Seventy years of information systems development methodologies from early business computing to the Agile era: A two-part history. Part 1: From Pre to Early ISD methodology era: The emergence of ISD methodologies and their golden era (1880–1980)

Abstract

Information systems design (ISD) methodologies emerged soon after business computers in the 1950s. They have been a central topic of research and professional discourse in the information systems (IS) field ever since. This is Part 1 of a two-part history of ISD methodologies from the pre-methodology era that laid the foundational thinking that has been incorporated into ISD methodologies until now. We apply a historical method to follow the narrative of ISD methodology evolution in a historical context to identify central innovations and milestones that changed the environment allowing new types of ISD outcomes and processes to emerge demanding novel methodological responses. We will study what changed, what stayed the same and where the major shifts occurred. Part 1 reports on the major innovations and milestones that changed the IS environment during the Pre ISD methodology era (1880–1960) leading to the emergence of the Early ISD methodology era (1960–1980) practices and associated methodological innovations and principles. Part 2 includes the Later ISD (1980–1990) and Early post ISD methodology era (1990-today) histories.