Research Report - Modeling Interpersonal Processes During System Development: Further Thoughts and Suggestions

This article offers commentary on the paper by Barki and Hartwick 1994, to replicate and extend the model of conflict during systems development reported in previous research by Robey and his colleagues Robey and Farrow 1982, Robey et al. 1989, Robey et al. 1993. Because of differences in the approach to measurement and data analysis, Barki and Hartwick's contribution is more properly considered as an extension of the model rather than a replication. Barki and Hartwick's strategy of model fitting is appropriate for such an extension, but it is not clear what role their "hypothesized model" plays in this exploratory work. A more careful distinction between hypothesis testing and data exploration is suggested. Finally, all of the studies using the original model or its variants are limited in their ability to support theoretical reasoning about the process of system development. The direct use of process research strategies is encouraged as a means of overcoming this limitation.