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This paper presents LinksMultiple's methodology for developing
web-enabled applications. It indicates the phases involved in development and
outlines the deliverables at the end of each phase. For small website development
projects that most eBay shops and sellers might want to undertake, it’s not
really necessary to stick rigidly to all the methods and techniques detailed
in these papers. But they are a good source of tips and hints used by the
“big boys”. We hope they will be useful to fellow eBayers!
Methodology
LinksMultiple follows its proprietary
methodology that incorporates the best practices of Rapid Application
Development (RAD), the Waterfall approach and iterative prototype approach.
Our methodology seamlessly integrates the iterative nature of prototyping
with the controlled systematic approach of the Waterfall methodology to
provide a framework for the Rapid
Development of incremental versions of the system. Our approach
extensively leverages our repository of reusable components that have been
developed in-house for rapid development. This methodology is a part of LinksMultiple’s Software Engineering Life Cycle (SELC)
process.
Rapid
Application Development (RAD)
LinksMultiple’s methodology
extensively uses the RAD methodology to develop rapid iterative prototypes
that evolve to the final application.
The
RAD (Rapid Application Development) model enables rapid development of high
quality products and applications. The key factors in the delivery of
solutions through this approach are tools, people (technical, functional and
user community), methodologies (JAD, JRP and use cases) and the quality
processes that govern the project. The four phases of the approach are
1.
Requirements planning (JRP, use cases)
2.
User Design (JAD, functional prototyping)
3.
Construction
4.
Implementation
Joint
Requirements Planning
Joint
Requirements Planning (JRP) Sessions are non-technical workshops for the purpose
of gathering the user requirements. The focus of these sessions is the
business need and not the underlying systems. The participants are
business/domain experts, end users and the system designers.
The benefits that accrue through the use of
JRP sessions are
5.
Involvement of business experts during the planning
stage
6.
Definition of key requirements at an early phase
7.
Quick resolution of user issues
The
participants prepare use cases, which are models that help to define, explain
and represent complex requirements.
Joint
Application Development
Joint
Application Development (JAD) Sessions involve the detailed design of the
envisioned system. The participants at this stage include the development
team in addition to the teams involved in the JRP sessions. The most
significant benefit of JAD sessions is the direct impact on process
productivity during later stages.
Deliverables
at the end of the JAD phase are logical data models, dataflow diagrams and
functional prototypes of the envisioned system.
Construction
Construction
begins soon after the completion of the design phase. The key factors for
these stages are: -
8.
Innovation and speed
9.
Close networking between team members and
10.
Effective communication at all points
The
construction of the system is achieved through the iterative prototyping
approach depicted in the Spiral Prototypic
Model.
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