DECISION VARIABLES FOR SELECTING PROTOTYPING IN INFORMATION-SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT - A DELPHI STUDY OF MIS MANAGERS

The use of prototyping in the information systems development process is frequently advocated by both practitioners and academics; however, the decision variables that must be assessed when prototyping is considered have not been well defined. A literature review produced nineteen variables that potentially matter. Then a Delphi panel of MIS managers from Computerworld's Premier 100 firms, who are currently using prototyping, identified and ranked variables they consider when deciding whether to include prototyping in their systems development project. After three Delphi rounds, ten important decision variables emerged as most important, including one added during the process by the panel. Seven variables frequently cited in the literature were ranked low and hence are considered unimportant.