Formal Inquiry Systems: an Inquiry Profile for Project Management?

The basic concepts of inquiry systems have long been applied to business systems, including behavior and management systems, environmental structures, public policy and ethical issues. Most of these concepts have, however, been applied to an historical knowledge of inquiry systems; or, as in the case of technology and information systems, have presented mainly mathematical calculations and formulas for the development of tools and applications. One very important factor that has often been overlooked is a formal approach to the involvement of people and human factors in inquiry systems development. A next generation inquiry model is proposed to extend inquiry systems thinking to information resources analysis and specifically to project management. It is designed as a pedagogical tool with which to begin class discussions and as a basis for applied research.