Exploring the Nature of Information Systems Development Methodology: A Sythesized View Based on a Literature Review

New Information Systems Development Methodologies (ISDMs) are suggested in the belief that their deployment would be beneficial to consultants in their work. A large number of ISDMs already exist but their value has been questioned and at the same time new methodologies continue to be introduced in an attempt to support and improve the practice of information systems development work. What is not always clear from current studies is that ISDM is a multi-perspective and crossdiscipline phenomenon. Although a large amount of knowledge of ISDM is available, different disciplinary interests have resulted in fragmented assessments of it. This paper intends to identify theoretical perspectives applied in the conceptualization of ISDM. A review of the literature on ISDM was conducted and four different theoretical perspectives were identified: 1) system, 2) structure, 3) innovation, and 4) knowledge. While each perspective provides various overarching depictions of ISDM, the synthesized view of ISDM provided in this study reveals the complexities and ambiguities of a multifaceted phenomenon such as ISDM. Suggestions for an alternative conceptualization of ISDM are provided in an attempt to facilitate the investigation of ISDM

Exploring the Nature of Information Systems Development Methodology: A Synthesized View Based on a Literature Review

New Information Systems Development Methodologies (ISDMs) are suggested in the belief that their deployment would be beneficial to consultants in their work. A large number of ISDMs already exist but their value has been questioned and at the same time new methodologies continue to be introduced in an attempt to support and improve the practice of information systems development work. What is not always clear from current studies is that ISDM is a multi-perspective and crossdiscipline phenomenon. Although a large amount of knowledge of ISDM is available, different disciplinary interests have resulted in fragmented assessments of it. This paper intends to identify theoretical perspectives applied in the conceptualization of ISDM. A review of the literature on ISDM was conducted and four different theoretical perspectives were identified: 1) system, 2) structure, 3) innovation, and 4) knowledge. While each perspective provides various overarching depictions of ISDM, the synthesized view of ISDM provided in this study reveals the complexities and ambiguities of a multifaceted phenomenon such as ISDM. Suggestions for an alternative conceptualization of ISDM are provided in an attempt to facilitate the investigation of ISDM

Exploring the Adaptation of Enterprise Systems Implementation Methodology: A Morphogenetic Approach

Enterprise Systems Implementation Methodology (ESIM) is considered to be a critical factor for successful Enterprise Systems (ES) implementations. In spite of ESIM’s potential and significance for practice, little attention has been paid to this object of study in ES literature. Moreover, current studies reveal contradictory findings and provide a fragmented understanding. The purpose of this paper is to set before the reader an ESIM adaptation framework underpinned by a morphogenetic approach. Our qualitative study resulted in a richer description of ESIM and its adaptation. Four theoretically and empirically ESIM adaptation strategies, i.e. reorienting, cooperative, collaborative and coordinated, with related conditions and effects are suggested. Since ESIM might be regarded as one of the latest interventions undertaken in an attempt to improve the quality of an ES product and the productivity and quality of an implementation process, this study retains valuable insights of prior works in Information Systems Development (ISD) research

A Historical Study of an Implementation Methodology: A Morphogenetic Analysis

To improve the results of Enterprise Systems (ES) implementation projects, new or revised implementation methodologies are introduced by ES vendors. Yet, the innovation and adoption of implementation methodologies (IM), which are computer-based and incorporate both project management and functional components, can be problematic. The purpose of this paper is to describe and explain the adoption of an implementation methodology. We recount for the adoption of an implementation methodology through the lens of a realist theory of social change. Our qualitative study provides insight into IM instantiation as manifestation of IM adoption configuration generated by the interplay between structure and agency over time, and suggests four implementation methodology adoption configurations: fragmented, aggregated, integrated, and infrastructural. This study also offers a foundation for future work that may contribute to a more coherent view on the instantiation of IMs and adoption configurations

Bayesian analysis on mixture models, for understanding the process of myosin binding to the thin filament

Understanding how access is granted to myosin by the actin thin filament has not been fully understood yet. The process of thin filament activation is explored by developing a new variation of hidden Markov models to extract dynamic information from image data and to establish how many myosins are present in an activated region against time. Hidden Markov models supply an extension to mixture models in such a way that they allow for spatial data. The novelty lies in the model allowing for spatial information in the image to be encoded through contextual constraints of a neighbourhood structure based on three nearest neighbours. Furthermore, for the purpose of Bayesian inference about the unknown number of K components, the Metropolis-Hastings algorithm is employed. The Bayesian analysis shows that, when compared to reversible jump Markov chain Monte Carlo, our proposed model provides a better alternative for the finite mixture model at capturing the behaviour of myosin binding to the thin filament. The estimated mean intensity values of uorescence from both models are exemplified in separate kymographs, where the variation in light intensity gives us information about how the myosin binding phenomenon is clustered or varies over time

Single molecule imaging reveals the concerted release of myosin from regulated thin filaments

Regulated thin filaments (RTFs) tightly control striated muscle contraction through calcium binding to troponin, which enables tropomyosin to expose myosin-binding sites on actin. Myosin binding holds tropomyosin in an open position, exposing more myosin-binding sites on actin, leading to cooperative activation. At lower calcium levels, troponin and tropomyosin turn off the thin filament; however, this is antagonised by the high local concentration of myosin, questioning how the thin filament relaxes. To provide molecular details of deactivation, we used single-molecule imaging of green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged myosin-S1 (S1-GFP) to follow the activation of RTF tightropes. In sub-maximal activation conditions, RTFs are not fully active, enabling direct observation of deactivation in real time. We observed that myosin binding occurs in a stochastic step-wise fashion; however, an unexpectedly large probability of multiple contemporaneous detachments is observed. This suggests that deactivation of the thin filament is a coordinated active process

Evolving trends in the management of acute appendicitis during COVID-19 waves. The ACIE appy II study

Background: In 2020, ACIE Appy study showed that COVID-19 pandemic heavily affected the management of patients with acute appendicitis (AA) worldwide, with an increased rate of non-operative management (NOM) strategies and a trend toward open surgery due to concern of virus transmission by laparoscopy and controversial recommendations on this issue. The aim of this study was to survey again the same group of surgeons to assess if any difference in management attitudes of AA had occurred in the later stages of the outbreak. Methods: From August 15 to September 30, 2021, an online questionnaire was sent to all 709 participants of the ACIE Appy study. The questionnaire included questions on personal protective equipment (PPE), local policies and screening for SARS-CoV-2 infection, NOM, surgical approach and disease presentations in 2021. The results were compared with the results from the previous study. Results: A total of 476 answers were collected (response rate 67.1%). Screening policies were significatively improved with most patients screened regardless of symptoms (89.5% vs. 37.4%) with PCR and antigenic test as the preferred test (74.1% vs. 26.3%). More patients tested positive before surgery and commercial systems were the preferred ones to filter smoke plumes during laparoscopy. Laparoscopic appendicectomy was the first option in the treatment of AA, with a declined use of NOM. Conclusion: Management of AA has improved in the last waves of pandemic. Increased evidence regarding SARS-COV-2 infection along with a timely healthcare systems response has been translated into tailored attitudes and a better care for patients with AA worldwide

A realist conceptualization for studying information system development methodology

It is tempting to assume that Information Systems Development Methodology (ISDM) is clearly understood because it has attracted researchers across a range of research fields offering a rich set of descriptions and explanations of ISDM. Although there are considerable studies on ISDM, this paper argues that different disciplinary interests have resulted in fragmented assessments. Consequently, this paper seeks to bridge the gap between different research streams which reflect different theoretical approaches in assessing ISDM. The overall purpose of the paper is to provide an alternative conceptualisation of ISDM i.e. from an IS design science perspective, which is theoretically grounded in realist social theory. Based on the alternative conceptualisation of ISDM, that retains the valuable insights of prior works, a tentative design proposition is developed. The design proposition consists of a combination of interventions and provides high-level guidance for designing initiatives of a particular IS class, i.e., ISDM initiative, by emphasizing what to do and why in order to achieve particular outcomes. Hence, the paper addresses the following research question: How to conceptualise an ISDM initiative? The research methodology applied involves an explorative field study research strategy based on a literature review and qualitative analysis procedure. In this paper four theoretical perspectives on ISDM are identified. While each perspective regarded in isolation provides different overarching depictions of ISDM, together they reveal the complexities and ambiguities of this multifaceted phenomenon. The study provides an alternative ISDM conceptualisation and a tentative design proposition for designing ISDM initiatives. From a theoretical point of view, the implicit claim is that the suggested conceptualization of ISDM will facilitate conceptual bridges between different research streams and aid scholars and practitioners to understand the complexity of ISDM. From a practitioner perspective, the tentative design proposition developed in the paper provides guidance more accurately in assessing and designing ISDM initiatives. The alternative IS design science research approach to studying ISDM with a realist conceptualization is, in our opinion, an appropriate way to start and lays the groundwork for useful follow-on research

The emergence of digitalisation in the context of health care

Digitisation of medical records by means of Electronic Patient Record (EPR) systems promises to improve the overall quality of health care. However, studies show that the outcome of their use is mixed. Derived from a critical realism lens the morphogenetic approach is used to understand and explain how does digitalisation emerge in health care settings. We draw on a longitudinal case study of a hospital that implemented an EPR system. Interviews and observations were used as data collection techniques. The initial analysis identified three tentative generative mechanisms: data-sharing, process-streamlining, and connectivity mechanisms which help to describe and explain the emergence of digitalisation in health care context. By using the morphogenetic approach, two grains are seen to accrue: the critical role of digital materiality in organisational change and clarity about the interplay between the materiality of technology (an emergent property of structure) and agential reflexivity (an emergent property of agency)