Structural Artifacts in Method Engineering: The Security Imperative

Abstract

The organizational structure has to do with human relationships, and is distinguished from the various artifacts (like information technology, systems development methods, and other mechanical products) that reflect those relationships. Information technology represents a first-level artifact and systems development methods represent a second-level artifact. This paper explains and illustrates a theory in which method engineering introduces third-level structural artifacts in organizations. A demonstration is included that uses security as one of the system imperatives that must be captured by third-level structural artifacts such as method engineering. This demonstration shows how method engineering may produce methods that are more complete and more harmonized with the organizational situation.