Presented by Mark RamrattanBrunel Business SchooleMail: mark.ramrattan@brunel.ac.uk

The Problem from LiteratureAim / Question of the ResearchContext of ResearchMethodologyDevelopment of Web-based ToolContribution to Knowledge

Persistent Problems in Web-based Development:

Internet Speed – development cycles for web-based development had tightened (Compared to Information System Development) to enable fast paced change.(Howell & Croft 2000, Baskerville et al 2003,Baskerville et al 2004)

Web Based Aesthetics – advanced graphics and multimedia features such as sound, animation and video streaming (Bansler et al. 2000, Carstensen et al. 2001, Holck 2002, Lang 2002, Murugesan et al. 2001, Vidgen 2002, Kautz & Norberg 2003, Kautz, Madsen & Nørbjerg 2007)

Baskerville, Pries-Heje & Ramesh (2007) ; Kautz, Madsen & Nørbjerg (2007) call for further research in this area to aid developers through theoretical and practical knowledge

Today's organisations driven by sudden and unexpected change (Structures / Processes / Resources)

“Emergent Organisation” is used to categorise this type of continuous change Truex et al (1999), Bello (2002), Clegg et al (2005).

Web-based Development ProjectMany methodologies, which is appropriate? Patel and Hackney (2008) The very act of modeling assumes it can be predicted. Need emergent characteristic development tools

Developing in and for emergent organisations when the web developer is under increased demand to design WBIS in a dynamically changing environment

(Bansler et al, 2000; Carstensen et al, 2001; Holck, 2002; Lang, 2002; Murugesan et al, 2001; Vidgen, 2002; Kautz & Norberg, 2003; Kautz, Madsen &Nørbjerg, 2007)

Researching this Problem: Motivated by the recognition that an organisation can be more deeply understood if the researcher is part of itArgyris et al (1985), Avison et al (1999), Baskerville, (1999), Bunning (1995), Checkland (1991), Elden and Chisholm (1993), Lewin (1948)

This research aims to achieve one objective. It has been designed to develop an emergent web-based tool that aids both organisation and practioner when critical factors Internet Speed and Web-based aesthetics affect the web-based information system development process.

How does an emergent organisation develop web based information systems, with increased demand on the web developer for web based aesthetics at Internet Speed?

Developing web-based information systems: Chaplains: Multi religion faith centreEquality & DiversityOnline Student and Research HandbookStudent Services: Central place for student seeking advise

TFL (Transport for London) Student Travel + Virtual Map

Action Research (AR) – What is it? “AR is an interventionist approach to the

acquisition of scientific knowledge that has sound foundations in the post-positivist tradition.” (Baskerville and Wood-Harper 1996).

“The application focus of AR involves solving

organisational problems through intervention while at the same time contributing to knowledge.” (Davison et. al. 2004)

“AR aims to contribute both to the practical concerns of people in an immediate problematic situation and to the goals of social science by joint collaboration within a mutually accepted ethical framework.” (Susman and Evered, 1978)

Why AR? Intervention in the situation – not possible with

Case Study (except action case)Relevance to the real world (unlike experiments)

Cyclical framework of continuous improvement that is well-suited to organisational change linking theory and practice

Means of generating and immediately testing knowledge

Coghlan and Brannick (2005)

The data collection adopts Coghlan and Brannick (2005) action research cycles as it composes of two different action research cycles.

The first is diagnosing, planning, taking action and evaluating in relation to the project.

The second reflection cycle reflects on the action research cycle.

(Diagnosing) Problem in Development

(Planning Action) Action in Development

(Taking Action) Solution in Development

(Evaluating Action) What did I learn?

The manager proposed the problem of how to select appropriate features within the WBIS.

Many of the requirements had to be agreed with the different student services sections.

Based on the web developer ability to develop WBIS an agreement was made to pursue two different methods of initial development.

Agreement:The web developer experienceand knowledge ofmethodology’saffects the manager’s ability toincorporate the featuresRequired for WBISdevelopment. Disagreement: To test the applicability of thedesign requirement, it isnecessary to test it within itsactual environment.

