An exploratory study on systems development methodologies for web-based applications

Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to investigate the status of systems development methodologies (SDM) usage for developing web-based application in Malaysian organizations. In addition, it also seeks to investigate the use of techniques and tools for web-based application development. Design/methodology/approach – The study employed the use of a cross-sectional survey method with 200 questionnaires sent to information systems managers. A total of 66 usable questionnaires were returned. Findings – The use of SDM that are meant for web-based applications is still very low among Malaysian organizations. The majority of respondents indicated that the SDM being used were adapted on a project basis. Malaysian systems developers were more inclined to use techniques that were much suited for traditional applications. Nevertheless, the use of systems development tools was quite overwhelming. Despite acknowledging the merits of using SDM, respondents also indicated problems associated with their usage. Research limitations/implications – The number of respondents participated in the study was low and furthermore data were collected employing a cross-sectional design instead of longitudinal design. Originality/value – The paper provides empirical evidence regarding the use of SDM, techniques and tools for developing web-based applications.