Towards a fairer method engineering process by applying a critical heuristics approach

Abstract

Information system (IS) development projects often fail because wishes and needs of concerned parties are not clear, or because the developed IS or the used system development method is not supported by the concerned parties. In this study it is investigated how stakeholders that are concerned with the system development method are identified and involved in the engineering of such methods. The Critical Systems Heuristics (CSH) method can be used to identify stakeholders in method engineering, along with their concerns. CSH is meta-modelled and reviewed in twelve interviews with practitioners in software development, system engineering, and consultancy in order to evaluate its applicability in an organizational context. Subsequent modifications made to the contemporary CSH method are validated in an expert validation session. Based on the expert feedback, the CSH meta-model is further evolved to fit within the method engineering domain. In addition to just identifying stakeholders, this evolved CSH method enables method engineers to take into account their challenges and contexts as well. Finally, the evolved CSH method can be instantiated for organizations that engineer methods for internal or external use.