The Paradox of "Structured" Methods for Software Requirements Management: A Case Study of an E-Government Development Project

Abstract

This paper outlines the alternative perspectives of "rationalism" and "improvisation" within information systems development, and describes the major shortcomings of each. It then discusses how these shortcomings manifested them- selves within an e-government case study where a "structured" requirements management method was employed. Although this method was very prescriptive and firmly rooted in the "rational" paradigm, it was observed that users often resorted to improvised behaviour, such as privately making decisions on how certain aspects of the method should or should not be implemented.