Three Different System Analysis and Design Approaches - Report Example

Title: 353525 - System Analysis Three different System Analysis (types RAD with prototype, Waterfall model and Incremental model) and Design approaches Dated: March 22, 2009 Contents Serial number Title Page number 1 Introduction 3 2 Main body 5 3 The Waterfall Model 8 4 The Incremental Life Cycle Model 9 5 Conclusion 10 6 References 10 Introduction: Rapid Application Development (RAD) is a process which involves software development life cycle to give much quick development and higher quality results than the conventional software development life cycle. RAD is a software development methodology which involves iterative construction and development of proto types and includes mergers of different structural techniques, particularly the information and data driven from information engineering with the use of prototyping techniques to promote and accelerate software systems development(1). There are some other types of software system analysis programs like Waterfall Model and incremental model which could be used for handling data and information regarding the management of car rental business with the involvement of all the stakeholders for keeping them abridged with all the developments relating to the business. RAD as a system analysis has an edge over all other types of the existing systems due to the fact that RAD calls for the interactive use of structured techniques and mechanisms for prototyping to define the users' requirements and has successfully designed the final system for catering the needs of the customers in befitting manner. During the use of structural techniques as through the RAD, the developer of the system first builds preliminary data models along with business process models of the business requirements. The rent a car business involves a set of stakeholders as the owners of the companies dealing with the managerial aspects of the business for maximizing their profits with the offering of services in the form of cars to the customers, the customers who are mainly concerned with the provision of cars within a minimum a reaction time with quality services and the personals relating to the technical and backup supports for running the vehicles as in perfect modes and the general population who are the secondary stakeholders in the whole business process. The development of models leads to the formulation of prototyping which helps the analysts and the general users to verify those requirements, finally to refine the data and processes relating to the model. The cycle of the models moves in the shape of the prototypes, than models followed by the prototypes and so on and so forth. The position can be explained with the help of the following diagram which illustrates that all these stages are moving in a cyclic pattern where each stage is taking its shape on alternate basis : The prototyping helps the analysts and the users to verify their respective requirements. The whole cyclic pattern ultimately takes a shape in the form of refined data and the process models (2). It is expected that the system in the shape of rapid application development will help all the stakeholders including the managers of the rent a car firms to execute their businesses up to the satisfaction of the customers and the same system will also be replicated for the collection and utilization of the data for running their businesses as on profitable manners. Main body: Rapid Application Development is the term originally used to explain a software development process introduced in 1991, by James Martin whose methodology includes iterative development and the construction of the prototypes for the system analysis(3). Recently, the term has encompasses a variety of techniques and procedures used at speeding the application development, for example the use of web application frame works and similar types of software frameworks. RAD was a reaction to non agile process formulated in the 1970-80 such as the Waterfall Models and the structured system analysis and design method. One issue with the previous methodologies used for the purpose was that the applications took a long period to build that requirements had changed prior the system was complete resulting in the adequate or unusable systems. Moreover, the assumption that a methodical requirements analysis phase alone would be in a position to identify all the critical requirements for handling the data. A large number of evidence confirms to the fact that RAD is the seldom case even for the assignments with highly experienced professional at all the levels of hierarchy. James Martin developed the RAD approach during 1980s and finally materialized it by in 1991 in the shape of Rapid Application Development. The shift from traditional session based system analysis chiefly on client/server development to a mechanism involves open session and collaborative development like Web 2.0 has increased the requirement for faster iterations through the phases like System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) which the process of developing information systems through analysis, investigation, design, implementation and maintenance. SDLC is also called as information systems development or application development system which is an approach to problem solving and is made up of several further phases, each phase in turn comprised of multiple steps like: (1) The software concept that identifies and defines a need for the adoption of new system, (2) A requirements analysis which analyzes the information needs of the end users in a complete and comprehensive manner for fulfilling the needs of the clients, (3) The architectural design that creates a plan for the design with the necessary details and specifications for the software, hardware, people and data resources needed to fulfill the system, (4) Coding and debugging which creates and programs the final system for its application as to fulfill the objectives of the system. (5) System testing phase involves the evaluation of the system's actual functionality with respect to the expected