SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT

A Software Development Method

A Software Development Method

Introduction

Today, the importance of information as a strategic resource is understand by the world leaders and they moved rapidly towards it, which helps create competitive advantage, companies tend to build increasingly systems which involved large and complex teams made ??up of many people with different functions and roles. This situation leads us to define mechanisms that help us manage these large projects: schedule activities in a timely manner, coordinate the activities of each team member and each other, and provide criteria to allow control and measurement of these activities. A high percentage of systems fail for not having a proper process development, or inappropriate use. Many developers are wrong in the sense that they think software development begins with the programming language which is one of the most important causes of system failure (Bentley, et.al., 2007, pp. 33-39). Whatever the size of the system, the companies and individuals concerned with the task of system or software development must always rely on a process of extensive analysis and design. It provides effective results when going to manage large organizations having worldwide branches and ensures its integrity.

Purpose of the Study

The merger of two companies to form a White Horse Ferries poses a great challenge for the management in terms of integrating the development teams of both companies previously had keeping in view their diverse skills and background. The management also decided to develop the new scheduling and booking system in-house , a task which calls for a comprehensive and integrating software development strategy that would, addressing the risk involved in the process, address the core issues of software development and result in satisfactory end system catering to the needs of company. The present study aims to identify a suitable methodology to achieve abovementioned objective. Moreover, we will study and use DSDM as the best approach to tackle the situation.

Discussion

Before presenting the method for software development, it is pertinent to briefly describe the core components, concepts and characteristics of a software development approach or method.

Life Cycle

The term life cycle refers to the notion that a software product is the result of a development process which is divided into phases. We define the term life cycle as the activity of producing and maintaining computer systems.

Its functions are:

1 - Establish an order which:

Specifies a prototype

Designs

Implements

Tests

Maintains

2 - Determine the criteria for moving from one phase to another.

The life cycle should be in accordance with the methodology used. There are methods where life cycle has a beginning; the development process starts from initial phase and reaches straight to the end through different stages.

In other methodologies life cycle consists of several iterations, each runs all stages are being met and intermediate versions of the product is produced. The process then continues with iteration and goes through all the stages again until the final and complete product is achieved.

The life cycle model can guide the development project and help ensure that each step is closer to achieving the ...