Database Reference
In-Depth Information
Stage 5: Optimized , which is characterized by processes that
• Demonstrate major quality and quantity improvements
Key actions to get to next step
Continue improvement and optimization of the process
Companies that have achieved a Stage 2 process maturity or higher make
use of methodologies to ensure that the company achieves a repeatable
level of quality and productivity. There are many methodologies available
for use. Some of these are vendor driven, i.e., they are used in conjunction
with a software tool set.
In general, methodologies can be categorized as follows. It should be noted
that one methodology can be used in conjunction with another methodology:
Waterfall method : This is a phased, structured approach to systems
development. The phases include requirements feasibility analysis,
system design, coding, testing, and implementation. Please note that
there are variations of these stated phases. Usually, each phase is
performed sequentially, although there is some potential for overlap.
This is the methodology that is used most often in industry.
Iterative (prototyping) : Most of this approach is used to replace several
of the phases in the SDLC. In the SDLC approach, the time to mar-
ket, so to speak, can be months (sometimes years). During this time,
requirements may change, and the final deliverable, therefore, might
be quite outmoded. To prevent this from happening, it is a good idea
to try to compress the development cycle to shorten this time to mar-
ket and provide interim results to the end user.  he iterative model
consists of three steps: (1) listen to customer; (2) build/revise a mock-
up; (3) let customer test-drive the mock-up and then returns to step 1.
Rapid application development (RAD) : This is a  form of the iterative
model. The key word here is rapid . Development teams try to get a
first pass of the system out to the end user within 60 to 90 days. To
accomplish this, the normal seven-step SDLC is compressed into the
following steps: business modeling, data modeling, process model-
ing, application generation and testing, and turnover. Note the term
application generation . RAD makes use of application generators, for-
merly called CASE (computer-assisted software engineering) tools.
Incremental model : The four main phases of software development are
analysis, design, coding, and testing. If we break a business problem
into chunks or increments, then we can use an overlapping, phased
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