Tools, Methods & Processes

The ever increasing business-driven need for enterprises to rapidly develop highly sophisticated, quality systems and architectures, fueled by the growing influence of the Internet and emerging next generation technologies, is being facilitated by the use of a number of methodologies and techniques that include RAD, DSDM, CBD, UML, PRINCE, CRAMM and ITIL.

With traditional methods of developing computer solutions increasingly failing to meet the changing business needs, a number of new techniques have been developed that facilitate rapid development and are responsive to today’s dynamic business environment. Whereas  traditional implementation cycles are often longer than the changes in business processes themselves, the use of new approaches such as workshops, timeboxing and the running of JAD sessions with business people enable the architecting of solutions that can be easily modified in response to rapidly changing business practices.

In addition, with many project failures being attributed to management issues, the need for formal training and use of project management and risk management methods in project and programme management has become more and more critical to ensure success and the completion of projects on time and within budget.

Finally the growing dependency of organisations on IT to meet their corporate and business needs has created a growing requirement for high quality IT services. This has in turn led to the development and adoption of ITIL as a foundation for quality IT service management.

ABT Workbench ABT Workbench is a project management software application for scheduling, analysing and controlling single or multiple projects. It provides project managers with a scalable,  integrated and Web-enabled planning tool that can be used for the management of individual projects and the project portfolio as a whole.  As part of the Results Management Suite, it can be integrated with the ABT Repository and with other  components of the suite to facilitate the enterprise-wide management of large, complex project environments. AWT Workbench also enables the use of MS Project 98 for the detailed planning of projects and the data is stored in the ABT Repository. ADL Architecture Description Languages, which include UML, UniCon, LILEAnna, P++, LEAP, Aesop, WRIGHT, Rapide and MetaH, are formal languages that have emerged for representing and reasoning about software architecture. As ADL’s are an emerging technology, there is little evidence as yet of their successful commercial application. ARIS ARIS (Architecture of Integrated Information Systems) is a general concept for knowledge documentation that integrates very different modeling methods from business process documentation to the documentation of implemented applications systems.  ARIS Toolset ARIS Toolset, together with a number of optional additional components (Esys Design, Weblink, Simulation & ABC), represents an integrated approach for efficient business process management in a company. It is designed for employees who work in projects designed to change the company by improving its business processes. ARIS, which stands for Architecture of Integrated Information Systems, is established as a leading concept for describing companies. Presenting five views of a company, ARIS provides an integrated approach .For process modeling, ARIS Toolset provides a variety of methods for representing business processes. Bates PMM Bates PMM (Project Management Methodology) is a comprehensive project management methodology comprising a number of tools and techniques required for the successful delivery of a project. The methodology, the latest version of which is PMM 6.3, involves 5 major planning steps (Project Charter, Work Breakdown Structure or WBS, Work package plan, Project schedule and Project Budget). Behaviour-driven methodologies Certain methodologies, such as Booch, OBA and CRC, have been categorised  as behaviour-driven methodologies as distinct from data-driven methodologies. Booch The Booch methodology is a component modeling methodology and together with OMT is a predecessor to UML BPR Business Process Re-engineering BSDM BSDM (Business Systems Development Method) is an IBM method for enterprise modeling. CASEwise CASEwise is a developer of integrated software tools for enterprise-wide business process simulation and for data and financial analysis. Its flagship product, Corporate Modeler, is an integrated suite of business process modeling tools & methods that is used by organisations, including Fortune 1000 companies, for process reengineering and analysis. Unlike earlier modeling tools such as ADW and Intersolv, it is designed to be able to be used by all areas of an organisation. Catalysis Catalysis is a rapidly emerging UML-based approach that provides complete support for the systematic business-driven development of component-based systems from frameworks.  