CIS1140 – Database Concepts and Programming Research Paper Details Database Concepts and Programming | 1 This research paper requires you to compare and contrast the impact of using “hard systems methodology” (HSM) versus “soft systems methodology” (SSM) on the areas relevant to the process of design and development of databases. You need to investigate what SSM is as well as to understand its underlying assumptions. I have included an overview of HSM below. Database design and development projects are commonly undertaken within the context of process improvement & process engineering projects, and represent one of the very important components of the overall information systems development (ISD) effort of an organization. A common characteristic of various ISD projects is the use of an ISD methodology, which is commonly defined as a collection of procedures, techniques, tools and documentation aids used by IS developers to build Information Systems (IS). Despite the presence of some common traits, existing methodologies differ widely in their concepts, methods, beliefs, values, and normative principles. The complexity of the ISD process is inextricably linked to the complexity of the organizational environment. In order to reduce the complexity of the context and the complexity of the process of ISD, IS developers build a model of the environment of the future IS, and rely on that model in designing the new IS. Clearly, the choice of a particular modeling approach is linked to the ontological, epistemological, social-contextual, and representational assumptions that IS designers make about the environment they seek to represent via these models. Consequently, no two methodologies would lead the developers along the same ISD path, and each path, in turn, would result in a different IS. As a result of the underlying differences no two projects, guided by the different methodologies, will produce the same IS, same process models, and the same data/information models. Currently, the majority of ISD methodologies employed to build IS are so-called functionalist methodologies, characterized by the relatively high level of complexity and formality in their diagrams, notations, and models. These functionalist methodologies are often selected due to their maturity, popularity, and widespread acceptance. Moreover, these methodologies have proven their ability to be used effectively in a wide range of development situations, including large-scale complex projects. The problems of the traditional functionalist methodologies, however, are many. In general, the pitfalls are associated with an objectivist approach to the organization and organizational data. Specifically, functionalism views an organization as a collection of distinct physical structures and boundaries that rarely undergo radical change and with a visible hierarch and fixed job CIS1140 – Database Concepts and Programming Research Paper De ...

1. CIS1140 – Database Concepts and Programming
Research Paper Details
Database Concepts and Programming | 1
This research paper requires you to compare and contrast the
impact of using “hard systems
methodology” (HSM) versus “soft systems methodology” (SSM)
on the areas relevant to the
process of design and development of databases. You need to
investigate what SSM is as well
as to understand its underlying assumptions. I have included an
overview of HSM below.
Database design and development projects are commonly
undertaken within the context of
process improvement & process engineering projects, and
represent one of the very important
components of the overall information systems development
(ISD) effort of an organization. A
common characteristic of various ISD projects is the use of an
ISD methodology, which is
commonly defined as a collection of procedures, techniques,
tools and documentation aids
used by IS developers to build Information Systems (IS).
Despite the presence of some common
traits, existing methodologies differ widely in their concepts,
methods, beliefs, values, and
normative principles.

2. The complexity of the ISD process is inextricably linked to the
complexity of the organizational
environment. In order to reduce the complexity of the context
and the complexity of the
process of ISD, IS developers build a model of the environment
of the future IS, and rely on that
model in designing the new IS. Clearly, the choice of a
particular modeling approach is linked to
the ontological, epistemological, social-contextual, and
representational assumptions that IS
designers make about the environment they seek to represent via
these models. Consequently,
no two methodologies would lead the developers along the same
ISD path, and each path, in
turn, would result in a different IS. As a result of the underlying
differences no two projects,
guided by the different methodologies, will produce the same
IS, same process models, and the
same data/information models.
Currently, the majority of ISD methodologies employed to build
IS are so-called functionalist
methodologies, characterized by the relatively high level of
complexity and formality in their
diagrams, notations, and models. These functionalist
methodologies are often selected due to
their maturity, popularity, and widespread acceptance.
Moreover, these methodologies have
proven their ability to be used effectively in a wide range of
development situations, including
large-scale complex projects.
The problems of the traditional functionalist methodologies,
however, are many. In general, the
pitfalls are associated with an objectivist approach to the
organization and organizational data.

