ABSTRACT
The use of prototyping has increased within the ranks of MIS groups during the last few years; however, a difference of opinion exists as to how a prototype should be implemented as well as about the steps taken to make the prototype operational. One school of thought stresses that the prototype is never meant to become an operational system. Therefore, the languages used as well as the platform selected should be experimental. On the other side of the argument are those stressing that the prototypical system should be as close to the operational system as possible. This disagreement has left MIS organizations without clear guidelines for the use of prototypes in their companies.
