The diffusion of information systems development methods

This paper describes an investigation into the diffusion of information systems development methods (ISDMs). Such methods have a critical strategic impact on organizational performance in that they are the means for constructing, adapting and renewing the IS infrastructure in line with organizational strategy. We portray method diffusion as an instance of technological diffusion. Technological diffusion is normally portrayed within the IS industry as an overtly rational process. In this paper we postulate that the external diffusion process of ISDMs has many features in common with broader social movements. We maintain that the diffusion of ISDMs is a key example of knowledge-based diffusion and use the case of the Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM), a public domain standard method for Rapid Application Development (RAD), to refine a model of knowledge-based diffusion. Such a framework is important for understanding how such methods shape the community of practice in the IS development domain. Specifically how organizations adapt, deploy and use such knowledge. In further work we intend to verify aspects of this knowledge-based perspective in longitudinal and further case-study work. q 2003 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.