3. Specifically, functionalism views an organization as a
collection of distinct physical structures
and boundaries that rarely undergo radical change and with a
visible hierarch and fixed job
CIS1140 – Database Concepts and Programming
Research Paper Details
Database Concepts and Programming | 2
titles. Organizational success is considered a function of
rational decision-making, which is
based on standards and techniques.
The functionalist paradigm-driven process of ISD grants an
objective existence to organizational
goals, requirements, and information that can be determined
through rational and systematic
techniques. The success of the resulting IS depends its
alignment with the organizational goals,
which are based on objective principles such as efficiency,
rationality, need for improvement in
job production and maintenance of balance within the
organization. Inherently, members of
the organization are viewed as being biased and irrational.
Therefore, system requirements
should be determined by the experts, the IS developers, with the
help of management. Some of
the better-known traditional functionalist methodologies are the
original waterfall
methodology, phased development and prototyping

4. methodologies. Functionalism-based
methodologies are commonly known as “hard systems
methodologies”.
Questions
Specifically, in this research paper you need to answer the
following questions:
1. What are the main differences between the assumptions
underlying HSM and
SSM? (12.5 points)
a. What are the cases where HSM is a better choice? Why?
b. What are the cases where SSM is a better choice? Why?
c. Are there any similarities between HSM and SSM?
2. How will the differences between HSM and SSM impact the
overall effort of
database development? (12.5 points)
a. Database design?
b. Database implementation?
3. Discuss the implication of the differences between HSM and
SSM on the process
of information engineering. (12.5 points)
a. What are the differences in regard to the gathering of
information
requirements?
b. Are there any similarities?
4. Is there any impact on data identification and acquisition that
comes from

5. choosing HSM vs. SSM? (12.5 points)
5. Discuss the process of conversion of data into information
and into knowledge as
it is modeled by HSM and SSM. (12.5 points)
a. What are the differences?
b. What are the similarities?
c. What approach captures the process better in your opinion?
Why?
CIS1140 – Database Concepts and Programming
Research Paper Details
Database Concepts and Programming | 3
6. What are some of the possible differences between the
conceptual data models
(e.g., ERD) produced by HSM vs. SSM? (12.5 points)
7. Which conceptual model will be easier to convert into
logical/implementation
model (e.g., normalized ERD)? (12.5 points)
8. Is there any difference in terms of the information that could
be provided to the
decision maker by an IS that was created using HSM and an IS
that was created
using SSM? (12.5 points)

6. Note
This is an individual assignment; all sources used in your
answer must be cited, and appropriate
references provided. Do not “copy and paste”- the long term
negative consequences outweigh
the short term benefits. Organize your paper according to the
list of questions- separate your
paper into 8 sections.
CIS1140 – Database Concepts and Programming
Research Paper Criteria
Database Concepts and Programming | 1
Criteria
Unacceptable
Below 60% F
Meets Min.
Expectations
60-69% D
Fair

7. 70-79% C
Proficient
80-89% B
Exemplary
90-100% A
A student will
be able to
identify,
analyze, and
propose a
conceptual
solution to a
context-specific
business
problem.
Did not submit
or incompletely
identified,
analyzed, and
proposed a
conceptual
solution to a
context-specific
business
problem.

8. Insufficiently
identified,
analyzed, and
proposed a
conceptual
solution to a
context-
specific
business
problem.
Partially
identified,
analyzed, and
proposed a
conceptual
solution to a
context-
specific
business
problem.
Satisfactorily
identified,
analyzed, and
proposed a
conceptual
solution to a
context-
specific
business
problem.

9. Thoroughly
identified,
analyzed, and
proposed a
conceptual
solution to a
context-
specific
business
problem.
A student will
be able to
identify the
important to a
given problem'
set of criteria,
constraints,
and critical
success factors.
Did not submit
or incompletely
identified, the
important to a
given problem'
set of criteria,
constraints,
and critical
success factors.
Insufficiently
identified the
important to a
given problem'

10. set of criteria,
constraints,
and critical
success factors.
Partially
identified the
important to a
given problem'
set of criteria,
constraints,
and critical
success factors.
Satisfactorily
identified the
important to a
given problem'
set of criteria,
constraints,
and critical
success factors.
Thoroughly
identified the
important to a
given problem'
set of criteria,
constraints,
and critical
success factors.
A student will
be able to
incorporate
important to a

11. given problem'
set of criteria,
constraints,
and critical
success factors
into a rational
decision
making
structure
presented in a
form of a
methodology.
Did not submit
or incompletely
incorporated
important to a
given problem'
set of criteria,
constraints,
and critical
success factors
into a rational
decision
making
structure.
Insufficiently
incorporated
important to a
given problem'
set of criteria,
constraints,

12. and critical
success factors
into a rational
decision
making
structure.
Partially
incorporated
important to a
given problem'
set of criteria,
constraints,
and critical
success factors
into a rational
decision
making
structure.
Satisfactorily
incorporated
important to a
given problem'
set of criteria,
constraints,
and critical
success factors
into a rational
decision
making
structure.
Thoroughly

13. incorporated
important to a
given problem'
set of criteria,
constraints,
and critical
success factors
into a rational
decision
making
structure.