Web Site Development Methodologies - High Level Models and Methodologies for Information Systems - page 72

Table 4.2 Different perspectives on Web-based systems (based on Standing 2001 )
Focus Web-based system viewed as

Software
application

Programs and logical language

Web site Design and creation processes

Information
architecture

Hardware, network, databases, and software

Specialist
application

Application of design and management processes to particular structures
(Intranet, extranet)

Business system A tool for the strategic business goals

4.8 Web Information System Development Methodology
(WISDM)

The Web Information System Development Methodology (WISDM) to build Web-
based information systems is described in the topic “ Developing Web Information

1 which is authored by Richard Vidgen, Dave Avison, Bob Wood, and
Trevor Wood-Harper, and published by Butterworth

Systems, ”

Heinemann ( 2002 ).
This particular approach stems from the awareness by some researchers that
traditional methodologies of system development, such as the System Development
Life Cycle (SDLC), the Waterfall methodology or the Rapid Application Devel-
opment (RAD) model, are inadequate to describe the speci

-

c reality and the par-

ticular needs of Web development (Shaffi and Al-Obaidy 2013 ).

According to Vidgen ( 2002 ), there are three dimensions that separate system
development methodologies from Internet projects. First, in traditional IS devel-
opment, there is a great deal of abstraction in requirements and strategic principles,
while in Web development, the strategic dimension is much more obvious and
tangible. Second, in traditional IS development, the typical user is an employee that
can be trained and consulted directly, while in Web development, the typical user is
essentially a customer who is not required to use the product or train for its usage.
Finally, the design of a traditional IS project is focused on pure usability, while on
Web development, the product needs to be visually appealing as well as usable
(Vidgen 2002 ).
Therefore, WISDM attempts to provide a framework for connecting traditional
systems development methods with Web-based techniques. By using established
methods and techniques, it builds on existing best approaches rather than adding a
new methodology altogether. It covers the analysis and design activities of an
application and/or system development (Vidgen et al. 2002 ).
In this sense, WISDM builds on the Multiview approach to system development
(Vidgen 2002 ). This is a contigent methodology that is heavily focused on the
speci c goals of the project and on bridging the gaps between all the different

1

http://www.wisdm.net/wisdm/index.htm .