The Why and Why Not of User Participation in IOS Development

Development This paper argues that user participation can enhance the development of interorganisational systems (10s). Under certain circumstances participation may be particularly desirable or may be facilitated; other circumstances make participation seemingly less important or inhibit participation. Such contingencies for partlclpatlon during IOS development are identified and-described. When interorganisational systems (10s) are developed, the intention is that these systems are adopted by users outside the initiating organisation. Such users may b e private individuals (for instance , users of Internet or of automated teller machines) or may be organisations (for instance, users of order entry systems or corporatecash management systems). implementation of IOS and system uptake by intended users is not necessarily easy or successful. There are a number of measures and practices which organisations can employ to enhance implementation. Some of these (like large-scale marketing of the system) are used aftera system has been developed, at a time when the IOS is ready to be offered to potential users. It is also possible to take a proactive stance towards facilitating implementation and encouraging adoption of the IOS by users; by seeking participation of intended users during the development process, the opportunity is created to consider potential implementation problems before the IOS has been built. What Is 'User participation in IOS Development' ? Participation of intended users during development of a system refers to the practice of involving users in activities during the development process. Such participation should not just take place during testing of the system, but participation should allow users to help shape the system by collaborating during the problem definition phase and the specification phase of development. Participation is aimed at building asystem which is acceptable to intended users and this in turn should facilitate implementation and encourage adoption and use of the system by the intended user group. Participation in the IOS context involves gathering together representatives of various interest groups from outside the organisation before starting actual development and seeking active involvement of those users during the development process. In this way, the IOS is developed with input and (hopefully) with the consensus of intended users which, if carried out correctly, should ensure that the concept and the final design of the IOS take account of various interests. When the IOS addresses intended users' needs and interests, the system is more likely to be accepted and used by the intended users. While the argument in …