reference Frameworks.- II Contingency Factors and Uncertainty in Decision Making in Information System Development.- 3. Favorable Atmosphere for Effective Information Technology Decisions.- III Development of Holistic ISD Methodologies and Selection of ISD Methods and Tools.- 4. Overview of the OSSAD Methodology.- 5. Refinement of the OSSAD Methodology by Multiclient Field Testing.- 6. Technical Specification of an Information System.- 7. Decision Criteria for Information System Development Tool Selection.- IV Toward Intelligent Executive Information Systems.- 8. Strategic Decision Making.- 9. Evaluation of Executive Information Systems.- 10. Application of Knowledge-Based Technology in Executive Information Systems.- V Mobile Information Systems.- 11. Executives' Views of Mobile Information Services.- VI Exception Handling in Information Systems.- 12. Basic Concepts of Exception Handling in Office Information Systems.- VII Quality Assurance and Performance Evaluation of Information Systems.- 13. Concepts and Practices in Performance Evaluation of Office Information Systems.- 14. Analysis of the Dynamic Nature of Information Systems Performance Evaluation.- 15. Performance Evaluation of an Information System: An Experiment.