Constructive Images and Diagrams: Their Role in Information Systems Development

Abstract: In order t o promote more creative solutions t o In fo rma t ion Sys t ems (IS) design problems, t h i s paper iden t i f i es four roles t ha t images or diagrams can play in the IS development process. These roles are characteristics o f t h e interact ion between t he image and i t s creator or viewer, rather t h a n o f the diagram i t se l f. O n e o f these roles in particular, t h e constructive role, can do m u c h t o support t h e generation o f creative designs, t o t h e benefit o f both sys tems developers and the i r clients. The goal o f constructive sys tems t h ink ing i s t o enhance t h e creative solut ion o f I S development problems, and it cannot be reduced t o a specif ic, h ighly structured technique. W e can, however, outl ine a general approach t o building constructive images: 2. Create a set o f candidate analogies, elaborate t h e m, and evaluate t h e degree t o which each guides design o f t h e target sys tem. 2. Evaluate how completely t h i s working set o f analogies in forms t h e impor tan t aspects o f t he target sys tem, and create additional analogies t o fill a n y ma jor gaps. 3. Over t h e relevant scope o f each analogy, research i t s s tructure and dynamic interactions. Use these a s templates w i t h i n wh ich t o model t h e target sys tem