Daniel M. Berry

Cheriton School of Computer Science
University of Waterloo
Waterloo, ON, Canada

Isabel Ramos

Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Gestao de Viana do Castelo
Viana do Castelo, Portugal

Abstract:

Traditional approaches to requirements elicitation stress systematic and rational analysis and representation of organizational context and system requirements. This talk argues that (1) for an organization, a software system implements a shared vision of a future work reality and that (2) understanding the emotions, feelings, values, beliefs, and interests that drive organizational human action is needed in order to invent the requirements of such a software system. This talk debunks some myths about how organizations transform themselves through the adoption of Information and Communication Technology; describes the concepts of emotion, feeling, value, and belief; and presents some constructionist guidelines for the process of eliciting requirements for a software system that helps an organization to fundamentally change its work patterns.

Joint work with Joao A. Carvalho