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The architecture and design of a collaborative environment for systems definition

Authors:

Jay F. NunamakerAuthors Info & Claims

ACM SIGMIS Database: the DATABASE for Advances in Information Systems, Volume 22, Issue 1-2

Pages 22 - 29

https://doi.org/10.1145/110790.110795

Published: 01 February 1991 Publication History

Abstract

Defining systems requirements and specifications is a collaborative effort among managers, users, and systems developers. The difficulty of systems definition is caused by the human's limited cognitive capabilities, that is compounded by the complexity of group communication and coordination processes. Current system analysis methodologies are first evaluated regarding to the level of support to users. Since systems definition is a knowledge-intensive activity, the knowledge contents and structures employed in systems definition are discussed. For any large-scale system, no one person possesses all the knowledge that is needed, therefore, the authors proposed a collaborative approach to systems definition. The use of a group decision support system (GDSS) for systems definition is first described and limitations of the current GDSS are identified. The architecture and design of a collaborative computer-aided software engineering (CASE) environment, called C-CASE, is then discussed. C-CASE can be used to assist users in defining the requirements of their organization and information systems as well as to analyze the consistency and completeness of the requirements. C-CASE integrates GDSS and CASE such that users can actively participate in the requirements elicitation process. Users can use the metasystem capability of C-CASE to define domain specific systems definition languages, which are adaptable to different systems development settings. An example of using C-CASE in a collaborative environment is given. The implications C-CASE and the authors' ongoing research are also discussed.

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Cited By

Kontio JBragge JLehtola L(2008)The Focus Group Method as an Empirical Tool in Software EngineeringGuide to Advanced Empirical Software Engineering10.1007/978-1-84800-044-5_4(93-116)Online publication date: 2008
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84800-044-5_4
Robinson WPawlowski SVolkov V(2003)Requirements interaction managementACM Computing Surveys10.1145/857076.85707935:2(132-190)Online publication date: 1-Jun-2003
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/857076.857079
Robinson WPawlowski S(1999)Managing Requirements Inconsistency with Development Goal MonitorsIEEE Transactions on Software Engineering10.1109/32.82441125:6(816-835)Online publication date: 1-Nov-1999
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1109/32.824411
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Published: 01 February 1991

Published in SIGMIS Volume 22, Issue 1-2

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Cited By

Kontio JBragge JLehtola L(2008)The Focus Group Method as an Empirical Tool in Software EngineeringGuide to Advanced Empirical Software Engineering10.1007/978-1-84800-044-5_4(93-116)Online publication date: 2008
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84800-044-5_4
Robinson WPawlowski SVolkov V(2003)Requirements interaction managementACM Computing Surveys10.1145/857076.85707935:2(132-190)Online publication date: 1-Jun-2003
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/857076.857079
Robinson WPawlowski S(1999)Managing Requirements Inconsistency with Development Goal MonitorsIEEE Transactions on Software Engineering10.1109/32.82441125:6(816-835)Online publication date: 1-Nov-1999
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1109/32.824411
Chen MSibley E(1994)Using IDEF0 in Functional Economic AnalysisSoftware Engineering Economics and Declining Budgets10.1007/978-3-642-78878-9_10(167-182)Online publication date: 1994
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-78878-9_10
Liou YChen M(1993)Integrating group support systems, joint application development, and computer-aided software engineering for requirements specification[1993] Proceedings of the Twenty-sixth Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences10.1109/HICSS.1993.284291(4-12)Online publication date: 1993
https://doi.org/10.1109/HICSS.1993.284291
Liou YChen M(1993)Using group support systems and joint application development for requirements specificationJournal of Management Information Systems10.1080/07421222.1993.1151800910:3(25-41)Online publication date: 1-Dec-1993
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Wanninger LDickson G(1992)GRIP-group requirement identification process: the integration of GDSS technology into the systems development life cycleProceedings of the Twenty-Fifth Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences10.1109/HICSS.1992.183499(310-319 vol.3)Online publication date: 1992
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Wanninger L(1992)The Minnesota Imaging Project research application for understanding an emerging technologyProceedings of the Twenty-Fifth Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences10.1109/HICSS.1992.183371(410-419 vol.4)Online publication date: 1992
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Chen MNorman R(1992)A Framework for Integrated CASEIEEE Software10.1109/52.1205979:2(18-22)Online publication date: 1-Mar-1992
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Chen MLiou YWeber E(1992)Developing intelligent organizations: A context‐based approach to individual and organizational effectivenessJournal of Organizational Computing10.1080/109193992095401812:2(181-202)Online publication date: Jan-1992
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