ABSTRACT
The advantages of a participative approach to systems design based on consensus decisions can be said to be the following: From management's point of view it is advantageous because the result is an efficient system and a satisfied workforce. From the employees' point of view it is advantageous because they are able to create a system that meets their efficiency and job satisfaction needs. Participation by users in the design process is a powerful technique to avoid the isolation of the EDP specialist and the loss of certainty and control by the users, and to help strike a balance between the specialists need to innovate, and the line managers requirement for stability. In the Multicom project the head of Information Systems was a member of the strategic planning group, while the senior grades in the systems development departments were responsible for organizing user contributions.
