Examining The Strengths And Weaknesses Of Software Information Technology Essay

Examining The Strengths And Weaknesses Of Softw are Information Technology EssayIn the past few years, in that locations been a blossoming of a smart style of software methodology,the name is agile methods. Agile methods is under the premise of guaranteed to software ontogeny concord successfully output of decrease the activities and reapings as cold as feasible in the process of developing..Most software tuition is a chaotic activity, often characterized by the phrase code and fix. Agile methods make the interfering process become easy so that much and more(prenominal)(prenominal) enterprise and lot choose to use up agile methods. In semester 2 ,we studied the friendship about DSDM, XP, SSADM, RUP, ETHICS, CCMI . In this essay I explore the reasons for agile methods and I go forth focus on comparing the strengths and weaknesses of DSDM and XP. Because they are the mainstream agile methods in impudently years and respectively introduce their principle, characteristic s, applicability and nearly other aspects about this two methods.2. DefinitionDynamic Systems victimisation Method (DSDM) was developed by a UK crime syndicate in the UK in the mid-1990s.This view has been supported in the naturalize of Jennifer Stapleton(1997). It is a practiti onenessr-based methodology and this consortium are involved in Rapid cover teaching (RAD) development of software remainss.DSDM developing actu completelyy fast, British Xansa company released that DSDM and traditional development methods adopted in productivity comparison from 1994 to 2001. Conclusion is subsequentlyward utilize DSDMthe productivity improved 202 per cent.This view has been supported in the work of Alistair Cockblum (2003) . It describes all aspects in rapid development origin centered surround.XP(Extreme Programming) is based on the development experience of a single author and is aimed at developers,so it is a practitioner-based method. The first Extreme Programming shed was s tarted March 6, 1996. Extreme Programming is one of several popular Agile processes. It has already been proven to be very successful at legion(predicate) companies of all different sizes and industries world wide.Don Wells,19993.Strengths of DSDMIn the objectives aspect. In the eight principles of DSDM,we sight find deliver on cartridge clip , DSDM assumes that 80 per cent of the solution can be developed in 20 per cent of the clip that it would take to produce the total solution in order to cut back development times,at the selfsame(prenominal) time to deliver that will give the biggest business benefit first. Stapleton (1997, pp.13) states that a way of developing application systems that real serve the motives of business .Therefore the first strengths of DSDM is use time as shorten as possible and it will make the biggest business benefit first.It is about truly understanding the needs of the business and delivering solutions that work and delivering them as quickly and as cheaply as possible(Stapleton,1997,pp14),Therefore,we can find use DSDM not only fast,but cheap.Staleton (1997,pp.65) states that DSDM is more than anything about improving communications between all parties involved in the development of a system .Developers will make more communications with who will work with the system and the system must be maintainable after delivery.The other strength is it helps customers know more about the product,and after delivery, developers will maintenance the product.In the domain and target aspects.The strengths of DSDM are most easily employ in system,and it can be employ in large project.For techniques.Staleton (1997,pp.14) states that DSDM describes project management, estimate, prototype build,time box method, configuration management, testing , quality assurance, roles and responsibilities (of both users and IT staff) , aggroup structure, tools environments , risk management ,building for maintainability, the relationship between suppliers and buyers .DSDM use timeboxing, so end-user of DSDM can save time and money by becoming members of the Consortium. It can protect delivery corset being the focus and support the main project to realise the development on time and make out with the good quality.It concentration is on the nip priorities and all people who relate about the project know how long to expect each other to take. MoSCow is one of the strength in DSDM. Its rules is used for prioritising requirements. It is an acronym that stands for must have, should have, could have ,want, but wont have this time.This order is very important, because they are sorting with the necessary degree. It can help you save much time when you do your project and easy to find what you need to do within the deadline.The next strength is evolutionary prototyping ,it used heavily in DSDM that is controlled using document evaluation and it helps developers to communicate with business people. In its conditions, users can oper ate the system more skilled .Workshop is another strength of DSDM, it can make the different people who work with the system to in concert and discuss what they want to do about the