Cognitive Style as a Basis for MIS and DSS Designs: Much ADO About Nothing?

TLDR: In this article, the authors present six specific bases for these two conclusions: 1) the currently available literature on cognitive style is an unsatisfactory basis for deriving operational design guidelines, and 2 further cognitive style research is unlikely to provide a satisfactory body of knowledge from which to derive such guidelines.

Abstract: It is commonly believed that the user's cognitive style should be considered in the design of Management Information Systems and Decision Support Systems. In contrast, an examination of the literature and a consideration of some of the broader issues involved in MIS and DSS design lead to the conclusions that: 1 the currently available literature on cognitive style is an unsatisfactory basis for deriving operational design guidelines, and 2 further cognitive style research is unlikely to provide a satisfactory body of knowledge from which to derive such guidelines. The article presents six specific bases for these two conclusions. From a manager's pespective, the outcome of the study is a suggestion: maintain a healthy skepticism if it is suggested that paper and pencil assessments of the user's cognitive style should be used as a basis for MIS or DSS designs. From a researcher's viewpoint, the study raises two questions: 1 If our research interest is MIS and DSS design, does it seem that further research in cognitive style is a wise allocation of our research resources? 2 If our research interest is cognitive style, does it seem that the use of cognitive style as a basis for MIS and DSS designs will become an important application area?