Applying multiple views to information systems

Abstract

Multiple views are essential to decision making. In science there are multiple views of light, and in economics there are Keynesian and Monetarist views of the economy. Decision makers exposed to multiple views might find that one view is more useful or they might synthesize various views to gain a better understanding of the situation. This paper adds to the understanding of multiple views by defining key terms and by presenting a scheme that highlights view differences. The definitions and concepts present in the scheme are illustrated through examples in systems analysis. The view difference scheme and the examples help indicate potential characteristics of multiple view system architectures and highlight areas of research concerning the nature of multiple views in decision making.