article

Knowledge as a basis for expertise in systems analysis: an empirical study

Author:

Nicholas P. VitalariAuthors Info & Claims

MIS Quarterly, Volume 9, Issue 3

Pages 221 - 241

https://doi.org/10.2307/248950

Published: 01 September 1985 Publication History

Abstract

This study explores the content of the systems analyst's knowledge base. The study utilizes a protocol analysis methodology in a quasi-experimental research setting to define the types of knowledge used by 18 experienced systems analysts in solving an accounts receivable problem. The study provides preliminary findings regarding the core knowledge utilized by systems analysts, and differences in the knowledge utilized by high- and low-rated analysts.

References

[1]

Adams, R. and Athey, T.H. (eds.) DPMA Model Curriculum for Undergraduate Computer Information Systems Education, DPMA, Park Ridge, Illinois, 1981.

[2]

Alloway, A.M. "Grow Your Own," Damatation, Volume 26, Number 8, April 1980.

[3]

Arvey, A.D. and Hoyle, J.C. "A Guttman Approach to the Development of Behaviorally-Based Rating Scales for Systems Analysts and Programmer Analysts," Journal of Applied Psychology, Volume 59, Number 1, February 1974, pp. 61-68.

[4]

Ash, P. and Kroeker, L.P. "Personnel Section, ClaSSification, and Placement," in Annual Review of Psychology, M.R. Rosenweig and L.W. Porter (eds.), Annual Reviews Inc., Palo Alto, California, 1975, pp. 481-507.

[5]

Ashenhurst, R.L. (ed.) "A Report of the ACM Curriculum Committee on Computer Education in Management," Communications of the ACM, Volume 15, Number5, May 1972, pp. 363-398.

Digital Library

[6]

Atwood, M. Expert and Novice Systems Designers, SAI, Boulder, Colorado, 1980.

[7]

Benbasat, I., Dexter, A., Drury, D., and Goldstein, A. "A Critique of the Stage Hypothesis: Theory and Empirical Evidence," Communications of the ACM, Volume 27, Number 5, May 1984, pp; 476-485.

Digital Library

[8]

Benbasat, I., Dexter, A.S., and Mantha, R.W. "Impact of Organizational Maturity on Information System Skill Needs," MIS Quarterly, Volume 4, Number 1, March 1980, pp. 21-34.

Digital Library

[9]

Benbasat, I. and Taylor, R.N. "The Impact of Cognitive Styles on Information Systems Design," MIS Quarterly, Volume 2, Number 2, June 1978, pp. 43-54.

Digital Library

[10]

Berrisford, T. and Wetherbe, J. "Heuristic Development: A Redesign. of Systems Design," MIS Quarterly, Volume 3, Number 2, June 1979, pp. 43-54.

[11]

Bhaskar, R. and Simon, H.A. "Problem Solving in Semantically Rich Domains: An example from Engineering Thermodynamics," Cognitive Science, Volume 1, Number 2, April 1977, pp. 193-215.

[12]

Bingham, J.E. and Davies, G.P. A Handbook of Systems Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, New York, New York, 1978.

[13]

Boland, R. "Protocols of Interaction in the Design of Information Systems: An Evaluation of the Role of the Systems Analyst in Determining Information Requirements," Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation, Case Western University, Cleveland, Ohio, 1976.

[14]

Bostrom, R.P. and Heinen, S.J. "MIS Problems and Failures: A Sociotechnical Perspective-Part I: The Causes," MIS Quarterly, Volume 1, Number 3, September 1977, pp. 17-32.

Digital Library

[15]

Bryant, J.H. and Ferguson, G. "Systems Analyst Activities and Skill Requirements," Proceedings of the Fourteenth Annual Computer Personnel Research Conference, Association for Computing Machinery, July 29-30, 1976.

[16]

Burch, J.G., Strater, F.R. and Grudnitski, G. Information Systems: Theory and Practice, (2nd Ed.) John Wiley & Sons, New York, New York, 1979.

