ABSTRACT
This chapter draws heavily upon the specifically GIS literature, intention being to build a generic GIS development methodology based upon published descriptions of GIS implementations and upon recommendations in GIS texts. Journals such as Mapping Awareness carry many descriptive accounts detailing how various local authorities and utilities investigated their need for GIS and how they subsequently implemented their GIS strategy. Similarly in the academic GIS texts there is usually a chapter about how to introduce GIS in organisations. Initial interest in an Information System can stem from a number of sources. ‘Bottom-up’ pressures for change develop when employees become frustrated with the way they presently do their jobs. If the pressure to introduce GIS is strong enough to persuade senior managers that the proposal warrants further investigation, the next step usually will be to appoint a ‘GIS Project Group’ or ‘Working Party’ to carry out feasibility studies.
