Towards an integrating programme for information systems design: an Oriental case

The field of information systems design (ISD) is in a state of fragmentation; further, it has proved not easy to integrate embracing ontology and pluralist epistemology into user-friendly methodologies able to facilitate disciplinary and creative ISD actions. These difficulties are addressed via an Oriental approach, WSR (relations with the world, the mind and others), which draws upon ancient Chinese thought and contemporary management practice in China. WSR has been used to help IS developers and users in viewing ISD as a technical-cognitive-social whole, shaping ISD as an issue-task matrix, guiding ISD as a spiral learning and bubble-management process, enhancing participation by transforming management-ISD methodologies, and identifying further research areas. It is suggested that ISD will benefit from conscious mutual learning between the Western spirit of critical rigour and the Eastern flexible pragmatic mindset. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.