What are methodologies good for

Abstract The provision of information systems and services to an organization may be based either on common sense or on a formal methodology. One man's common sense is another man's idiosyncracy. A formal methodology helps people systematically share their working methods and results. A methodology is a system whose output is a solution to a problem. In data processing, the output may be partly in the form of computer software. Methodologies should be evaluated in systems terms, using such criteria as effectiveness, efficiency, reliability, stability, simplicity, ease of use, flexibility, measurability, visibility, user acceptability, etc. Many methodologies are unbalanced. Future development of methodologies should take account of such system-based requirements.