As a non-proprietary, OO method for CBD,  very different from other methods, Catalysis is mainly concerned with building reuse componentware and  provides clear ways of how to define components and plug them together. Having first emerged in 1991 as a formalisation of OMT, Catalysis is described  as a next generation method  for component and framework based development, building on emerging standards including UML and OMG.  Catalysis  (and the Catalysis Process) has been designed from the ground up to support the technical needs of component-based developers and is well-suited to underpinning the  RAD lifecycle.  It It has been used by Fortune 500 companies across many market sectors. (see CBD). CBD CBD (Component-Based Development) has emerged as an alternative to traditional software development. Through the reuse of software components, CBD allows the focus to be on addressing the business problem rather than on the need to develop and possibly reinvent new software. In this way, CBD can result in significant time and cost savings as well as ensuring the business issue remains the primary focus. Although CBD still requires, like traditional software development, skilled IT professionals capable of developing lines of code, it requires a greater need for experienced architects with knowledge of the components in the marketplace and with the ability to formulate effective combinations that address the business needs. CCTA CCTA (Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency) is the agency of the UK Government charged with improving the delivery of public services through the best use of IT. By playing an active role in bringing public and private organisations together, the CCTA has helped develop a number of leading methodologies for IT Management including PRINCE (for project management), CRAMM (for risk analysis & management), TAP (for IT procurement), SSADM (for system analysis and design) and ITIL (for service management). COOL: BusinessTeam Sterling Software’s data & process modeling tool formerly known as BusinessTeam COOL: Jex Sterling Software’s UML-based OOAD environment formerly known as ObjectTeam COOL: TeamWork Sterling Software’s structured analysis and design environment formerly known as TeamWork. CORE CORE (COntrolled Requirements Expression) is Vitech’s system engineering/architecting tool Corporate Modeler see CASEwise Cradle Cradle is 3SL’s system architecting tool. It is described as a systems and software engineering environment that provides through life support (from requirements capture to system implementation) for the development of large & complex systems.. CRAMM CRAMM (CCTA Risk Analysis and Management Method) is a formal and structured methodology for risk analysis and management that was developed in 1986/7 by the UK Government and BIS Applied Systems. As one of a number of risk analysis and management methodologies that have emerged around the world, CRAMM involves the assessment of assets and safeguards by an approved consultant followed by the identification of a set of suitable and justifiable security and contingency solutions  to minimise risk. CRAMM is applicable to all types of information systems and networks and can be applied throughout the information systems life-cycle. Its continued development - the current version is V3 - has seen CRAMM gaining worldwide acceptance. CRC CRC (Class Responsibility Collaborator) is a modeling process used for identifying user requirements. Rather than using diagrams to develop models, it involves the use of CRC Cards for identifying classes, responsibilities and collaborations between the objects in an object-oriented system: the CRC model describes an object-oriented system by filling in in the front and back of CRC cards.  As such, CRC cards represent a very informal approach to OO development.  Data-driven Methodologies Certain methodologies, such as OMT and Shlaer Mellor, have been categorised as data-driven methodologies as distinct from behaviour-driven methodologies. Data-driven methodologies logodata Designer/2000 see Oracle Designer/2000 DOORS DOORS (Dynamic Object Oriented Requirements System) is one of  the world’s leading requirements management tools. Developed by Quality Systems & Software (QSS), DOORS is used by over 1000 companies around the world to help manage project requirements for software development and help ensure a project’s compliance to specified standards and requirements. QSS announced the DOORS ERS (Enterprise Requirements Suite) in March 2000 as the industry’s first requirements management suite for E-Business.  