The directorate information system at St Thomas´ hospital: a study in domain analysis

Describes a project run at St Thomas´ Hospital whose goal was to design an information system that would support the business of a `clinical directorate´. We argue that the analysis for an information system in an area as complex as this needs to be preceded by detailed domain analysis, and that conventional techniques are inadequate. The method used is described this supports the construction of formal set theoretic domain theories, and the refinement of those theories through refutation and reconstruction. The domain theory that was developed is elucidated. Some abstract properties of the domain are described and discussed. An animation of the theory is presented and examples of behavioural theorems that were refuted by domain experts are given. Some philosophical issues concerning the method are briefly discussed