Open Source Technology Changes Intra-Organizational Systems Development - A Tale of Two Companies

This paper explores how two organizations have changed their software development practices by implementing Open Source technology. Our aim is to understand the institutional changes needed in and emerging from this process. The paper develops a conceptualization building on the insights of entrepreneurial institutionalism and concentrating on the changing relationships of organizational groups in the areas of reward and communication. We identify the links between the 1) emerging yet embedded technology and 2) the underlying institutional reward and communication structures. In terms of contribution, we propose to move the Open Source 2.0 research agenda forward by concentrating empirical work on th

MODELING REQUIREMENTS FOR FUTURE: ISSUES AND IMPLEMENTATION CONSIDERATIONS

In this paper, we discuss some requirements for future CASE (Computer Aided Software/Systems Engineering) environments. These requirements include increased modifiability and flexibility as well as support for task and agent models. We claim that they can only be addressed by developing more powerful representation and modeling techniques. As a possible basis for a modeling technique, we propose the GOPRR (Graph-Object-Property-Relationship-Role) data model, which addresses some of these requirements. In addition, a general information architecture for a future CASE environment is outlined. It includes three kinds of models for methodology specification: meta-datamodels, activity (task) models, and agent models. These models are defined using the GOPRR model with some additional concepts for IS development process and agent participation

Customisable process modelling support and tools for design environment

Systems engineering pursues dual goals of productivity and quality, and many organisations try to improve their design practices using methods. Computer Aided Software Engineering (CASE) and Process Centred Software Engineering (PCSE) technologies have produced many design environments to facilitate use of methods. Methods are often modified locally and adapting a design environment to support them is not straightforward. In this situation of unpredictable needs only customisable design environments (metaCASE environments) are powerful enough to provide support. Recently, design environments have been developing from single-user taskware towards multi-user teamware and groupware. What kind of multiuser support is required in design environments is still an open issue. To answer this question we need more empirical studies tackling the feasibility of the multi-user features. On the other hand, to be able to perform a broad evaluation of these features we still need to develop new solutions for design environments. In single-user metaCASE environments the focus has been on specifying meta-data, i.e. modelling techniques and their integration. In groupware we should also tackle ways to customise processes and agents. In this study we focus on developing customisable support for process models, which guide users in their design tasks and co-ordinate multiple users' work. This study follows a constructive research approach, and includes theory building, systems development, and observations/experimentation as research methods. As an outcome of theory building we present a multi-level model to represent various metamodelling aspects for future design environments. The developed system - a customisable process modelling environment (CPME) - provides tools for customisation of both process models and their conceptual basis (process metamodels). CPME forms an extension to the MetaEdit+ metaCASE environment, and reuses its solutions and tools in an object-oriented manner. Observations/experimentation contain eperiments with meta CASE environments, a review of process centred environments, and a test of CPME to define a process modelling language and an ISPW-6 process example