or intended functionality of the system. The SDLC coupled with the growing utilization of the open sources frameworks and products in the shape of core commercial development as in the shape of RAD which are strongly object oriented programming ,small team structure ,foster software reuse and distributed system development. RAD practitioners have recognized that ultimately, no single rapid methodology exists which can provide an order of magnitude improvement over any other type of development methodology. RAD provides a good framework for faster product development with advanced code quality for the system like handling the data for rent a car business perfectly and as per customer's satisfaction(4). Successful implementation mainly depends on the project type, software release cycle, schedule corporate culture and profit oriented missions as in favor of the organization. However, it may be recorded that firms like IBM and Microsoft do not completely utilize RAD for the development of their flagship products and are still rely on the traditional Waterfall Methodologies with some degree of alterations in the system. The adoption of a program in the system analysis like RAD involves the selection of the system through the evaluation of the pros and cons of the system and needs for the selection of the system in favor of the organization depending on the environment, culture and technology relating to the system(5). RAD is an iterative and incremental process which can lead to succession of prototypes that never culminate in the shape of satisfactory production development application. RAD promotes strong collaborative atmosphere and dynamic gathering of the information relating to the requirements. In the systems the organizers of the system actively participates in the prototyping stage through writing test cases and performing unit testing for the purpose(6). However, RAD involves a cohesive and strong dependency on teams and individuals commitment to the project. Success of the system only depends on the adoption of a disciplined behavior, use of exceptional technical skills for the implementation of the system. The process involves the decision making process with the participation of all the stakeholders and team members with lesser degree of centralized project manager and engineering authority for the implementation of the system(7). The software system in the form of RAD requires an analysis of the requirements as to be fulfilled with the implementation of the system. Specifications for the systems are formulated, designing, implementation and finally testing or moving in a systematic and logical manner during the implementation of the process(8). The Waterfall Model: The Waterfall Model shows a mechanism and process where the developers are adopting the following stages as per given sequence. (a) requirements specifications with their verifications and analysis as to be achieved wit the implementation of the mode, (b) designing of the model with all its technical details and specifications with necessary data for each step, (c) The construction of the system with the implementation strategy along with a coding mechanism, (d) Integration of all the requirements with necessary steps, (e) Testing and debugging of the system for the verification of the installed system as in favor of the organization, (f) Installation of the system at the implementation units for its use as per the designed objectives with the input of data and output through the utilization of the system, and (g) Maintenance of the system. The Waterfall process has no provision of correcting the errors in the early phases, therefore, may lead to the whole system with false configurations and results as against the objectives of the organization. Incremental Life Cycle Model: The Incremental Life Cycle Model is the evolution of the Waterfall Model which passes through the stages of analysis, design, code and test. Subsequently, in the next phase, the product is designed, implemented, integrated and tested as a series of incremental builds. It is popular model software in the advanced form and is used by many commercial software companies and system vendors in their businesses. The model is applicable to the projects where the software requirements are well defined, but realization of the requirements may be delayed. The model can be explained with the help of the following diagram: Conclusion: The Rapid Application Development system analysis has an edge over all other systems including waterfall model and the incremental model as the system has the capacity to fulfill the requirements of the customers and all other stakeholders with the adoption of prototypes which promotes a collaborative atmosphere and dynamic gathering for its implementation. All the business organization are recommended to adopt the system for handling their businesses as to fulfill their missions with the adoption of systems including RAD. References: 1. Whitten, Jeffrey L.; Lonnie D. Bentley, Kevin C. Dittman. (2004). Systems Analysis and Design Methods. 6th edition. ISBN 025619906X. 2. Andrew Begel, Nachiappan Nagappan. "Usage and Perceptions of Agile Software Development in an Industrial Context: An Exploratory Study, Microsoft Research". http://research.microsoft.com/hip/papers/AgileDevAtMS-ESEM07.pdf. Retrieved on 2008-11-15.  3. M. Stephens, Rosenberg, D. (2003). "Extreme Programming Refactored: The Case Against XP:" Apress, 2003. 4. Jacob Apelbaum. (2002). Rapid Application Development Framework. Technology Press, 1st edition. ISBN 978-0980000030. 5. Steve McConnell (1996). Rapid Development: Taming Wild Software Schedules, Microsoft Press Books, ISBN 978-1556159008 6. Ken Schwaber (1996). Agile Project Management with Scrum, Microsoft Press Books, ISBN 978-0735619937 7. Steve McConnell (2003). Professional Software Development: Shorter Schedules, Higher Quality Products, More Successful Projects, Enhanced Careers, Microsoft Press Books, ISBN 978-0321193674 8. Whitten, Jeffrey L.; Lonnie D. Bentley, Kevin C. Dittman. (2004). Systems Analysis and Design Methods. 6th edition. ISBN 025619906X Read More