[17]

Couger, J.D. (ed.) "Curriculum Recommendations for Undergraduate Programs in Information Systems," Communications of the ACM, Volume 16, Number 12, December 1973, pp. 727-749.

Digital Library

[18]

Dagwell, R. and Weber, R. "Systems Designers' User Models: A Comparative Study and Methodological Critique," Communications of the ACM, Volume 26, Number 11, November 1983, pp. 987-997.

Digital Library

[19]

DeMarco, T. Structured Analysis and System Specification, Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 1979.

[20]

Dickson, G.W., Senn, J.A. and Chervany, N.L. "Research in MIS: The Minnesota Experiments," Management Science, Volume 23, Number 9, May 1977, pp. 913-923.

Digital Library

[21]

Ericsson, K.A. and Simon, H.A. "Verbal Reports as Data," Psychological Review, Volume 87, Number 3, 1980, pp. 215-251.

[22]

Flanagan, J.C. "The Critical Incident Technique," Psychological Bulletin, Volume 51, Number 4, July 1954, pp. 327-358.

[23]

Gingras, L. and McLean, R.L. "Designers and Users of Information Systems: A Study in Differing Profiles," Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Information Systems, C. Ross (ed.), Ann Arbor, Michigan, December 13-15, 1982, pp. 169-181.

[24]

Gore, M. and Stubbe, J. Elements of Systems Analysis, (3rd Ed.) W.C. Brown Company Publishers, Dubuque, Iowa, 1983.

[25]

Hedberg, B. and Mumford, E. "The Design of Computer Systems: Man's Vision of Man as an Integral Part of the Systems Design Process," in Human Choice and Computers, E. Mumford and H. Sackman (eds.) North Holland, Amsterdam, 1975, pp. 31-59.

[26]

Henry, R.M., Dickson, G.W. and LaSalle, J. Human Resources for MIS: A Report of Research, MIS Research Center Working Paper, WP-74-01, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, May 1974.

[27]

Keen, P.G.W. "Information Systems and Organizational Change," Communications of the ACM, Volume 24, Number 1, January 1981, pp. 24-33.

Digital Library

[28]

Keen, P.G.W. and Bronsema, G.S. "Cognitive Style Research: A Perspective for Integration," Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Information Systems, C. Ross (ed.), Cambridge, Massachusetts, December 7-9, 1981, pp. 21-52.

[29]

King, J.L. and Kraemer, K.L. "Evolution and Organizational Information Systems: An Assessment of Nolan's Stage Model," Communications of the ACM, Volume 27, Number 5, May 1984.

[30]

Kling, R. "Social Ahalyses of Computing: Theoretical Perspectives in Recent Empirical Research," ACM Computing Surveys, Volume 28, Number 1, March 1980, pp. 61-110

Digital Library

[31]

Kling, R. and Scacchi, W. "The Web of Computing: Computer Technology as Social Organization," in Advances in Computers, M. Yovits (ed), Volume 21, Academic Press, New York, New York. 1982.

[32]

Markus, M.L. "Power, Politics and MIS Implementation," Communications of the ACM, Volume 26, Number 6, June 1983, pp. 430-444.

Digital Library

[33]

McClelland, D.C. "Testing for Competence Rather than for Intelligence," American Psychologist, Volume 19, Number 1, January 1973, pp. 1-14.

[34]

Monro, M.C. and Davis, G. "Determining Management Information Needs: A Comparison of Methods," MIS Quarterly, Volume 1, Number 2, June 1977, pp. 55-67.

Digital Library

[35]

Nagel, E. and Brandt, R.B. Meaning and Knowledge: Systematic Readings in Epistemology, Harcourt Brace & World, Inc., New York, New York, 1965.

[36]

Naumann, J.D. and Jenkins, A.M. "Prototyping: The New Paradigm for Systems Development," MIS Quarterly, Volume 6, Number 3, September 1972, pp. 29-44.

