Application Management Framework: Development Approaches, Issues, and Criteria

1. Chapter 11 Managing Application Development

2. Agenda • Application management framework • Application management issues • Criteria for development approach • Development approach • IS & development approach • System factory tasks • Methods & tools

3. Application Management Framework • Objectives and principles for IS development & management • Policies, standards, & guidelines for IS development & support • Framework for the development or acquisition of IS: methods, tools, procedures • Infrastructure projects to re-tool the development framework: training, education, & support

4. Application Management Issues • Application backlog • Maintenance burden • IS development process • IS for business not for IT • End user computing • Transition • Mainframe to client/server • Graphical user interface • Traditional systems development life cycle (SDLC)/object oriented

5. Criteria for Development Approach • Economic • Technical • Schedule • Operational • Functional complexity • Development skill • Priority • Benefits & risks • Availability • Others?

6. Development Approach • In house • IS/IT professional • End user • Out source • Individual consulting • Consulting firm or software company • Off the shelf software package

7. IS & Development Approach • High potential • Strategic • Key operational: SDLC or integrated application packages • Support: packaged proprietary software

8. High Potential - Methods • Rapid development user-oriented tools/prototyping • New technology or new development tools

9. High Potential - Characteristics • Evaluate technology or business idea • Independent –integration and data management not appropriate • Rapid low cost iterative development • Business champion • End user development or user/IS team • New skills/skills transfer • Focused pilots/broad potential

10. Strategic - Methods • Advanced database technology • Sophisticated application generator • SDLC/prototyping

11. Strategic - Characteristics • Based on the corporate model • Fast & flexible development approach • Close partnership between users & IS professionals/new skills • Complex applications in modular • Creating a new business process • External links • Interconnect with key operational • Executive support • Limited package applicability

12. Key Operational - Methods • System development life cycle • Software engineer • Corporate data management • Industry specific application packages • Application generators/CASE/SAP • Reengineering

13. Key Operational - Characteristics • Well designed • Efficient, robust, long life • Complex and integrated, based on corporate model • Strict change control procedure • High IS and user’s skills and knowledge

14. Support - Methods • Standard packages • Disinvestment/third party support

15. Support - Characteristics • Minimum intervention • Minimum maintenance • IS skills – package selection and implementation / essential interfaces / vendor management • Compromise business needs rather than modify package • Integration no vital • Efficient/low risk

16. System Factory Tasks • Develop system using advanced development tools • Work with end user using prototyping • End user support • Information services • Select, configure, and implement package • Upgrade, re-engineer or retrofit systems • Develop and implement infrastructure improvements

17. Methods and Tools • Object oriented software • Graphical user interfaces • Software engineering • Software management tools: CASE • Rapid application development & prototyping

18. Points to Remember • Application management framework • Application management issues • Criteria for development approach • Development approach • IS & development approach • System factory tasks • Methods & tools