system. Therefore it can make decisions about the system quickly and accurately.In sphere aspect. The strengths of DSDM are the development process is very accurate. A given listing does have to be tested in exact order, it overturns the occurrence of mistakes in the development process.Therefore it saves much time for development software.The strengths of output in DSDM are after developers produced a product, a larger number of documents will to explain the product,and there are both(prenominal) patterns and documents maintenance the product. It is really good for product. And a user manuals and training schemes will be given.It helps customer knows how to use the product and easily use the product .4.Strengths of XP(Extreme Programming)Beck (2000,pp.150) states that The practices and the principl es work together with each other to urinate a synergy that is greater than the sum of the parts. It using established software development techniques in a mild team,it saves more human re root word for company. And XP pay more attention to customers requirements and the quality of the products.It reduce the project risk with appropriate practices.The strengths of domain and target in XP are it can solve specific business problem, such as projects has vague requirements. It can develop out bloodlined software ,in-house development and fix-price contract software development.For techniques, XP use of rival programming ,it improves code quality, programmers to share knowledge more easily and it reduces mistakes in coding process.Use stand up conflicts to communicate problems,it solves solutions more quickly,and adjust the teams work accusation in short order ,it saves to much time for team,and can make more decision for the project. Designing is used to describe requirements and t o create time estimates.It helps developers reduce mistakes and make developers knows what are they need to do and need not to do in development time.Strengths of scope in XP,the planning is to think about what problems will be appear in the development,and how to prevent them happen. It reduces the feasibility of unforeseen circumstances, Teamwork will helps teammates shares their understanding about the project and to find the weak spots of the project. Refactoring give programmers the safe to improve their code , it helps the programmer understand the system better and makes the code readability. Maintenance can help the product exert its procedure better.The outputs are source code and associated unit test. The strengths of XP are unit test can explains code with test cases,make out up to date documentation and it can helps suppose for new programmers. The other strength is developers always work together in a small team, the development team will with good atmosphere.5.Weakne sses of DSDMThe weakness of DSDM is the relatively gamy barrier to entry. Switching to DSDM is neither cheap nor fast,and requires a significant cultural shift in any organization.(Benjamin,J. 2004)Staleton (1997,pp13) states that A way of developing application systems that truly serve the needs of the business.It have not too much equirements for the quality of the product.It only have interface intensive business systems one application,and just can solve business problems.I think it is so delimitate,such as it is not fit for other applications such as engineering, so it difficulties to be used when the target environment is not about business.The teams that in DSDM should decide what methods will be use in work. It lacks in detail for developers. It no more than packaged common sentiency . The iterative phases in DSDM is more tedious.6.Weaknesses of XPThe weakness of XP is that it only can be used in small group of programmers two to twelve.The objective of XP is too narrow that it does not to analysis the problems that will be happen in the future and it has not any strategic analysis of the need for the system .XP only set a set of techniques but not lifecycle. It relies on pair programming,but many programmers have found this way of working uncomfortable,it makes developers interdependence who work together , it likewise inhibit their imagination and independent thinking ability,the more important is it will make constant interaction is tiring. XP needs a robust and fast development environment, but many development environments can not achieve that standards, therefore XP can not achieve the best effect for the product.Quick design meeting are too quick,because want to save time,it maybe makes a bad design decisions. Aspect of XP that are difficult to adopt are collaboration with others in the team, and using simple designs. There involve overcoming peoples tendency to avoid collaboration and introduce unnecessary complexity in system structure. (Beck,2000)Any product is conveyable with the customer,so that customer will feel very trouble .XP is too extreme and lacks scalability,it is too informal for many orgnisations.7.Compare the two methodsThis two methods of tend are very similar. They all for application development,these two methods are all focus on shorten the development time and fast delivery,they all need teamwork and customers involvement in team.There