An Experimental Validation of the Gorry and Scott Morton Framework

The role of frameworks in information systems has recently received a great deal of critical attention. One prominent indictment, which has been directed at even commonly accepted frameworks, is that they lack empirical support, and in fact are not constructed in operational terminology. This article reports the results of an experimental lab study using MBA students as subjects to investigate the tenants of the Gorry and Scott Morton framework (Gorry and Scott Morton, 1971). While firm support is found for the assumption that the level of information attributes varies across system type in the direction postulated, there is evidence that the ability to differentiate the component attributes is affected by such factors as field dependency and mode of presentation.