A methodology for conducting the design phases of an information technology (IT) project is described in this book. The framework is based on the MUST method, developed and tested in numerous design projects. This method builds on four principles: a coherent vision for change, genuine user participation, firsthand experience with work practices, and the principle of anchoring visions. The methodology has phase outcomes as one of its main focuses. A phase is defined as the activities that happen between two distinct states of the project, rather than a set of common activities. Outcomes are presented as the desired product of the design process.

This design framework is different from the waterfall model, and from other IT project management models, in part because the human factor and the outcomes of each phase are given greater attention. According to the authors, people are the main asset a company has, and any methodology should focus on how they should participate in an IT project, and on how they might behave. The authors openly explain how their methodology might be applied in difficult situations that arise from interpersonal conflicts, hidden agendas, and other aspects of the human factor.

In addition to presenting a useful methodology for participatory IT design, the text includes a wealth of specific helpful examples that illustrate the application of the methodology. For example, an actual case was used to illustrate how a competent IT designer at first refused to take on an IT design project, due to an interpersonal conflict between two high-level managers. It took a major organization change for the project to succeed. Another insightful example was used to illustrate how information technology could be used as a tool to promote one’s political agenda. Real-life examples in the text show how the methodology was used to conduct IT design projects.

The authors describe each phase in great detail, suggest specific activities, propose a desirable composition of committees, and recommend outlines for specific reports. A significant emphasis is placed on the need to study the company environment, and on the need to ensure genuine user participation. Rather than being a “cookbook” listing specific activities for IT design, the text contains suggested activities, and specific principles for IT design that help ensure the success of an IT project. The authors emphasize that information technology is not a solution in all cases, and that, for an IT project to succeed, information technology has to be aligned with the business strategy, and with the company’s environment.

The book is presented as a manual for IT professionals, a study aid for managers, and even as a possible textbook for students in an IT class. It is organized into three parts, which detail concepts and principles, phases of the method, and the description of the method, tools, and techniques. The text includes a helpful index of illustrations. The bibliography is limited to the work produced by the authors of the text, but is appropriate in a text devoted to the authors’ methodology. This book contributes substantial value to the field of IT design.