are some difference between DSDM with XP.DSDM is primarily to provide a controlling framework for Rapid Application Development methodology .It is a framework for business centred development and it focuses on delivery of the business solution, rather than just team activity.There are more clear define roles in DSDM. DSDM use timebox and MoSCow to make plan about time.DSDM strongly provide full lifecycle.XP stresses customer satisfaction.It lay stress on teamwork that managers, developers and customers are all equal partners in a collaborative teaming and they w ill work together to improve the quality about product. It used to develop the system as faster as possible and it should be has a small teams to discuss about the system and makes a good working environment for developers. Its objective is narrow, it only used to solve some problems about the customers business needs of the product and it is not to analysis any problem about next stage. Less clear define roles.XP use eyelet planning meeting to plan time.XP lights on project control and not provide lifecycle.4. Applicable contextsDSDM can be used in that contexts.Projects that is about business.Interactive function embodiment through the user interface, have clear user group,no complicated calculation, if is a large application, the function can be decomposed into smaller parts , time constrained, requirements not too detailed or fixed and requirements can be prioritised.XP can be used in that contexts.Projects that have some specific problems need to solve,projects that are not c onstrained by an existing computing environment,project with vague requirements and projects with constant changes in requirements. Particularly useful for uncertain projects where change is expectedsmall group of programmers 2-12 need to have at least one client involved as well as programmers and need to be able to create automated unit and function tests.5.ConclusionThese two methods aim to solve the solutions that delivering good systems in short times.They all have their own advantages and disadvantages,but them still very similar, such as customer involvement ,incremental change, rapid feedback mechanisms,fast delivery, both in a small team ,and so on. Therefore I think if them work together,they should have very good effect. Because they have share the same fundamentals and it will working on combining the relative strengths of DSDM and XP.6.Evaluation frameworkDSDMXP1.PhilosophyParadigmSystematicscientificObjectivesMake the development time as shorten as possible .Helps peop le who work with the system to know and how to work with the system.Make the biggest benefit for businessMake customer satisfaction.To developed the system with a good quality as soon as possible.DomainNo complicated calculation in business problems andInteractive function.XP is good at to help team who work in the same group solve some specific business problems. quarryIt only can solve business problems and it application in interface intensive business systems for all project(small and big) in all organisation(small and big).Embodiment through the user interface.It needs a clear user group.There is a time limit .If it is a large application,it can be decomposed into smaller parts of function component.XP is designed for the project that with vague requirements,are not constrained by an existing computing environment and project with constant changes in requirements. It is fit for projects that can be carried out by two to twelve programmers. The type of development are fix-price contract software development,outsourced software andin-house development.2. ModelStructure Model andObject-oriented Model spiral Model3.Techniques and toolsTechniquesTimeboxing, MoSCoW , Evolutionary prototyping,Workshop .Courage, feedback, simplicity andcommunication.Planning, User stories. Stand up meetings, Designing,Spike solutions , Refactor when possible, Coding,Pair programming ,Integrate often ,Testing andAcceptance tests.ToolsCommon user interface,Development tools,Requirements managementtools ,Configuration management tools ,Project management tools,Documentation tools ,Shared repository and virtualoperating environment.Automated unit testing tools must be used in XP testing process, this tools a fundamental requirement for a successful XP.4. ScopeFeasibility study Business study Function model iteration Design and build iteration Implementation .Exploration Planning Iterations to first release Maintenance .5. OutputsThe output is a system that have many functions that sa tisfy user requirements and have some documents to maintenance it and tell user how to use it. The main product is working software of a anticipated quality. other kind of documents can explain the project and gives more documents and models to help user maintenance the system ,to achieve the effect of improving the quality of the products.The output is source code and associated. In another field, users and developers are all can skilled use the method. The product is working software.6. PracticeDSDM was developed by a UK consortium in the UK in the mid-1990s. This view has been supported in the work of Jennifer Stapleton(2003). It is a