Motivational Information Systems: Case study of a University Research Productivity Index leading to a 6th Extension to Ashby's Law

Information systems are widely used to map and chart organisational activities for management to motivate staff. We have coined the term ‘motivational information systems’ for information systems that have this role. This paper describes one example of recent research by the authors using a ca se study to investigate the internal and external dynamics of motivational information systems. In this paper, causal loop modeling is used to understand the dynamics of a motivational information system in a large organisation: a university-wide motivational information system intended to motivate academics to increase research outcomes. The analyses and findings of the research led to identification of a sixth extension to Ashby’s Law of Requisite Variety. The research described in this paper is part of a larger program of systems research by the authors investigating the application and extension of Beer’s, Viable Systems Model, Ashby’s Laws of Requisite Variety, Checkland’s Soft Systems, Critical Systems Analysis, System Dynamics and Causal Loop Diagrams to situations in which these tools are not commonly applied