By information systems development we mean analysis, design and implementation of useful IT systems to support some kind of business in organisations. By IT systems we mean the use of hardware and software solutions to improve the business activities within and between organisations. The IT systems can be of a various character - for example we can create information systems in organisations by using bespoke (tailor-made) software, application packages or component-based solutions. We are here focusing on computer-based systems for developing and changing the situation in concrete business cases.



Research on information systems development (ISD) has its roots back in the mid 1960ies. Scandinavian researchers have had a great influence on the evolution of information systems development as an academic field. Personally, I had the privilege of being a member of the Scandinavian school and tradition of information systems development (Professor Börje Langefors). My main experiences are based from working with the ISAC approach for requirements specifications (Professor Mats Lundeberg), the SIV method for purchasing standard application packages, the Business Modelling framework for studying method combinations and the ISD perspectives on multimedia development. After practicing in the ISD area for more than 30 years, as both a researcher/teacher (for the academia) and an advisor/counselor (to the industry), I feel a great need to make some reflections on my findings.



This paper will focus on important trends in the area of Information Systems Development (ISD) from three time perspectives: the past (yesterday), the present (today) and the future (tomorrow) situation. The method for comparison is driven from ten important and relevant dimensions: philosophical approach, modelling area, view of model aspects, systems scope, methodology package, actor orientation, IT perspective, subject matter focus, development strategy and range of work. My review is of course strongly biased of how I perceive the trends in our ISD field. The research work is a continuation of two earlier studies by the author on evolution of ISD methodologies and change work with ISD in organisations. The paper will follow the ten dimensions for comparison of trends in the ISD field. For each dimension the three time perspectives are presented with a focused area for the past, present and future trends respectively.



The article has also been presented att five research semminars in Israel during 2007/2008 at the following universities:

- Ben Gurion University of the Negev (BGU), in Beer-Sheva

- The University of Haifa

- The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

- Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, in Haifa

- Tel-Aviv University (TAU)