Evaluation of design methodologies

This proposal seeks to evaluate the effects of various design methodologies on the development and maintenance of computer systems. More specifically, an experiment is proposed to test the hypothesis that the cost of making changes to computer systems is influenced by the application area of the system and by the design methodology employed in its development. Proponents of various design methodologies will develop, from user requirements, solutions to selected problems in each of four application areas. After acceptance of the solutions by an independent contractor, requests for changes will be given to each design methodology group. Careful records of the costs of initial development and subsequent modifications will be kept. These costs, other measures taken on the resulting products, and a post activity conference will form the basis for evaluation the experiment and the participating methodologies.