DSDM DSDM (Dynamic Systems Development Method) is a framework that is used to control and enable the rapid development of information systems to tight timescales. It is a non-proprietary method that was developed by a consortium of 16 user and vendor organisations (including IBM, BT and British Airways) who met for the first time in 1994 to jointly develop and promote a public domain RAD method that could standardise the RAD process which many companies had been using in-house. DSDM enables the delivery to tight timescales by shortening the communication lines between those involved in the development (such as between  users and IT staff, between analysts and designers, between team members and between different levels of management). The principle of the DSDM approach is to address development via a series of iterations involving user input. The DSDM framework defines a life-cycle and guidelines within which existing methods and tools may be used. Independent of any particular set of tools and techniques, DSDM allows the use of a variety of different tools and techniques such as object-oriented and structured analysis & design. Moreover it can be used in a variety of environments ranging from a PC to global distributed systems. Its iterative and incremental lifecycle represents a shift away from the traditional, waterfall approach to development. This shift is made possible by new technologies which enable visualisation of the interim products of systems development. DSDM is used increasingly in business change projects and programmes in addition to application development. It is now the most commonly used RAD method in the UK and is now gaining worldwide acceptance.  (see RAD) DSDM Lifecycle DSDM is a generic process with a number of different different phases (or iterations) which include a feasibility study, business study, functional model iteration, design and build iteration and implementation.  Each phase has a minimum number of products emanating from it and transition between phases is controlled by the definition of entry preconditions, which are both management-based and product-related.  (see DSDM). Hydra Hydra is a tool designed to provide companies with a Programme Management solution.  It is developed by Hydra Development Corporation, headquartered in the UK, which defines Programme Management as ‘the co-ordinated support, planning, prioritisation and monitoring of projects to meet changing business needs.’ Hydra offers an approach to programme management by tightly integrating timesheet reports and various work plans (including project, departmental, team and personal plans) in one system. The plans, which are maintained by their respective managers, automatically update other related plans, thereby providing management with a simple, automatically updated, overview of all projects in a programme.  (see Programme Management). IEDF IEDF (Integrated Computer-Aided Manufacturing Definition) is a standard, public-domain modeling language. It is well suited for business process improvement projects due to its ability to provide a structured description of systems complicated by the interactions of people, computers and machinery. KBSI Inc. has developed automated tools to support all of the 5 IDEF methods. ITIL ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) is a set of comprehensive and consistent codes of best practice for IT Service Management developed by the CCTA in the UK. It aims to facilitate the quality management of IT services and the IT infrastructure upon which the systems and IT services are built and run. Quality is used to describe services that are matched to business needs and user requirements. ITIL comprises a number of modules which provide codes of practice to assist organisations to provide quality IT service in the face of budgetary constraints, skill shortages, system complexity, rapid change and changing user expectations. The ITIL framework of concepts for best practices has emerged,  through the involvement of leading industry consultants, experts and practictioners, has the only holistic, non-proprietary best practice framework. This has resulted in ITIL being adopted by organisations worldwide as the benchmark and  foundation for quality IT service management. Many of these organisations have developed supporting products. IT Service Management has emerged as a key professional role within many organisations as demonstrated by the growing need of IT Service Management professionals by the large IT Services companies. JAD JAD (Joint Application Design) is the use of objective-driven, decision-making workshops, involving the active participation of all stakeholder groups, in order to reach a mutually acceptable design. As such, it emphasises the strong relationship between the users and developers in the project.  JAD is used initially to scope the project and is subsequently used to capture, detail and prioritise requirements.  JAD workshops employ a facilitator to act as an impartial mediator and to take responsibility for the agenda and ‘people’ aspects of the meeting. Many JAD workshops work to the DSDM standard.  MITP MITP (Managing the Implementation of the Total Project) is IBM’s project management delivery method and is a key component of WSDDM.  