The development of an information system requires four main activities that must be carried out during the systems development life cycle (sdlc): feasibility study /analysis, design, technical construction, and implementation. This paper ex- amines the conditions under which information systems (is) specialists and users should assume responsibility and decision-making authority during the sdlc. A contingency model is presented that recommends the type of responsibility and authority roles that users should assume during the sdlc to minimize the risk and uncertainty inherent in developing computer-based systems. The contingency model developed in this paper builds upon the situational charac- teristics of information system complexity, is department experience, and user past experience in system development. According to the model, certain system factors and systems development experiences require that the user become involved by exercising heavy responsibility and authority roles, while other situational factors suggest light user leadership. The concept of sdlc leadership as responsibility and authority is developed and its meaning for users during each state of the sdlc is discussed.

https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdfplus/40397823.pdf

User Leadership in the Systems Development Life Cycle: A Contingency Model

Toward the beginning of 1980, PRD Electronics began developing a Management Information System (MIS) which would monitor the test activity at an Automatic Test Equipment (ATE) Station. This article describes the implementation of a novel MIS development strategy and explains the circumstances that influenced the decision to prepare a user's manual at the beginning of the system development cycle rather than at the end. This article further describes the management strategy of creating a Systems Engineering Department to exercise centralized project control and emphasizes how the generation of Activity Description Charts, and Hierarchy plus Input-Processed-Output (HIPO) documentation during system development affects the productivity of project personnel by: (a) clearly understanding their individual responsibilities, and (b) knowing the relationship of their work to the overall project development goals.

Ashok Shenolikar

Papers

An approach to structured MIS development