Introna, Lucas D. and Whitley, Edgar A. (1997) Against method-ism: exploring the limits of method. Information technology and people, 10 (1). pp. 31-45. ISSN 0959-3845
Abstract
Provides a critique of method-ism - the view that methodology is necessary and sufficient for information systems’ development success; method-ism presupposes also that systems developers understand the value of methodology and will prefer to work with it rather than without it. Argues, against method-ism, that method flows from understanding, and not the reverse. Hence method cannot be a substitute for understanding. Discusses the way in which humans tend to interact with the world by means of ready-to-hand tools, using the ideas of Heidegger and Ihde. Shows that tools are used only if available (ready-to-hand) in the world of doing. If a methodology is not ready-to-hand, it will break down and be ignored in the pragmatics of getting the job done. Presents a number of arguments why methodologies by design will tend to break down (not be ready-to-hand) and hence be discarded.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Official URL: | http://www.itandpeople.org/ |
| Additional Information: | © 1997 MCB University Press |
| Library of Congress subject classification: | H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) |
| Sets: | Research centres and groups > Information Systems and Innovation Group Departments > Management |
| Rights: | http://www.lse.ac.uk/library/rights/LSERO.htm |
| URL: | http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/27189/ |
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