A Requirements Analysis Model for Selection of Personal Computer (PC) software in Air Force Organizations
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine how Air Force Organizations selected Personal Computer (PC) software, to determine the effectiveness of standard PC software acquisition practices, and to determine if better methods could be developed. The study had three basic objectives: (1) Determining whether or not a uniform set of PC software selection criteria existed at base level; (2) Determining how effective the existing methods of selecting PC software were: (3) Determining what additional factors organizations should evaluate before acquiring PC software. Analysis of interviews with thirty managers and users from four Air Force organizations resolved that while a normative or regulatory approach existed for determining PC software requirements, the guidance was not clear in helping users select the appropriate software for automated office tasks. As a remedy for a lack of sufficient guidance, organizations chose to select software first and then find a need to fit the software. Data suggested, however, that at times this resulted in less than optimum use of the software. A requirements analysis model was necessary to specifically provide users with a means of categorizing their information systems requirements into knowledge work tasks, and to select software designed to satisfy the identified by the interview respondents and literature available on the subjects of management information system design, user involvement, and requirements analysis techniques, is presented and offered as a solution to the current problem. Theses.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA201585
Entities
People
- Dexter R. Handy
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology