INFORMATION SYSTEMS ENGINEERING

By a Single 3 hour examinations plus 2 piece of Coursework

1. To introduce the student to the concept of a development methodology.
2. To consider the underlying components of a generic development methodology.
3. To examine the Information Engineering approach to systems development.
4. To demonstrate to students that the development of information systems is not purely a ‘technical’ exercise, but also needs consideration of human factors.
5. To study several ‘soft’ methods (SSM and ETHICS) as a means of identifying human issues in the development of an information system.
6. To look at some of the techniques used to enable user participation in systems development.
7. To examine the significance of Rapid Applications Development (RAD) techniques in a modern information systems development enviroment.
8. To study, in detail, a proprietary RAD method (DSDM).
9. To chart the development of object-oriented techniques and their increasing importance as a systems development paradigm.
10. To provide skills training in object-oriented analysis and design techniques.

The concept of a methodology, traditional Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC) in perspective, benefits/problems associated with SDLC, the human dimension, organisational aspects, the need for a methodology, requirements of an Information Systems methodology, criteria for selection of a methodology.

Methodology framework, data modelling, Process Modelling, Behavioural modelling, three view approach, Case tools in perspective, 4GLs and their impact on methodologies.

Underlying philosophy, the methodology structure: Information Strategy Planning, Business Area Analysis, Systems Planning and Design, Construction and cutover, Significance of case tool to this approach, Significance of 4GLs to this approach.

The influence of systems theory/soft systems theory, Checkland’s soft systems method (SSM): background to the method, the seven stages in summary, rich pictures as a technique, CATWOE and root definitions, Conceptual models.

ETHICS methodology: philosophy of ETHICS, overview of methodology.

Prototyping systems requirements, Joint Applications Design, role of a 4GL environment in prototyping.

General RAD concepts, DSDM method: background to the method, framework of the method, DSDM principles, time versus functionality, when to use the method, technology support. Appraisal of application development environments

Indicative Content

Overview - why use objects ? Objects and classes - definitions: objects, attributes, behaviour, identity, encapsulation, object states, classes and subclasses.

Developing the context diagram, developing the Use Case Scenario model, developing the Interface Descriptions.

Properties of objects and classes: finding objects and classes in the real world.

Events and states, transitions and actions, the state transition diagram.