The Application of Neohumanist Principles in Information Systems Development

ABSTRACT While increasing attention is being given to neohumanist principles in informationsystems development, much of the literature on the subject is enigmatic. Examplesof neohumanist principles application are also lacking. In this paper, we attemptto articulate, in general terms, various neohumanist principles which can hopefullybecome part of the value system of the systems developer. Additionally, we offerfour brief examples of research projects which illustrate how the neohumanistprinciples of mutual understanding and emancipation might be implemented ininformation systems development. 1. INTRODUCTION There has been a growing interest in using neohu manist principles to gain a deeper understandingof the technical and social issues of information systems development (ISD). This interest hasparticularly focused on Critical Social Theory (CS T). Whereas the attention given to CST has ledto many interesting conceptual developments (cf. Lyytinen and Klein 1985; Lyytinen 1986;Lyytinen and Hirschheim 1988; Ngwenyama 1987, 1991; Lee 1991), it is not very clear how itsmaxims and principles can be applied in practice for two reasons. One, although there are a numberof books on Critical Social Theory written by Jurgen Habermas and his colleagues, the languageis fairly obscure and difficult to understand even for those with some philosophical background.Two, there is virtually a total lack of illustrative cases and procedural guidelines for practicalapplications of CST. Habermas himself has unfortunately not addressed this issue satisfactorily.Therefore, this paper has two primary purposes: (1 ) to provide a brief overview of the major tenetsof CST arising from our interpretation of Habermas ' seminal writings and (2) to provide four briefexamples of projects which illustrate how some key principles of CST could be implemented,particularly those associated with emancipation. This latter point amounts to a reinterpreting of theprojects from the vantage point of Critical Social Theory. Note, however, that this does not requirethat the projects were actually informed by CST.Although this paper is concerned with the application of neohumanist principles in informationsystems development, the notion of neohumanism itself needs some elaboration. Neohumanismmay be described as a ``paradigm'' (cf. Burrell and Morgan 1979; Hirschheim and Klein 1989)whose assumptions are associated with seeking change, emancipation and potentiality, and with