Information Systems Development as Inquiring Systems: a Theoretical Discussion

The paper presents a framework to interpret information systems development (ISD) as composed of activities for the creation and exchange of knowledge. The framework is based on the five inquiring systems presented by Churchman (1971). The main contribution of the framework is in showing that the inquiring systems are complementary rather than competing: rationalism, empiricism, idealism, dialectic, and pragmatism are, contrarily to Churchman’s perspective, used by participants in ISD projects in accordance to the scenarios they face. Consequently, for each ISD activity there is a predominant inquiring system. Since the framework focuses on the knowledge created during the interaction of individuals and groups (or the lack there of) rather than on the specific development process the framework is robust enough to be adaptable to different ISD methodologies. While methodologies are largely centered on specific paradigms for knowledge creation, the framework focuses on micro-level activities and suggests specific management practices to support the different knowledge creation situations.