Developing Information Systems Accurately: A Wholistic Approach

This textbook provides an approach to developing functional requirements for (information) systems, emphasizing the complete development path and alignment. It consists of two parts: theory and case studies, with Part I covering the underlying theory and Part II presenting illustrative examples. It is written for undergraduate students in software engineering or information systems, as well as practitioners, and includes over 150 explanatory figures and a Web site for additional course material.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 252 pages
Publication date: 22 January 2023
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

This comprehensive textbook delves into the process of developing functional requirements for information systems. It underscores the significance of considering the entire development path of a functional requirement, encompassing not only individual development steps but also their appropriate combination and alignment. The book is divided into two parts:

Part I provides a foundational theoretical framework, while Part II features a series of illustrative case studies.

Part I kicks off with an introduction to the topic (Chapter 1). It then delves into the art of crafting functional requirements that capture the conceptual dynamics of an information system (Chapters 2 and 3). Chapters 4 and 5 explore the modeling of the conceptual statics of an information system, while Chapter 6 offers guidance on implementation. Finally, Chapter 7 sheds light on how a 'technical manager can orchestrate and oversee the development process.

As an illustrative example of the theory, Part II presents three substantial case studies. The first case study (Chapter 8) showcases a step-by-step development process, starting from an informal situation sketch, progressing to a simple domain model, and culminating in a precisely specified, fully-fledged conceptual data model, which is subsequently translated into an SQL database. In the second case study (Chapter 9), the author takes on the challenge of converting the well-known non-trivial use case, Process Sale, from Larman into a textual System Sequence Description (SSD). To validate the SSD, it is subsequently translated into natural language and into a graphical SSD. The third case study (Chapter 10) demonstrates the applicability of the authors' approach to control systems and highlights the common scenario where requirements undergo continuous changes during development.

This textbook is designed specifically for (undergraduate) students studying software engineering or information technology. It offers a comprehensive and practical guide.

Weight: 433g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031168611
Edition number: 1st ed. 2023