An Inquiry Into The Nature Of Analysis.

Increases in the complexity and uncertainty of corporate activity indicate that the time is now appropriate to review the analysis process. This proposition forms the central theme of the thesis, i.e. to explore the nature of analysis. Initial research concentrated on the field of hard system methods, to provide a theoretical foundation for conducting analysis. However, from observations undertaken as a reflective practitioner it became clear that, even with theoretical advances, hard system methods could only make a marginal contribution to the analysis process. Hard system methods foiled to account for the feet that experts had an uncertain knowledge of the domain on which they were expected to pronounce. Contemporary literature from the fields of strategic management and organisational behaviour pose fundamental challenges to the accepted origin and nature of requirements for change. Complexity theory, however, offers a new theoretical foundation to ease the plight of the domain expert, i.e. pattern recognition. However to ensure that patterns reflect the cognitive strategies-and priorities of the domain expert, it is necessary to explore the field of cognitive psychology to appreciate the significance of the metaphors selected to construct patterns. Finally, knowledge management claims that the value of knowledge is under endless assault and argues for the domain expert to be engaged in a virtuous cycle of perpetual knowledge creation. The thesis seeks to integrate these themes to redefine the analysis process based on methodological pluralism. The key to methodological pluralism proved eventually to be the introduction of generic ‘behaviour accentuated’ patterns of analysis at the core of the selected techniques. The nature of analysis has changed radically over the last decade and significant research is required to develop themes raised in this thesis. Moreover, further work is required to disseminate the themes to the practitioner community

UML for Global Computing

Abstract. Global systems – systems which may operate over transient networks including mobile elements and in which computation itself may be mobile – are gaining in importance. Nevertheless, the means for their modelling are still underdeveloped. The Unified Modelling Language (UML) is well developed for convenient modelling of behavior, but is not yet so useful for modelling aspects of design relevant to global systems, such as mobility. Non-functional requirements such as performance and security also assume an increased importance in the context of global systems, and here too, UML requires enhancement. In this paper we present an extension to UML class, sequence and activity diagrams to model mobile systems. We also describe extensions to model performance and security characteristics. We will describe how, wherever possible, we reuse existing work in these areas.

A Framework for Assessing Object-Oriented Analysis Methods

Research into the literature of object-oriented analysis methods finds no evidence of any framework available which might provide a basis for understanding individual object-oriented analysis methods. In order to overcome this deficiency, we establish a framework which focuses on the analysis features of object-oriented methods as well as the logical connections among these features and which enables people to understand object-oriented analysis methods individually by assessing these methods in an objective and systematic way. The definition of the framework is based upon the study of object-oriented analysis methods available in a wide range. Four representative object-oriented analysis methods are in particular used in a specific application in the study in order to identify the generic features of object-oriented analysis methods. Two aspects (i.e., 'what' and 'how' aspects) of analysis methods are found to be fundamental in the methods and they are emphasised by this framework. The essential features of the methods are therefore identified and assessed upon the two aspects, by means of the framework. Furthermore a process including the approach and criteria is provided for managing the assessment of the methods. Ten object-oriented analysis methods available have been assessed individually using this framework. The processes of assessing five of the methods are shown in the thesis in detail, as the examples of applying the framework. In addition, the assessment of the other five methods is also outlined and included as it may be useful for people to understand these methods from different perspectives

Conplan : construction planning and buildability evaluation in an integrated and intelligent construction environment

The lack of a buildability evaluation at the design stage coupled with theseparation of the design and construction processes have been acknowledged tocause buildability problems on site. Normally, designers view of their task, is todevelop a masterpiece which satisfies the functional requirements of a projectwhile constructors consider their task as construction works, which need to becompleted at the lowest price. No significant efforts have been made to bring thedesign and construction processes together to facilitate the integration ofinformation for the improvement of the overall project performance.This study proposes an integrated framework for construction planning which iscapable of exchanging information with other construction disciplines andgenerating planning information in an integrated construction environment.Planning data and processes were first modelled using object oriented analysismethodology, i.e. Martin (1993), where the emphasis was placed on both the dataand its behaviour. This development was carried out within a general integratedframework which facilitates the integration between the various constructionapplication across the project life cycle. The developed models highlight theimportance and the role of the planning process which is vital in providingrelevant information to other disciplines.Moreover, the study proposes a quantitative approach for a buildabilityevaluation based on the information available within the integrated environment.It evaluates the design solutions from the construction view, as outlined in the construction plan. The qualitative principles of buildability improvements wereadopted to formalise this approach. A combination of weightings and scoreswere assigned to building elements to reflect their buildability factors.The developed data and process models, were implemented in an object orientedenvironment as part of a single integrated construction environment SPACE(Simultaneous Prototyping for An Integrated Construction Environment) whereCONPLAN (Intelligent CONstruction PLANning for design rationalisation) isone of the SPACE modules. CONPLAN automatically generates theconstruction planning information and the buildability reports. The former canbe dynamically accessed either through a planning package or visualised in avirtual space using a virtual reality package. The buildability reports can beeither displayed in a textual or graphical format