Report on a Development Project Use of an Issue-Based Information System
K.C. Burguess Yakemovic and J.E. Conklin
Oct 29, 1999

• Again, when talking about gathering process information social context and cost/benefit ration must be considered. On one hand, the current situation of commercial organizations seems to promote a permanent urgency state where staff is always putting off fires. This operational mode promotes focusing on the immediate tasks and prevents people from documenting the process of performing the tasks. This is a serious limitation for any system that attempts to facilitate gathering the process data (whether IBIS or any other). This situation imposes a requirement for immediate very low cost of using the system, while the nature of the benefits are typically in the future. Additionally, in general, the beneficiaries of the system are others than those who put up with the work of documenting the process. These disparities induce people to not use the system.
• Is the cost estimation presented here a typical one?
• Does the structuring of the conversation toll creativity and participation in meetings?
• Should tangential discussions always be prevented?