Digital Library

[37]

Nolan, A. "Managing the Crises in Data Processing," Harvard Business Review, Volume 57, Number 2, March-April 1979, pp. 115-126.

[38]

Nunamaker, J.F. Jr., Ho, T., Konsynski, B. and Singer, C. "Computer-Aided Analysis and Design of Information Systems," Communications of the ACM, Volume 19, Number 12, December 1976, pp. 674-687.

Digital Library

[39]

Rockart, J.F. "Chief Executives Define Their Own Data Needs." Harvard Business Review, Volume 57, Number 3, March-April 1979, pp. 81-93.

[40]

Schank, R. and Abelson, A. Scripts, Plans, Goals and Understanding: An Inquiry into Human Knowledge Structures, Lawrence Earlbaum Associates, Hillsdale, New Jersey, 1977.

[41]

Scott-Morton, M. Management Decision Systems: Computer Based Support for Decision Making, Harvard Business School, Division of Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1971.

[42]

Semprevivo, P.C. Systems Analysis: Definition, Process and Design, Science Research Associates, Chicago, Illinois, 1976.

[43]

Senn, J.A. Analysis in Design of Information Systems, McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York, New York, 1984

[44]

Siegal, S. Nonparametric Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences, McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York, New York, 1956.

[45]

Strout, E. A Study of Job Related Competencies Used by Information Systems Analysts, Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, 1970.

[46]

Taggart, W.M. and Tharp, M.D. "A Survey of Information Requirements Analysis Techniques," ACM Computing Surveys, Volume 9, Number 4, December 1977, pp. 273-290.

Digital Library

[47]

Taggart, W.M. and Tharp, M.D. "Dimensions of Information Requirements Analysis," Database, Volume 7, Number 1, Summer 1975, pp. 5-13.

[48]

Vitalari, N.P. and Dickson, G.W. "Problem Solving for Effective Systems Analysis: An Experimental Exploration," Communications of the ACM, Volume 26, Number 11, November 1983, pp. 948-956.

Digital Library

[49]

Weinberg, V. Structured Analysis, Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 1980.

[50]

Wetherbe, J.C. Systems Analysis and Design: Traditional, Structured and Advanced Concepts and Techniques, (2nd Ed.), West Publishing Company, St. Paul, Minnesota, 1984.

[51]

Wolfe, J.M. "A Validation Report on the Wolfe Systems Analysts Appitude Test" (Experiments Form B3), Computer Personnel, Volume 6, Number 4, Spring 1977, pp. 11-12.

Digital Library

[52]

Yordon, E. and Constantine, L.L. Structured Design: Fundamentals of a Discipline of Computer Program and Systems Design, Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 1979.

Cited By

Zahn EDickhaut E(2024)Theory-Driven Design of a Negotiation Canvas for Reaching Win-Win AgreementsDesign Science Research for a Resilient Future10.1007/978-3-031-61175-9_9(123-138)Online publication date: 3-Jun-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1007/978-3-031-61175-9_9
Raatikainen PPekkola SMäkelä M(2023)Narrativization in Information Systems DevelopmentJournal of Database Management10.4018/JDM.33347135:1(1-30)Online publication date: 7-Nov-2023
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.4018/JDM.333471
Atasoy HBanker RPavlou P(2021)Information Technology Skills and Labor Market Outcomes for WorkersInformation Systems Research10.1287/isre.2020.097532:2(437-461)Online publication date: 1-Jun-2021
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1287/isre.2020.0975
Show More Cited By

Index Terms

Knowledge as a basis for expertise in systems analysis: an empirical study

Recommendations

Theoretical basis for hierarchical incremental knowledge acquisition

Human experts tend to introduce intermediate terms in giving their explanations. The expert's explanation of such terms is operational for the context that triggered the explanation; however, term definitions remain often incomplete. Further, the expert'...
The quality of expertise: implications of expert-novice differences for knowledge acquisition
Special issue on knowledge acquisition

Recognizing that the knowledge of experts is qualitatively and not just quantitatively different from the knowledge of novices is an important pre-requisite to conducting effective knowledge acquisition. This article reviews the current cognitive ...
Expertise transfer and complex problems
Special issue: 1969-1999, the 30th anniversary

Acquiring knowledge from a human expert is a major problem when building a knowledge-based system. Aquinas, an expanded version of the Expertise Transfer System (ETS), is a knowledge-acquisition workbench that combines ideas from psychology and ...