IBM’s UK Project Management Consultancy Division has brought together their programme management techniques and the latest version of MITP (release 4) to create the MITP model of Programme Management. Comprising of four distinct phases (commencement, establish, manage and end), this model now provides the basis for IBM’s approach to Programme Management. (see Programme Management). Microsoft Project 98 MS Project 98 is the leading desktop planning tool and has become the standard for desktop project management software. Microsoft has plans to enter the enterprise project management market with Microsoft Project 2000. Object Team see COOL: Jex OCL OCL (The Object Constraint Language) is a subset of the Unified Modeling Language. . As its name implies, it is the expression language for the UML that allows software developers to specify all types of constraints over the objects in the model. (see UML) OMT/Rumbaugh OMT (Object Modeling Technique) is a component modeling methodology and a predecessor to UML which was developed by James Rumbaugh and co-workers. Divided into 4 phases (Object Analysis, System Design, Object Design & Implementation), it became on of the most popular object-oriented development techniques used by system and software developers for full life-cycle development. (see UML). OOSE Ivar Jacobson’s OOSE (Object-Oriented Software Engineering) is designed for object-oriented analysis and design within the context of a complete software engineering process. Combining 3 different techniques ( object-oriented programming, conceptual modeling and block design), OOSE adopts a so-called ‘use case driven approach’ in which a use case model serves as a central model of which all other models are derived. (see Use Case Model). Oracle Designer/2000 Oracle Designer/2000, Oracle’s CASE approach, is a suite of tools for business modeling, systems design and software development. Its tools (which include the Process Modeller, the Entity-Relationship Diagrammer and the Database Design Wizard) can be used for a variety of functions including: the design of data warehouses, to facilitate the strategic planning and business area analysis of the enterprise and to enable the rapid implementation of distributed client/server and Web-based systems. Paradigm Plus Computer Associates’ Paradigm Plus (aka Platinum Paradigm Plus) is a UML-based component modeling tool. Petri Nets Petri Nets is a modeling tool, first created by Carl Adam Petri in 1962, that is designed to reveal information about the structure and dynamics of the  modeled system. Petri Nets, of which there are many variations, is widely used for modeling complex systems with concurrency (ie systems in which it is possible for some events to occur concurrently).  PMM PMM is IBM’s project management method. As an evolution of IBM’s MITP method and a key component of IBM’s WSDDM approach, PMM integrates with some of IBM’s other  technical methods to provide a single way of managing project delivery.  PMM is equally suited to application development, systems integration and other types of projects such as managed operations, network and outsourcing. (see WSDDM & MITP). PowerDesigner PowerDesigner is Sybase’s design & modeling tool set  The latest version, PowerDesigner 7.0, is described as a next generation modeling tool. It combines the data modeling tools (which compete with Computer Associates’ ERwin) from its earlier versions with UML based object-modeling facilities (which compete against Rational Software’s Rose) to create an integrated object/relational analysis & design environment. PowerModel IntelliCorp’s OO development environment PPMC PPMC (PRINCE Project Manager’s Companion) is a tool that provides a fast and effective way of making the PRINCE methodology work efficiently. It provides project managers with practical advice and guidance on PRINCE procedures as well as example documents and template plans. (see PRINCE and PRINCE 2). PRINCE PRINCE (Projects in Controlled Environments) is a project management method that was established in 1989 by the CCTA (The Central Computer & Telecommunications Agency). PRINCE was based on PROMPT, an earlier project management method, which it effectively superseded on its launch in 1989. The latest version is PRINCE 2. (see PRINCE 2 & CCTA). PRINCE 2 As the successor to PRINCE, originally launched in 1989, PRINCE 2 is a structured project management method that  has an abundance of procedures and controls that enable the successful management of a project. The successful outcome of a project, which fully meets the expectations in terms of budget, time and quality, requires the organisation and co-ordination of all involved in the project. PRINCE 2 ensures that a project has an organised and controlled start, middle and end and recognises the importance of the customer in a project undertaken in a customer/supplier environment. This enables a customer to maintain control over the project without needing to be concerned with how the project is delivered by the supplier. As well as describing the people and responsibilities of those involved in a project, PRINCE 2 also describes how to manage risk, how to manage quality and how to control change in a project.  (see PRINCE). Programme Management Programme Management, as defined by the CCTA,  is ‘the is the co-ordinated management of a portfolio of projects to achieve a set of business objectives.’ A company’s strategy typically  forms the basis for a programme and is translated into a series of projects to deliver the changes necessary to support its goals. There are also a number of other definitions of programme management which typically relate to the management of a portfolio of projects that usually result in organisational change. IT Services providers and other suppliers, for example, may use the term to describe the running of many simultaneous projects, possibly for the same customer, that are managed by a specially appointed programme manager and which may or may not contribute towards the achievement of corporate goals. In such programmes, the projects may be related only in terms of timing or sharing resources, and the cancellation of one of them will not necessarily impact the company’s corporate goals. The term is also often used to describe a ‘mega projects’, such as the US’s ‘Man on the Moon Project’,  that are essentially one very large project with made up from a number of components.  (see Hydra) PROMPT PROMPT (Project Resource Organisation Management & Planning Techniques) is a project management framework developed originally by the CCTA in response to the failure of projects to meet the time and budgetary expectations stipulated in the feasibility study. PROMPT set down a number of guidelines for different stages of a project (initiated by a Feasibility Study and concluded by the Installation and Operation Stages)  to help prevent such occurrences. This ultimately led to the development of PRINCE (see PRINCE). Project Assurance Project Assurance is the provision of an independent view of how a project is progressing. PRINCE 2, for example, has 3 views of assurance: business assurance (which monitors the viability of the project in terms of costs & benefits), user assurance (checking that the users requirements are being met) and specialist (ensuring that the project is delivering an appropriate solution). RAD RAD (Rapid Application Development) is a term that originated in the early 1990’s to describe techniques which were designed to enable the speedy development of mostly GUI-based, client-server applications. The RAD movement grew in in a very unstructured manner resulting in different interpretations and approaches and no commonly agreed definition of what a RAD process was. To many, the term RAD began to include almost any use of a 4GL. Rather than being all about using advanced software tools, RAD is really about changing the way people work to deliver solutions.  RAD systems significantly reduce development time by enabling developers to quickly build working programs, typically with the provision of a set of tools to help build GUI’s, which would normally require a large development effort. Rational Unified Process see RUP Rational Rose Rational Software’s tool for visual modeling. RDD-100 & RDD.COM RDD-100 & RDD.COM are Ascent Logic Corporation’s system architecting tools Requisite Pro Rational Software’s requirements management tool Results Management Software ABT Corporation’s Results Management Software has been described as one of the most complete project management applications on the market with excellent resource and allocations management capabilities. It includes a number of components including the ABT Repository Console,  AWT Workbench, ABT Planner and ABT Team/Connect.  RM/2 RM/2 (Risk Management/2) is a risk management methodology developed by the MOD/DGICS (Ministry of Defence/Director General of Information and Communications Systems). RUP RUP (Rational Unified Process), previously known as the Rational Objectory Process (or Objectory), is Rational Software’s Web-enabled software engineering process for enhancing productivity.Taking  a use-case driven and iterative approach to software development, RUP provides a customisable framework that enables development teams to gain the full benefits of the UML and industry best practices. It goes hand-in-hand with the UML and can be used with a variety of tools, either from Rational (it is tightly integrated with Rational’s tools such as  Rose, SoDA, Requisite Pro, ClearQuest & ClearCase) or with tools of other vendors. SADT SADT (Structured Analysis and Design Technique) is a graphical approach to system description. SDW SDW (System Development Workbench) is a project management tool comprising a variety of tools ad modules that support a broad range of analysis, design and implementation techniques. Select Enterprise Select Enterprise is Princeton Softech’s CBD (component based development) toolset for modeling, designing & building next generation enterprise applications. Select SE Select SE is Princeton Softech’s data modeling  toolset. Shlaer/Mellor Shlaer /Mellor is a component modeling methodology Slate SLATE (System Level Automation Tool for Engineers) is a system engineering/architecting tool SSADM SSADM (Structured Systems Analysis & Design Methodology) was developed in the early 1980’s by LBMS, with the co-operation of the CCTA, on behalf of the UK Government in order to provide a standard methodology for its DP development projects. Aimed mainly at the development of systems on the basis of database systems rather than the development of real-time oriented software, SSADM concentrates on data flows, data models and the chronological life-cycles of entities. The current version of SSADM is Version 4.  (see CCTA). SuperProject SuperProject is the name of Computer Associates’ project management tool that provides tools for the management of multiple projects. SuperProject 5.0, the latest version of the tool that was announced by Computer Associates in May 2000, provides a Web-based enterprise-wide project management solution for eBusiness. System Architect System Architect is Popkin Software’s modeling solution which covers all areas of modeling including business process modeling, object-oriented and component modeling with UML, relational data modeling , and structured analysis and design. It is a fully-scaleable multi-user case tool that supports all of the major structured and object oriented technologies. It supports iterative development and the six DSDM lifecycle phases. Recent additions have extended its scope to include BPR (with SA/BPR supporting full implementation of the IDEF standard) and Process Management (with SA/Process Manager). Regarded as one of the world’s most comprehensive CASE tools, System Architect has been used on strategic corporate projects with over 100 developers and for the development and support of corporate enterprise models.  (see DSDM, DSDM Lifecycle and IEDF). Timeboxing Every RAD project has a fixed completion date which provides an overall timebox for the work to be completed. DSDM refines the concept of timeboxing by nesting shorter timeboxes of 2-6 weeks within the overall time frame, each of which has an immovable end-date and prioritised set of requirements assigned to it. (see RAD and DSDM). TogetherJ Object International’s visual UML modeling tool UML UML ( Unified Modeling Language) is a standard developed by the OMG for component and object modeling. It provides a powerful method for describing business processes in a manner helpful to both developers and users. Systems architects can use a UML to describe classes & methods and document their relationships. Three UML’s (Paradigm Plus, Rational Rose & System Architect) have dominated the market which also includes a number smaller vendors & products (which include Tigris’ ArgoUML, Sterling Software’s COOL:JEX, AST’s GDPro, i-Logix’ Rhapsody & Object International’s Together. Unified Process see RUP Use Case Model In modeling, a  ‘use case model’ is describes the complete functionality of a system by identifying how everything that is outside the system interacts with it. VisualAge IBM’s two VisualAge products, VisualAge Generator (VAGen) and VisualAge/ST,  are  RAD development tools that both use a visual programming approach suited to the RAD method and DSDM in particular.  Sharing the same underlying Smalltalk language, the two products are highly interoperable. Whereas VAGen is designed for Enterprise RAD (client & server), VA/ST is designed primarily for use as a client (workplace) RAD tool.  VisualAge Generator As one of IBM’s two RAD tools, VisualAge Generator is an integrated, LAN-based 4GL environment that is used for developing on-line TP applications for IBM CICS and IMS client-server systems, using OO technology for the development of GUI applications. It supports the full DSDM lifecycle framework and supports iterative development. (see VisualAge, VisualAge/ST, RAD & DSDM).  VisualAge/ST As one of IBM’s two RAD tools, VisualAge/ST is is a Smalltalk-based OO application development environment with a suite of power tools that enables the development of the client applications with complex GUI’s.  And with support for the full DSDM lifecycle framework, VA/ST also enables developers and end-users to work together in an iterative manner to interactively develop and test user interfaces and accurately map to the required business logic in a RAD style. (see VisualAge, VisualAge Generator, RAD & DSDM).  Waterfall Model The waterfall model is a model of the software development process in which the constituent phases are performed sequentially, possibly with overlap but with little or no iteration. It is modeled after a conventional engineering cycle. WSDDM WSDDM (Worldwide Solution Design and Delivery Methods) is IBM’s comprehensive approach to projects that is based on the capture, constant refinement and application of  IBM’s solution-oriented experience to ensure successful client projects. In providing IBM’s professionals with a laptop based consulting tool, it is pivotal to IBM’s ability to consistently design and deliver solutions. WSDDM includes PMM (IBM’s project management method) and BSDM (IBM’s enterprise modeling tool). The ARIS Toolset, a modeling and analysis tool used widely in SAP implementations, is an example of an external tool that has been added to WSDDM in order to provide a best end tool for BPR.   (see ARIS Toolset, BSDM, MITP &  PMM). XP XP (Extreme Programming) is an approach to software development that places emphasis upon customer satisfaction. To achieve this, XP uses an extended development team that involves managers and customers working closely with the developers. XP is designed to empower developers to confidently respond to changing customer requirements, even late in the life cycle. xUML xUML is a subset of the Unified Modeling Language.

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