ABSTRACT
The work system method (WSM) was developed over many years to help business professionals understand and analyze IT (information technology)-reliant work systems for themselves, thereby helping them to take more active and knowledgeable roles in system-related projects. It can be adapted or used directly to improve the quality of collaboration between business and IT professionals. This chapter presents basic ideas about work systems and explains how those ideas are related to WSM. It covers the concept of work system, the work system framework, work system life cycle model, the work system method, ideas for identifying issues and possibilities for change, the relevance of WSM for improving collaboration between business and IT professionals, and several areas of continuing research.
