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Understanding the Business Client – Systems Developer Relationship: A Power Perspective

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Reframing Humans in Information Systems Development

Part of the book series: Computer Supported Cooperative Work ((CSCW))

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Abstract

This chapter reports on field research into the relations between developers and the business client and explores the role that systems development methods can play in influencing this relationship. The findings of this field study are distinctive in that they illustrate how the business client (user) is able to exercise power over systems developers through the enactment of organisational structures and routine operating procedures embedded within a development method. The chapter also describes a scenario where developers see the systems development process as unequal and where there is a conflict of interest. Using a neglected view of power in the information systems literature, our particular focus is on applying Hardy’s (1985) model of unobtrusive power to help us understand the dynamics between developers and the business client and why grievances do not exist.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    APRA stands for the Australian Prudential Regulatory Authority.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of ICT, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia

    Bruce Rowlands

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  1. Bruce Rowlands
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Correspondence to Bruce Rowlands .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Mathematical Information Technology, University of Jyväskylä, Mattilianniemi 2, Jyväskylä, 40014, Finland

    Hannakaisa Isomäki

  2. , Business Information Mgt. and Logistics, Tampere University of Technology, Tampere, 33101, Finland

    Samuli Pekkola

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Rowlands, B. (2010). Understanding the Business Client – Systems Developer Relationship: A Power Perspective. In: Isomäki, H., Pekkola, S. (eds) Reframing Humans in Information Systems Development. Computer Supported Cooperative Work. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84996-347-3_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84996-347-3_4

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-84996-346-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-84996-347-3

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