Experiencing, Reflecting, Interpreting, Tacking Action

Experiencing, Reflecting, Interpreting, Tacking Action

Experiencing, Reflecting, Interpreting, Tacking Action

Experiencing, Reflecting, Interpreting, Tacking Action

Having this problem made the action researcher feel excited to have the opportunity to develop a WBIS for a wide audience.

The thought of the manager having to get a collective agreement with the different services made the web developer feel more focused and content with implementing the development process.

The web developer role had to incorporate aiding the decision on what can and cannot be developed. Apprehensive about this process the action researcher had to develop a web developer tool to overcome this problem.

Both web developer and manager felt it was necessary to develop a better way of understanding what stage the development process was currently at and what the web developer could contribute. Using a theory that models emergence process would enable the development of such a tool.

Ongoing cycle of reflectionDescription of EventProblems I SectionTheories / MethodologiesPotential ConflictsPossible Solutions Forth Coming Events / Preliminary Thoughts

http://celt.ust.hk/ideas/ar/intro.htm

The action research project induces theory to practice and looks to extending that theory in order to develop an emergent development tool for web developers.

The rationale for invoking the Theory of Deferred Action (ToDA) (Patel, 2006) is to invoke a theory that generates ‘usable knowledge’ which incorporates the emergence design dimension.

The constructs from the Kadar matrix (Web-based Tool) are adapted from the gDRASS matrix.

gDRASS Matrix (Patel, 2006)

gDRASS Constructs (Patel, 2006)

gDRASS Constructs

Definition

Formalism Prescribes precise rules for creating structural forms to achieve set objectives.

Deferred Action Is concerned with enabling actual action as interrelation design with formal design.

Emergence (Emergent Organisation)

Is an unknowable and unpredictable social action.(Social Action that is organised but subject to emergence)

Diffusion Management

The joint responsibility of reflective and action designers to manage organisation and systems structure and operations.

gDRASS Design Types (Patel, 2006)

Types of Design Definition

Deferred Design Design by action designers within formal design to cope with unknowable emergence.

Autonomous Design

When design capability is afforded to intelligent machines by reflective designers that become autonomous of humans.

Real Design Design of structures and operations by rational design for enactment in emergent actuality and responsive to it in real time.

Specified Design Conducted by reflective designers from specification obtained from users

Kadar Matrix (Ramrattan and Patel, 2009)

Kadar Matrix Quadrants

Combination of Different Methodology Phases(Top Left Quadrant)

No Logical Methodology / Real World / Continuous Change (Top Right Quadrant)

High level of Continuous Change within the organisationWeb Developer knowledge and ability to implement a few methodologiesTime to market is high, increased demand to deliver the WBIS within a short development cycle.Demand for Web Aesthetics is Low - Medium

High level of Continuous Change within the organisationWeb Developer knowledge and ability to implement a few different methodologiesTime to market is high, increased demand to deliver the WBIS within a short development cycle.Demand for Web Aesthetics is High

Specific Methodology (Bottom Left Quadrant) Combination of Different Methodologies (Bottom Right Quadrant)

Low level of Continuous Change within the organisationWeb Developer knowledge limited to one or two methodologiesTime to market is low, resulting less pressure to develop WBIS on timeDemand for Web Aesthetics is low

Low level of continuous change within the organisationWeb Developer knowledge and ability to implement many different methodologiesTime to market is low – medium, less pressure to develop within a short development cycleDemand for Web Aesthetics is medium – high

The research identifies WBIS development problems through literature and action research data, with an adaptation of the gDRASS matrix as a possible WBIS web developer tool (Kadar matrix) to help position the web developer potential contribution throughout the development process. With this knowledge the web developer can advise more accurately with the manager about meeting today’s volatile demands for WBIS development.

This research extends ToDA by utilising the constructs of the gDRASS matrix and adapting them for the purpose of developing a Web-based Information System development tool (Kadar matrix) that web developers use in actuality (emergent organisations).

The Action Research data reaffirms the Web-based development position of the web developer when using the Kadar matrix in an emergent organisation. This aids the web developer, manager and organisation by having a collective overall position.

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Any questions, comments, queries or suggestions?eMail: mark.ramrattan@brunel.ac.uk