GIS projects have been viewed as technical exercises but it is evident that the success of GIS projects depends upon organizational issues and technicalities, as well as its socio-organizational contexts.
GIS projects have previously been viewed primarily as technical exercises, but it is now evident that the success of GIS projects depends as much on organisational issues as upon technicalities. GIS projects have profound socio-organisational contexts which must be taken into account if such projects are to succeed. The books presents an overview of the 'human' side of GIS, both individual and organisational. GIS Organisations and People draws on material from the fields of mainstream business administration and information systems and builds a picture of how important they can be to GIS development and describes the implementation strategies which will allow their introduction. This unique textbook will meet the needs of an introductory module on the human aspects of GIS at advanced undergraduate and Master's level. It will equally be suitable for GIS professionals whose technical knowledge may be considerably greater than their appreciation of organisational strategic concerns. Key Features: * This introductory guide fully explains the importance of organisational issues in promoting successful GIS projects * A full glossary of specialist terms and a 'self-check' questions round-up at the end of each chapter help develop the reader's comprehension
The GIS for Beginners Series, Acknowledgements, Figures, Introduction,
Chapter 1 From Techno-centric to Socio-technical Computing, Introduction, The
technological imperative and the fetishism of the product, From technology
push to demand pull, Evolving conceptions of the organisation, Computer
scientists or information specialists?, Conclusion, What you have learnt in
this chapter, Going further,
Chapter 2 Information Systems in Organisations,
Introduction, The two domains, Generic benefits of information systems, Roles
of information systems within organisations, Developing an information
strategy, Tools for strategic thinking, Conclusion, Self-check questions,
What you have learnt in this chapter, Going further,
Chapter 3 GIS Systems
Development Methodology, Introduction, What is an Information Systems
Development Methodology?, A generic GIS development methodology, Critique
of the methodology, Conclusion, Self-check questions, What you have learnt in
this chapter, Going further,
Chapter 4 Alternative Information Systems
Development Methodologies: Sociotechnic Methodologies, Introduction system
development drivers, The variety of Development Methodologies, Modern Systems
Development Methodologies, SSADM : The classic model developed, Participation
in Systems Development, Reconciling points of view, Conclusion, Self-check
questions, What you have learnt in this chapter, Going further,
Chapter 5
Alternative Information System Development Methodologies: Rapid Development
Methodologies, Retreat from the Waterfall model, Prototyping, Organic Life
Cycle (OLC), Evolutionary Delivery (ED), Rapid Applications Development,
Matching ISDMs to projects, Conclusion, Self-check questions, What you have
learnt in this chapter, Going further,
Chapter 6 GIS Peopleware,
Introduction, The political nature of organisations, The impact of
corporate cultures on GIS implementation, The impact of people on GIS
projects, The impact of GIS on organisations, The impact of GIS on people,
Conclusion, Self-check questions, What you have learnt in this chapter, Going
further,
Chapter 7 The Way Ahead, Introduction, Whats so special about GIS?,
The importance of ISDMs in corporate GIS, Contingency and the reality of
muddling through, Glossary, References, Index
D. E. Reeve University of Huddersfield. J. R. Petch Manchester Metropolitan University
