This paper suggests a document-driven information systems development (ISD) approach. The reason for this approach is to find better ways to communicate with novice users. We have based our research on two principles: start with what is known and shift between abstractions and concretions. The concept “what is known” means that we have used existing familiar documents as a staring point. When modelling IS we always make abstractions. One way to confirm that we have made the right abstraction is to relate it something that is concrete to the user. We have used a shift between the abstract and the concrete in order to help the users to understand particular phenomena. We have experienced that this is especially important when developing IS that involves novice users. Our conclusion about the work practice is that document-driven systems development has led to improvements in the work practice. The approach has resulted in improved conditions for communication between the users, conceptual improvements and structural process improvements. Using the latter of the two principles means that the researchers/ISD professionals should be sensitive for when to make abstractions and when to make concretions. Using existing documents as starting point means to start with what is known. Our experience from this is that users have participated in a natural way during the analysis and design work.