The odd couple or formal notations and the development of information systems

The development of information systems and the introduction of Formal Notations have tended to be taught as separate subjects. In this paper we hope to show that it is both possible and desirable to place Formal Notations in the context of systems analysis and design. By adopting an essentially pragmatic approach we feel that we have, to some extent, bridged the gap between the world of theoretical mathematics and the practical task of building information systems.