An Extension to the Information System Architecture Framework for Eliciting and Representing System Requirements

This paper explains how management should be able to describe to others the problem they want to resolve or the opportunity they wish to take advantage of in terms of their needs, desires, and anticipated results. This statement of the problem or opportunity is the basis for eliciting and representing the system requirements for those problems and opportunities that require an automated solution (i.e., an information system). The goal of this dissertation was to minimize and eliminate, where feasible, the major issues and problems associated with the elicitation and representation of system requirements. A System Requirements Knowledge Structure and an Extended Information System (ISA) Framework were developed to assist in identifying, defining, and specifying system requirements. The System Requirements Knowledge Structure consists of a set of graphic representations and narratives that identify the types of system requirements that should be considered when defining the requirements for an information system and it serves as a model to use when identifying, articulating, defining, and classifying system requirements. The Extended ISA Framework serves as a model to use when describing, conveying, sharing, validating, and verifying system requirements. The Extended ISA Framework is based on the Information System Architecture Framework, developed initially by John Zachman (1987) and later extended by John Sowa and John Zachman (1992). The ISA Framework and Extended ISA Framework are based on the six Basic English interrogatories: Who, What, Where, When, How, and Why. They represent the columns in a table that describes the real world, while the rows capture the different perspectives of the parties involved in the development of an information system. More specifically, the top two rows of the Extended ISA Framework (which consists of nine models) represent information about an organization, and the third row (which consists of seven models) reveals the initial definition of the technology to be used to develop or enhance one or more information systems