Experiences integrating object-oriented analysis with Joint Application Development (JAD)

Abstract

Integrating object-oriented analysis (OOA) modeling techniques with Joint Application Development (JAD) concepts significantly improves the quality of the system being developed, while reducing the cost and schedule risks of the effort. This paper describes experiences applying these technologies to develop a prototype port management information and communication system. The resulting system has become the model for applications within 27 ports and integrates the operations among 17 countries. The integration of the OOA and JAD techniques was instrumental in overcoming the technical, organizational, geographical, and cultural challenges of this effort. The paper highlights how OOA and JAD processes contributed to improved communication, to conflict resolution, and to establishing baselines for requirements and design architectures. The development process applied a rapid prototyping life cycle and JAD concepts to ensure effective user involvement and feedback. The combination of OOA and JAD intimately involved clients and users in the modeling of requirements and in the evolution of the system architecture.