This paper sets out to investigate and understand some of these problems. It does so by recognising the parallels between debate on the role and value of participation in information systems development, and debate on the role and value of participation in development projects more generally. These projects aim to deliver development goals and they have frequently involved participation. They therefore provide fertile ground for learning about approaches to information systems development. Based on this analysis, a more critical approach to participation in IS projects is suggested, with three critical questions identified that must be answered before participation can be considered.
Participation can thus mean many things.
Like motherhood and apple pie , participation defies tight definition, yet is regarded as a good thing . Its mantra status is confirmed by the fact that most debate has settled into discussion about different participative techniques rather than a deeper or continuous questioning of the value of participation per se . Yet that deeper questioning reveals a number of problematic aspects of participation, where it ignores or is ignored. For IS projects, this suggests that there will be contexts in which participation is not a viable technique, and where attempts to introduce it will fail. Participation cannot therefore be viewed as a universalisable technique.