Information Systems Analysis and Design: Past Revolutions, Present Challenges, and Future Research Directions

Systems Analysis and Design (SAND) is undoubtedly a pillar in the field of Information Systems (IS). Some researchers have even claimed that SAND is the field that defines the Information Systems discipline and is the core of information systems. The past decades have seen the development of Structured SAND methodologies and Object-Oriented Methodologies. In the early 1990s, key players in the field collaborated to develop the Unified Modeling Language and the Unified Process. Agile approaches followed, as did other dynamic methods. These approaches remain heavily employed in the development of contemporary information systems. At the same time, new approaches such as DevOps and DevSecOps continue to emerge. This paper curates these trends in SAND. It reviews past and present SAND research, discusses current challenges, and provides insights that can assist SAND researchers in identifying future SAND research streams and important future research directions.