practitioner-based methodology and this consortium are involved in Rapid Application Development development of software systems.DSDM can help an orgnisation achieve a good level in the Capability Maturity Model and it can be used in the TickIT.XP project was started March 1996. It is a very popular Agile method.It is very fit for a small group of programmers about two to twelve.7. resultThe product is difference in different phase in DSDM.Pre-project pre-project report.Feasibility study feasibility report, outline plan and risk log.Business study systemarchitecture definition, development plan, prioritised requirements list, risk log.Functional model iteration functional model and review records, non-functionalrequirements list, timeboxplans, implementation plan,risk log.Design and build iteration timebox plans ,design prototypes and review records, tested system.Implementation User documentation, delivered system, trained user population, increment review.Post-project postimplementation review report.The relationship between developers and customers that work together for their project .Stories, Running code and Tests.7.DSDM for Complete SolutionsComplete Solutions is a rapid development company,and it focus on sell a complete IT consultancy service for businesses.It has some branches in different cities and differen t country, with the rapid development, CSs size is continuously be expanded . However at the same time , some problems become more and more obvious, such as lack of communication in the company. Therefore I think the method not only should be suit for CS company, but also can help CS solve some problem and make the company more better.I choose DSDM be used by Complete Solutions.DSDM has eight principles that focus on business need, deliver on time, collaborate, never compromise quality , develop iteratively, build incrementally from firm foundations, communicate infinitely and clearly, demonstrate control .CS primary task is to sell a complete IT consultancy service for businesses. DSDM is about truly understanding the needs of the business and delivering solutions that work and delivering them as quickly and as cheaply as possible.(Stapleton,1997,pp14) DSDM has one principle is focus on business need. They need delivery the product to customer on time,and give a right price to c ustomers. It is more important for CS. In DSDM project, it use MoSCoW and timebox for customers requirements. As a result is it can delivery products on-time and on -cost.Therefore DSDM can help CS save more time and reduce development costs.CS needs to software development and it must update they engineering science in order to sales more products. technology and computing has become an inseparable ingredient in the business world today.(Internet,2006) DSDM is very suitable for the project that main purpose is software development. The one principle of DSDM is develop iteratively, so it can help CS constantly update the software and technology .I think the issue-based task is to make a fully communication in the internal of the company. Because there are poor communication in the internal of CS. stiff communication is essential to the success of any company.(Debbie Tullos,2011) DSDM is more than anything about improving communications between all parties involved in the developme nt of system. (Stapleton,1997,pp.65) In the DSDM, there are two techniques that evolutionary prototyping and workshop, so it will helps communicate continuously and clearly. Use these two techniques can promote the communication between the internal personnel office of CS. Moreover, workshop can promote teamwork between internal personnel, It can helps them improve their work efficiency.Therefore it is good for CS.Never compromise quality is one principle of DSDM, we all knows that CS is a business company, so that quality is very important for it. If it can not provide a good quality product, customers will not to buy anything from CS company. Products to enhance the quality of there are more customers will buy products from CS.CS with the high speed development and its size is constantly be expanded.So they will continue to strengthen their infrastructure in order to meet the high speed development requirements. This requirement happen to have the same view with the principle bui ld incrementally from firm foundations which in DSDM. Infrastructure to strengthen makes the company more stable of the development.Through the highly collaborative and open team approach, with a no surprises culture.conflict has been kept to a minimum.(Timothy Fadek,2010) A highly collaborative can make the work team more unity, more powerful and more efficiency. collaborate is one of the principle in DSDM. Therefore, it will makes more unity within the CS company.ConclusionI think DSDM method is really be fit for Complete Solutions than XP .such as in the following aspects that applying,business,techniques, personnel management, communication, teamwork and conflict management.However, DSDM have some weaknesses,such as lacking in detail for developers and no more than packaged common sense.Therefore, if to make DSDM and XP work together,there will have better effect.