Description

This volume aims to pave the way to a greater understanding of the information system development process. Traditionally, information systems have been perceived as a slice of real world history. This has led to a strong emphasis on the development of conceptual models, the requirements specifications of which can readily be expressed. However, the route to such an expression, or the process of development, has not received any substantial attention.

It is now agreed that a study of the development process affords notable benefits. Firstly, it helps to create an understanding of what a realistic development process is and how it proceeds from an initial specification to its acceptable representation. Secondly, the nature of guidance that can be provided by the next generation of CASE tools can be substantially improved. It can be expected that these tools will cease to be mere drafting aids and consistency checking programs. Instead it is likely that they will provide a procreative environment in which the development engineer will play an important role. This tool/user symbiosis should have a beneficial impact on both the productivity of the developer and on the quality of the product.

In bringing together researchers and practitioners from such diverse areas as AI, Software Engineering, Decision Support and Information Systems, it is hoped this publication will take the quest to comprehend information system development processes a significant step forwards.