PTS: 1 REF: 19 TOP: Critical Thinking
2. What are the disadvantages of each of the three system development methods?
ANS:
With structured analysis, changes can be costly, especially in later phases. Requirements are defined early, and can change during development. Users might not be able to describe their needs until they can see examples of features and functions. With object-oriented analysis, this somewhat newer method might be less familiar to development team members. Interaction of objects and classes can be complex in larger systems. With agile/adaptive methods, team members need a high level of technical and communications skills. Lack of structure and documentation can introduce risk factors. Overall project might be subject to scope change as user requirements change.
PTS: 1 REF: 21 TOP: Critical Thinking
3. Discuss two advantages and disadvantages of agile methods.
ANS:
Agile methods can allow developers to be much more flexible and responsive, but can be riskier than more traditional methods. Without a detailed set of system requirements, certain features requested by some users might not be consistent with the company’s larger game plan.
Iterations produce feedback and enhancements that enable the team to reach the overall project goal. However, a long series of iterations might actually add to project costs and development time.
PTS: 1 REF: 26 TOP: Critical Thinking
CASE
Critical Thinking Questions
Case 1-1
Roark has just joined the company and in his role as lead analyst, he will be responsible for determining which systems development method the team uses to create the new application for a major medical supplier.
1. After Roark has spent a week getting to know the members of the team, including their strengths and weaknesses, and what has worked well (and not so well) for this particular team in the past, one theme keeps recurring: the team has particularly weak communications skills. Which of the following methods, then, is he least likely to use, given what he knows about the disadvantages of each method?
a.structured analysis
b.agile/adaptive methods
c.object-oriented analysis
d.rapid application development
ANS:
B
PTS: 1 REF: 21 TOP: Critical Thinking
2. It is a new day at the firm. Roark has been in place for a few weeks, strengthening the communications skills of his employees, getting them to work much better together. Now, the challenge that he faces is not an internal one; it lies with the client, which is increasingly incapable of sticking with decisions. Roark, based on his past experience with other clients like this, is afraid that the client will throw them a curveball and want to make changes late in the game — but that they also will be unwilling to absorb the costs of those changes. For this reason, Roark eliminates which of the following methods of development?
a.structured analysis
b.agile/adaptive methods
c.object-oriented analysis
d.rapid application development
ANS:
A
PTS: 1 REF: 21 TOP: Critical Thinking