WSR: A systems approach for information systems development

This paper presents a systems-based approach, WSR (wuli–shili–renli), for information systems development (ISD), which draws upon traditional Oriental thinking and contemporary practice in that social–cultural setting. As a philosophical framework, WSR contends four principles, namely, seeing ISD as a differentiable whole, treating ISD methods as complementary opposites, conducting ISD as a spiral bubble-management process, and searching for ISD methodologies in a form not independent from that of general management approaches. As a methodology, WSR contains structured yet flexible stages which are underpinned by a common logic derived from that of general problem-solving methodologies. WSR pushes forward a challenge to ISD researchers: to develop methodologies in a form familiar to management and users on the one hand, and to incorporate the best aspects of various methods on the other. A practical project is deployed to illustrate the working of WSR. For the purpose of promoting mutual learning, the paper incorporates current debates and new developments in both the East and the West regarding research and practice in IS (information systems) and ISD. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.