Oriented Analysis and Design
from Martin L. Shoemaker Consulting

There are many lifecycle models for software development; but all of them (except for the dreaded Code and Fix) draw a distinction between analysis/design and implementation. Even sophisticated iterative models such as the Unified Process recognize that, though analysis and design may proceed throughout the process, there is still a sharp division between defining what gets built and actually building it.

In many situations, it is beneficial to perform the analysis and the design phases of a project as a separate project in themselves. Some advantages of this approach include:

• Analysis and design can be done by a smaller team, so you don't need to fully staff a project until the solution is well-defined.
• The analysis and design phase can be used to produce a detailed project estimate and thus an attainable schedule and budget. This may even save you from a disaster, if you find that the system is too large for your budget: while no one likes to cancel a project when the estimate proves too large for your budget, this can be far less expensive than trying and failing to produce the system within budget.
• This two-phase approach allows you more flexibility when outsourcing your development: you may choose to have a design house analyze and design your system, and then have a different contract house implement the design. This lets you weigh factors such as competence, cost and availability to find the best development plans for your needs.
• In some cases, you may have talented designers and analysts, but not enough development staff to carry out a job. In other cases, you may have a talented development staff but lack depth in analysis and design. This two-phase approach allows you to contract out just that part of the project where you need the most help.

To help you in implementing a two-phase development approach, Martin L. Shoemaker Consulting offers dedicated Object-Oriented Analysis and Design services based on the UML. We can discover, organize, and document your requirements to provide a detailed specification of your problem. Then we can produce a range of detailed designs to satisfy your requirements, each with a description of risks, benefits, and estimated costs. From there, you can select what you see as the best design, and then choose your strategy for implementing the design. (We can also provide a complete solution, from analysis to delivery.)

For more information on our OOAD services, please contact us.