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Chapter19 rapid application development
1. Copyright 2002 Prentice-Hall, Inc.
Modern Systems Analysis
and Design
Third Edition
Jeffrey A. Hoffer
Joey F. George
Joseph S. Valacich
Chapter 19
Rapid Application Development
19.1
2. Learning Objectives
Explain the Rapid Application Development
(RAD) approach and how it differs from
traditional approaches to information systems
development
Describe the systems development
components essential to RAD
Discuss the conceptual pillars that support
the RAD approach
Explain the advantages and disadvantages of
RAD as an exclusive systems development
methodology
19.2
3. Rapid Applications
Development (RAD)
Systems development methodology created
to radically decrease the time needed to
design and implement information systems
radically.
Five key factors
1. Extensive user involvement
2. Joint Application Design sessions
3. Prototyping
4. Integrated CASE tools
5. Code generators
19.3
4. The Process of Developing an
Application Rapidly
RAD is a general strategy rather than a
single methodology
Goals
To analyze a business process rapidly
To design a viable system solution through
intense cooperation between users and
developers
To get the finished application into the hands of
the users quickly
Traditional SDLC steps are followed, but
phases are combined
Iteration is limited to design and
development phases
19.4
5. Components of RAD
User involvement is key to success
Prototyping is conducted in sessions
similar to Joint Application Design
(JAD)
Prototyping screens become screens
within the production system
CASE tools are used to design the
prototypes
19.5
6. Approaches to RAD
Martin’s pillars of RAD
Four pillars
Tools
People
Methodology
Management
Conversion to RAD within organization should be
done with a small group of well-trained and
dedicated professionals, called a RAD cell
Over time, cell can grow until RAD is the
predominant approach of the information systems
unit
19.6
7. Approaches to RAD
McConnell’s pillars of RAD
Four pillars
Avoid classic mistakes
Apply development fundamentals
Manage risks to avoid catastrophic setbacks
Apply schedule-oriented practices
Table 19-1 lists some of McConnell’s 36
classic development mistakes
19.7
8. Approaches to RAD
McConnell’s pillars of RAD (continued)
Development mistakes
Weak personnel
Employees that are not as well trained in skills necessary
for success of the project
Silver-bullet syndrome
Occurs when developers believe that a new and untried
technology is all that is needed to cure the ills of any
development project
Feature creep
More and more features are added to a system over
course of development
Requirements gold-plating
Project may have more requirements than needed
19.8
9. Approaches to RAD
Software tools
Case tools can be used for
Prototyping
Code generation
Example: COOL:Gen
Visual Development Environments
Visual Basic
Delphi
19.9
10. Approaches to RAD
Martin’s RAD Life Cycle
Systems requirement determination is done in
context of a discussion of business problems and
business areas
User Design
End users and IS professionals participate in JAD
workshops
CASE tools are used to support prototyping
Construction
Designer creates code using code generator
End user validates screens and other aspects of design
Cutover
New system is delivered to end users
19.10
11. RAD Success Stories
Inprise/Borland’s Delphi
U.S. Navy Fleet Modernization
Requirements
Move from three character-based systems to a unified,
GUI-based system based on a single database
Reasons for choosing Delphi
Support for rapid prototyping
Promise of re-use of components
Outcome
System developed in 6 months
Estimated development savings of 50 percent
New system resulted in immediate 20 percent savings due
to reduced maintenance costs
19.11
12. RAD Success Stories
Inprise/Borland’s Delphi (continued)
First National Bank of Chicago
Electronic Federal Tax Payment System
Delphi enabled rapid prototyping and
development
10 months of development time
125 programmers
250 million rows of data and 55 gigabytes of
data on-line
19.12
13. RAD Success Stories
VisualAge for Java
Comdata
Modular Over the Road System (MOTRS)
IBM Global Services chosen as vendor
Servlets
Programming modules that expand the functions of the
Web server
Applets
Embedded code run from client browser
Nine months to completion
Three months of research
Three months of coding
Three months of testing
19.13
14. Advantages Disadvantages
Dramatic time savings the systems
development effort
More speed and lower cost may
lead to lower overall system quality
Can save time, money and human
effort
Danger of misalignment of system
developed via RAD with the
business due to missing information
Tighter fit between user
requirements and system
specifications
May have inconsistent internal
designs within and across systems
Works especially well where speed
of development is important
Possible violation of programming
standards related to inconsistent
naming conventions and
inconsistent documentation
Ability to rapidly change system
design as demanded by users
Difficulty with module reuse for
future systems
System optimized for users involved
in RAD process
Lack of scalability designed into
system
Concentrates on essential system
elements from user viewpoint
Lack of attention to later systems
administration built into system
Strong user stake and ownership of
system
High cost of commitment on the
part of key user personnel
19.14