Evaluation of Information Systems Supporting Asset Lifecycle Management

Abstract

Performance evaluation is a subjective activity that cannot be detached from the human understanding, social context, and cultural environment, within which it takes place. Apart from these, information systems evaluation faces certain conceptual and operational challenges that further complicate the process of performance evaluation. This paper deals with the issue of performance evaluation of information system utilised for engineering asset lifecycle. The paper highlights that these information systems not only have to enable asset management strategy, but also are required to inform the same for better lifecycle management of the critical asset equipment utilised in production or service environments. Evaluation of these systems, thus, calls for ascertaining both hard as well as soft benefits to the organisation and their contribution to organizational development. This, however, requires that evaluation exercise identifies alternatives and choices and in doing so becomes a strategic advisory mechanism that supports information systems planning, development, and management processes. This paper proposes a comprehensive evaluation methodology for evaluation of information systems utilised in managing engineering assets. This methodology is learning centric, provides feedback that facilitates actionable organizational learning, and thus allows the organisation to engage in generative learning based continuous improvement.