ETHICS: The Past, Present and Future of Socio-Technical Systems Design - History of Computing: Learning from the Past - page 193

User requirements : New technology directly affects users. There is little evidence
that managers have recognised the need of using IT to change the way they do busi-
ness. User requirements should be incorporated fully into the system design from the
start so that the system that is designed actually complies with user requirements; and
User job satisfaction : The way in which a computer can have a direct effect upon
the user and the way they use the system. If the user is unsatisfied with the system
they will become less motivated and users will take longer to carry out tasks, or might
not even use the system at all.
It was during the 1980's that micro computers began to have an obvious impact
upon organisations. Mumford undertook a number of projects in the 1980's using
ETHICS to redesign administrational support systems, in particular secretary systems
(Mumford, 1983c). Also during this time ETHICS was used to develop unusual sys-
tems such as an expert system for Digitial Equipment Corporation (DEC), the XSEL
system was developed for their sales office to help configure DEC hardware system
for customers (Mumford and MacDonald, 1989). The ETHICS principles were also
used to determine the value system of large organisations (Mumford, 1981).
During the eighties, the ETHICS methodology was expanded to fifteen levels
(Mumford, 1986), the stages were:
Stage 1 - Why Change? Determine whether there is need for change;
Stage 2 - System Boundaries: Identify the boundaries of the system that has to be
developed;
Stage 3 - Description of existing systems: Determine how the existing system
works looking at issues such as the sequence of events within that system;
Stage 4,5,6 - Definition of key objectives and tasks: From the analysis of the sys-
tem determine what the key tasks and objectives are and related information;
Stage 7 - Diagnosis of efficiency needs: Determine possible weak links in the
existing system;
Stage 8 - Diagnosis of job satisfaction needs: Determine users' perception of
the current system in regards to job satisfaction. This would be carried out via
the use of questionnaires. The results of the questionnaire would be drawn into
the actual system design;
Stage 9 - Future Analysis: An analysis of the future requirements of the system is
undertaken, this is to ensure that the system design covers possible areas of
potential change;
Stage 10 - Specifying and weighting job satisfaction: Rank the key objectives
based upon the analysis of stages 7, 8 and 9;
Stage 11 - Organisational design of the new system: Develop a design of the sys-
tem that focuses upon the issues identified relating to efficiency, job satisfac-
tion, etc (this runs in parallel with Stage 12);
Stage 12 - Technical Options: Determine the technical aspect of the system
including issues such as hardware, software, human-computer interface, etc;
Stage 13 - Preparation of a detailed work design: Prepare the system plan in more
detail e.g. defining data flows, responsibilities, etc;
Stage 14 - Implementation: Oversee the implementation of the work design plan;
Stage 15 - Evaluation: Evaluate the new system to ensure that it complies with the
required objectives.