OUTLINE - THE APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

INPUTS: It is assumed that strategic planning has produced a statement of business objectives and a conceptual solution.

The phases in development process are described in the diagram below. They follows a fairly common set of phases beginning with a more detailed analysis of user requirements followed by the design of the new business system . This is then followed by  a computer system specification to support the business system.

Each phase produces a model. The model at a phase is derived from the model at the previous phase.

The business design process is closely linked to network technology selection. Suitable network technologies and component frameworks are identified during business design, and computer system components are chosen during system specification.

You should follow the design process in the sequence given in the Figure. You can of course go back if you suddenly discover that you forgot something or you come up with a better idea.

The phases followed are:

• PHASE 1 - SYSTEM REQUIREMENT DEFINITION

 

 
 
 

The goal here is to develop a better understanding of what the system is to do. This usually follows two steps:
 

• analysis of the current activities to define how the system works now and produce an analysis model that is made up of rich pictures and scenarios;
• develop a requirements model to clearly define any changes required to any of the activities identified during analysis to satisfy strategic business goals.

 
• PHASE 2 - BUSINESS SYSTEM DESIGN

• identify the kinds of group structures and work practices for the new system.
• provide a set of recommended group structures including their major roles; describe the kind of workspaces to be provided to the groups and how they will be linked together.
• develop a design model showing the activities in the new system.
• develop a set of business scenarios as part of the design moidel.

• PHASE 3 -  SYSTEM SPECIFICATION

• expand the activities in the design model is now used to define the computer components that will support the activity:
• the detailed interactions and expanded transition diagram,.
• the workspaces  that are to be provided in the new system and show them on a workspace directory;
• a workspace specification for the workspaces.
• identify the core technologies and any additional developments  needed to implement the workspaces.
• develop prototypes and storyboards to demonstrate important new features.


Once the specification model is agreed then system development can commence.