Skip to main content

Creativity, Group Support Systems, and Systems Development

  • Chapter

Abstract

Information systems development is often viewed as a highly technical field made up primarily of relatively rigorous and systematic processes that are driven by clear logic. The less technical aspects of development are typically associated with issues such as gathering political support from management, and managing people issues during implementation. Systems development, in fact, involves numerous episodes—planned or ad hoc—requiring problem finding and problem solving, and in many instances, less rigorous, creative approaches are needed in order to bridge the gaps that inevitably emerge. This paper discusses how creativity techniques may be used in concert with Group Support Systems in order to support systems development.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • AFWAL-TR-81-4023, (1981). IDEFO function modeling, Armstrong Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB.

    Google Scholar 

  • Amabile, T. M. (1983). The Social Psychology of Creativity. New York: Springer-Verlag.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • August, Judy H. (1991). Joint Application Design: The Group Session Approach to System Design. Yourdon Press Computing Series.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bostrom, R. P.; Watson, R. T.; and Kinney, S. T. (eds.) (1992). Computer Augmented Teamwork: A guided tour. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold.

    Google Scholar 

  • Couger, J. D. (1995). Creative Problem Solving and Opportunity Finding. Dan vers, Mass.: Boyd and Fraser.

    Google Scholar 

  • Couger, J. D. (1996). A framework for research on creativity/innovation in IS organizations. In Proceedings of the 29th Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences, pp. 30–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Couger, J. D., Higgins, L. F., and Mclntyre, S. C. (1993). (Un)Structured creativity in information systems organizations. MIS Quarterly, December, 375–394.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dennis, A., Daniels, R., Hayes, G., Kelly, G., Lange, D., Massman, L. (1995). Business process re-engineering with groupware. In Proceedings of the 28th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences, pp. 378–387.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dennis, A. R. and Valacich, J. S. (1993). Computer brainstorms: More heads are better than one. Journal of Applied Psychology, 78(4), 531–537.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fellers, J. W. and Bostrom, R. P. (1993). Application of group support systems to promote creativity in information systems organizations. Proceedings of the Twenty-Seventh Hawaii International Conference on Systems Sciences, Kauai, Hawaii.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gallupe, R. B., Bastianutti, L. M., and Cooper, W. H. (1991). Unblocking brainstorms. Journal of Applied Psychology, 76, 1 (1991), 137–142.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hammer, M. and Champy, J. (1993). Reengineering the corporation. New York: Harper.

    Google Scholar 

  • Isaksen, S. G. and Treffinger, D. J. (1985). Creative Problem Solving: The Basic Course. Buffalo, NY: Bearly Ltd.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jessup, L. M., and Valacich, J. S. (Eds.) (1993). Group Support Systems: New Perspectives. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirton, M. (1976). Adaptors and innovators: A description and measure. Journal of Applied Psychology, 61, 5, 622–629.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McGoff, C; Hunt, A.; Vogel, D.; and Nunamaker, J. (1990). IBM’s experiences with GroupSystems. Interfaces, 20, 6 (1990), 39–52.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Michalko, M. (1991). Thinkertoys. Berkeley, Calif: Ten Speed Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ocker, R., Hiltz, S. R., Turoff, M. and Fjermestad, J. (1995). Computer support for distributed asynchronous software design teams: Experimental results on creativity and quantity. In Proceedings of the 28th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences, pp. 4–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Osborn, A. F. Applied Imagination: Principles and Procedures of Creative Thinking (2/e). New York: Scribners, 1957.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ross, D. T. ( 1982). Structured Analysis (SA): A language for communicating ideas. In Couger, J. D., Colter, M. A., and Knapp, R. W. (eds.), Advanced system development/feasibility techniques,NY: John Wiley, pp. 135–163.

    Google Scholar 

  • Valacich, J. S.; Dennis, A. R.; and Connolly, T. (1994). Group versus individual brainstorming: A new ending to an old story. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 57, 448–467.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wallas, G. (1926). The art of thought. New York: Harcourt, Brace and World.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1997 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Nagasundaram, M. (1997). Creativity, Group Support Systems, and Systems Development. In: Wojtkowski, W.G., Wojtkowski, W., Wrycza, S., Zupančič, J. (eds) Systems Development Methods for the Next Century. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-5915-3_5

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-5915-3_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-7712-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-5915-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics