A semiotics framework for information systems classification and development

Terms such as ‘data processing system’, ‘management information system’, ‘decision support system’, ‘expert system’ and ‘executive support system’ are widely used. However, there appears to be no generally accepted way to distinguish among these classes of information systems due to the vagueness that has existed in traditional classification schemes of information systems. The purpose of this research is to establish an analytical framework based on a theoretical foundation, Ž . called Semiotics the theory of signs to understand, classify and compare information systems of various generations. Such a framework should simplify subsequent discussions and considerations in building new generations of information systems with complicated functions and capabilities. The proposed semiotics framework consists of 10 features that can be used to characterize the relationships between an information system and its users, and represent and organize the system’s contents. The framework is applied to analyze and compare the semiotics features of information systems. Its relevance to system development, particularly system planning and requirements determination, is also discussed. q 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.