Development Methods and

Frameworks

Future of systems development

methodologies
Changes to Information
Systems
 The traditional view of an information
system being primarily a data processing
system has long since changed.

 Information Systems, today, perform

many complex tasks and disseminate
information in a variety of different
mediums, over a number of diverse
platforms.
What is an information
system?
 Is it just about processing data?
 What mediums does it incorporate?
 Our view of a multimedia information systems
 Where does the human aspect fit in to the
analysis and design of this system?
Influences upon Information
systems development (1)
 The influences currently shaping the
development of modern information
systems may be identified from the
following (doubtless, there are others):
 Changes in technology
 New technology influences the type of information
systems that may be developed.
 More opportunities exist to develop I.S that collate,
process and disseminate information in a
meaningful way.
Influences upon information
systems development (2)
 Changes in technology cont..

 Changes in Software

 Changes in Data Communications

 Changes in underlying technologies

Influences upon Information
systems development (3)
 Changes in Software
 Move from 3GLs/ 4GLs to object-oriented
languages.
 Changed the way in which systems are developed
- change in paradigm
 Has impacted upon the type of information
systems developed: GUI based, reusability..
 Move toward ‘visual building’ environments
 resulted in faster development environments

 lack of traditional programming skills does not

detract from undertaking development.
Influences upon Information
systems development (4)
 Changes in data communications
 Advances in telecommunication have
improved delivery of information across a
network.
 Starting point of faster modems meant that
dial-up Internet access a reality.
 Broadband development will continue to
impact upon future web-based applications.
 Greater bandwidth and speed means better
dissemination of all information mediums
Influences upon Information
systems development (5)

 Changes in data communications

cont…
 Wireless technology has had an impact upon
information systems.
 Impacts upon mobile computing applications
 Changes to working practices
Influences upon Information
systems development (6)

 Changes to underlying technologies

 biggest trend has been toward web-based
applications as a result of Internet technologies
and greater accessibility
 Growth of e-commerce systems has had a huge
impact upon organisations’ approach to
business
 Concept of ubiquitous computing
Influences upon Information
systems development (7)

 Changes in the business environment

 Striving for competitive advantage
 organisation today can not afford to stand still
 Need to keep ahead of competitors
 Need to gain/maintain competitive advantage
 Competitive advantage achieved (hopefully) by
Strategic planning
 improving quality of products/service
 diversification to expand and increase customer
base
Influences upon Information
systems development (8)
 Changes to business environment
cont..
 Globalisation of a business
 many businesses have expanded in response to
competitors and technology (e.g. the Internet).
 This has resulted in devolved responsibility and
decision making within an organisation
 This has led to a requirement for better
dissemination of information across the whole
organisational infrastructure.
Influences upon Information
Systems Development (9)
 Changes in the business environment
cont..
 Changes in working practices
 Business Process Re-engineering has
an impact upon the way in which as
business works
 More mobile working, teleworking
 Orgs moving toward SIS and intelligent
IS
Influences upon Information
systems development (10)
 Changes in the business environment
cont..
 All of the previously mentioned changes to
the business environment can take place with
the support of underlying information
systems.
 Information systems are developed as part of
the strategic plan
 Information systems exist to support the
business
Influences upon Information
systems development (11)
 Changes to the user profile
 General user-base much more IT-literate
 See Information systems as playing a
supporting role
 Most I.S. front-end driven - need good HCI
 Many users have system building experience
 Remember systems tend to fail because they
don’t do what the user wanted them to do.
Influences upon Information
systems development (12)
 Changes to the user profile cont…
 Remember focus these days is very much
upon developing human activity systems
 Despite this there is still conflict between
 Meeting the needs of the users/stakeholders
 Meeting those productivity targets we mentioned
in semester 1 (system does what it is supposed
to do and is delivered on time)
 Impact upon methodologies
(1)
 As the nature of the Information System
under development has changed, so has
the approach needed to guide that
development.
 As the nature of the environment has
changed, so has the approach needed to
deliver the system at an appropriate time.
Impact upon methodologies (2)

 As the nature of the end user has

changed, so has the approach needed to
understand requirements and model
them appropriately.
Impact upon methodologies (3)
 Changes in technology
 Traditional methodologies were written for
3GL/4GL/relational DB environments
 They can’t cope with O-O development
environments
 Can’t deal with different information & processing
requirements of web-based applications/e-
commerce applications
 We have seen the development of UML based
methods (eg RUP) as a response to this.
Impact upon methodologies (4)
 Changes to the business environment
 I.S supports underlying business strategy,
supports quest for competitive advantage.
 Therefore, I.S development needs to be able to
respond to business needs quickly - long time
scales for development are not appropriate
 Lots of interest in RAD techniques and Agile
methods.
Impact upon methodologies (5)
 Changes to the user profile
 Need to ensure that system meets user reqs.
 Need to understand the problem situation,
world views etc
 Need to develop systems with good HCI

 Soft systems and user-focused approaches

help with this.
Future of methodologies?

 Ad hoc development
 No formalised methodology used
 Experienced developers use best of
approaches/tools/techniques they have
previously encountered.
 Further development in formal
methodology area
 O-O methods and web-based methods
continue to be developed
 Methods using UML toolset are developed
Future of methodologies?

 Adaptable methods
 Methodologies that can be adapted for
different environments are appearing
 different to an ad-hoc approach: choice to
mix-and-match but within a development
framework.
Future of methodologies?
 External development
 Avison & Fitzgerald see a move toward
outsourcing.
 Organisations not then concerned with dev’t
issues - s/w house devises own framework
Relating this to the
coursework question (1)
 The case study tells us that the IT Consultant,
Sebastian LeFevre, has decided to recommend one
of the approaches associated with Agile Methods to
the Chief Executive Officer of CSA as he thinks that
this would be an interesting project for him to get
involved with. The Agile Method that Sebastian has
recommended to the Chief Executive is called
DSDM Atern.
Relating this to the
coursework question (2)
 Produce a management summary explaining
whether DSDM Atern would be an appropriate
method to use within CSA. Outline any
advantages/drawbacks that you perceive. Give
examples from the Case Study to support your
answer.

Your answer should be in the region of 750-1000

words.
Relating this to the
coursework question (3)
 Make sure that you have noted exactly
what the issues are that the CEO has
identified.

 Make sure that you have noted

characteristics about the organisation that
make it suitable for RAD (there are a
number deliberately mentioned)
Relating this to the
coursework question (4)
 Make sure that you have noted
characteristics about the information
system that is required that makes it
suitable for RAD (there a number
deliberately mentioned).