ETHICS and SSM — A critical human element evaluation in software engineering using the NIMSAD framework

Methodologies are order of steps or stages that are time dependent and they occur from academics, industrial, business and consultancy companies. They can be basically classified into categories of systems which one prefers to work on. Methodologies can be provision oriented that aims to improve the efficiency of operations but are generally difficult to evaluate to be applied for a particular `problem situation' that they face. A framework is basically independent of methodology that enable the user develop critical and analytical skills while solving problems. NIMSAD is such a framework that helps us to understand problem-solving, evaluate methodologies and assist in evaluating industrial/business practices. They provide a common frame of reforming. The aim of this paper is an attempted evaluation of two such primary methodologies named ETHICS (Effective Technical and Human Implementation of Computer based Systems) and SSM (Soft Systems Methods) using the NIMSAD (Normative Information Model-based Systems Analysis and Design) framework. The evaluation of the methodologies at every stage using the framework renders an effective understanding of the strength and weaknesses of both the methodologies politically and ethically even in an ill structured situation in an organization.