Applying the Multiview Analysis and Design Methodology in a Non Governmental Organisation in Bangladesh

Abstract

This article describes the preliminary Information Systems analysis and design process of the Multiview methodology in a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) in Bangladesh. The project, sponsored by an international donor agency, was intended to provide Technical Assistance (TA) for the NGO in a variety of areas including livelihoods, data analysis, impact monitoring and the development of Management Information Systems (MIS). The central research question being addressed is: can the initial stage of Multiview be presented to and, if found to be of value, be adopted by NGO staff in the Bangladesh context? The article describes how the Multiview methodology as originally devised by Avison and Wood-Harper was applied and partially adapted to meet the needs of the Impact Monitoring Agency (IMA) of the NGO in order to assist with Impact Assessment. Arising issues of the relevance of the methodology, the role of researchers and the sustainability of IS projects are discussed. Actual names of agencies have been made anonymous throughout this paper in order to respect the sensitivities of all parties.

KEYWORDS:

• MIS
• Multiview
• Soft Systems Methodology
• Participation

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Simon Bell

Simon Bell is a Senior member of the Bayswater Institute in London and a Senior Lecturer in Information Systems at the Open University. He has spent the last twenty years working in various parts of the world on sustainability projects and information systems. He is author of a number of books and is a broadcaster on sustainability issues.

A.T. Wood-Harper

Trevor Wood-Harper is Professor of Information Systems at Manchester Business School and his research view takes a multiple perspective systems thinking stance. Also, he is Visiting professor of Information Systems at the Australia National University, Canberra and held visiting chairs at University of Oslo, Copenhagen Business School, and Georgia State University. Wood-Harper has co-authored or co- edited 20 books and monographs and over 200 research articles in a wide range of topics including: Social Informatics; Electronic Government; Ethical Considerations in System Development; Information Systems in Developing Countries; Doctoral Research; Action Research and the Multiview Methodology. These papers and texts have been published in leading international journals and publishers. Professor Wood-Harper has supervised more than 30 doctoral theses successfully in the above research areas.