The System Development Methods

 

The traditional software development methods are the Structured Systems Analysis and Design (SSAD) by Ross; the Requirement Driven Design by Alford and the Structured Analysis and Structure Design (SASD) by Yourdon.  All these methods deal with the functions and the data are viewed together as an object.

 

Whether it is a Waterfall model or a Spiral model of a system development, or whether it is the SSAD or the SASD approach or whether it is the object oriented technology of system development the following steps of the development are common.

 

• Requirement Analysis
• Requirement Definition
• System Design
• Input Design
• Process Design
• Output Design
• System Development
• Structuring the modules
• Developing
• Unit testing
• Integration of the modules
• System Testing
• Implementation
• Maintenance

 

The requirement analysis is carried out from the top downwards in the organization hierarchy, linking the goals and the objectives of the business organization, with the strategy mix decided to achieve them. In this phase the information needs of the individuals, groups and functions are analyzed form a decision making or a support point of view.  Such information needs would fully satisfy the operational management information needs.  Once the needs are justified, the next step is to define them is clearer terms for the purpose of development.  The requirement definition brings clarity in the content and its application in various ways in the organization.