Comments

Information & Contributors

Information

Published In

cover image MIS Quarterly

MIS Quarterly Volume 9, Issue 3

September 1985

94 pages

ISSN:0276-7783

Issue’s Table of Contents

Publisher

Society for Information Management and The Management Information Systems Research Center

United States

Publication History

Published: 01 September 1985

Author Tags

Qualifiers

Article

Contributors

Other Metrics

View Article Metrics

Bibliometrics & Citations

Bibliometrics

Article Metrics

29
Total Citations
View Citations
2
Total Downloads

Downloads (Last 12 months)0
Downloads (Last 6 weeks)0

Reflects downloads up to 14 Oct 2024

Other Metrics

View Author Metrics

Citations

Cited By

Zahn EDickhaut E(2024)Theory-Driven Design of a Negotiation Canvas for Reaching Win-Win AgreementsDesign Science Research for a Resilient Future10.1007/978-3-031-61175-9_9(123-138)Online publication date: 3-Jun-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1007/978-3-031-61175-9_9
Raatikainen PPekkola SMäkelä M(2023)Narrativization in Information Systems DevelopmentJournal of Database Management10.4018/JDM.33347135:1(1-30)Online publication date: 7-Nov-2023
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.4018/JDM.333471
Atasoy HBanker RPavlou P(2021)Information Technology Skills and Labor Market Outcomes for WorkersInformation Systems Research10.1287/isre.2020.097532:2(437-461)Online publication date: 1-Jun-2021
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1287/isre.2020.0975
Kim JKishore R(2019)Do we Fully Understand Information Systems Failure? An Exploratory Study of the Cognitive Schema of IS ProfessionalsInformation Systems Frontiers10.1007/s10796-018-9838-721:6(1385-1419)Online publication date: 1-Dec-2019
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1007/s10796-018-9838-7
Liu YTan CSutanto J(2016)Selective Attention to Commercial Information Displays in Globally Available Mobile ApplicationJournal of Global Information Management10.5555/3013954.301395624:2(18-38)Online publication date: 1-Apr-2016
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.5555/3013954.3013956
Ruckman KSaraf NSambamurthy V(2015)Market Positioning by IT Service Vendors Through ImitationInformation Systems Research10.5555/2895536.289554226:1(100-126)Online publication date: 1-Mar-2015
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.5555/2895536.2895542
Siau KLong YLing M(2010)Toward a Unified Model of Information Systems Development SuccessJournal of Database Management10.4018/jdm.201011230421:1(80-101)Online publication date: 1-Jan-2010
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.4018/jdm.2010112304
Armstrong DNelson HNelson KNarayanan V(2008)Building the IT Workforce of the FutureInformation Resources Management Journal10.4018/irmj.200804010421:2(63-79)Online publication date: 1-Apr-2008
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.4018/irmj.2008040104
Armstrong DHardgrave B(2007)Understanding mindshift learningMIS Quarterly10.5555/2017336.201733931:3(453-474)Online publication date: 1-Sep-2007
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.5555/2017336.2017339
Joshi KKuhn KNiederman FNiederman FSumner MLending DVician C(2007)Multiple stakeholders' perceptions of critical attributes of a top performerProceedings of the 2007 ACM SIGMIS CPR conference on Computer personnel research: The global information technology workforce10.1145/1235000.1235031(128-133)Online publication date: 19-Apr-2007
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/1235000.1235031
Show More Cited By

View Options

View options

Media

Figures

Other

Tables

View Issue’s Table of Contents