Information Systems Development Methodologies - High Level Models and Methodologies for Information Systems - page 55

3.2.10 Multiview Methodology

The multiview methodology was first outlined in 1985 by David Avison and Trevor

Wood-Harper, based on their experience with systems analysis in the industrial
context (Avison and Wood-Harper 2003 ). Since then, it has been improved and
expanded, eventually becoming an important alternative in the field of IS devel-

opment (Avison et al. 1998 ). It was created as a reaction to traditional IS devel-
opment methods, which had firm roots in engineering discipline and technical
rationality (Vidgen 2002 ).
According to Avison and Wood-Harper ( 2003 ), multiview

' s fundamental prin-

ciples are centered around five essential questions that any IS development needs to

address:

1. How can the system contribute to the organization ' s goals?

2. How can it be adjusted to the worker ' s daily routines?

3. What is the most ef cient way for the users to interact with the system?

4. What functions will the system need to perform?
5. What technical speci cations can more easily achieve the desired results, based

on the previous four questions?

five questions was associated with a different dimension of the
framework: in a hierarchical, progressive structure, these dimensions were human
activity, information, socio-technical, human

Each of these

computer interface, and technical.
The structure and its meanings are illustrated in Fig. 3.5 .
This

-

five-stage framework shows that the multiview approach allows an
adjustment along the process of IS development, by considering not only the
technical aspects, but also focusing in the human assets and how their skills and
concerns can in five stages are considered necessary to

develop a system that is complete and balanced in technical as well as human
aspects.

uence the process. These

Fig. 3.5 Multiview methodology framework [adapted from Avison and Wood-Harper ( 2003 )]