THE SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT PROCESS: A DATA-THEORETIC APPROACH

This paper describes the logical design of a data base to support the software development process by analyzing the information content of common systems analysis techniques such as IBM\u27s Business Systems Planning, structured analysis, structured design, and data base design. It is shown that these techniques can be represented in a single data base schema. The data base can be extended to allow for project control

A MATHEMATICAL PROGRAMMING GENERATOR SYSTEM

This paper describes a mathematical programming generator that interprets problem statements written in the algebraic notation found in journal articles and text-books and outputs statements in the 'MPS formatâ used by IBMâs MPSX mathematical programming system. The system has been implemented in the APL programming language. Although originally designed for stand-alone use, it is currently being used as a component in an expert system that will help users formulate large linear programming models, The paper describes the syntax of the problem definition language and gives some illustrative examples. There are several unique features. First, the user can define objective function, constraint and right-hand-side coefficients as APL expressions. This leads to concise problem statements and also reduces data storage and processing requirements. Second, the system supports an integrated data base query language. Finally, there are a number of aids for model maintenance and sensitivity analysis. The last section of the paper describes the use of MPGEN in the expert system context.Information Systems Working Papers Serie

SOFTWARE REUSE: ISSUES AND RESEARCH DIRECTIONS

Software reuse has been considered as a means to help solve the software development crisis. This paper surveys recent work based on the broad framework of software reusability research, and suggests directions for future research. We address general, technical, and non-technical issues of software reuse, and conclude that reuse needs to be viewed in the context of a total systems approach. We also envision a software system or reuse support system(RSS) that helps document and elucidate existing application systems so that the ideas and design decisions involved in their creation can be reused either in the context of maintenance or when building new systems.Information Systems Working Papers Serie

SOFTWARE REUSE: SURVEY AND RESEARCH DIRECTIONS

Software reuse is the use of software resources from all stages of the software development process in new applications. Given the high cost and difficulty of developing high quality software, the idea of capitalizing on previous software investments is appealing. However, software reuse has not been as effective as expected and has not been very broadly or systematically used in industry. This paper surveys recent software reuse research using a framework that helps identify and organize the many factors that must be considered to achieve the benefits of software reuse in practice. We argue that software reuse needs to be viewed in the context of a total systems approach that addresses a broad range of technical, economic, managerial, organizational and legal issues and conclude with a summary of the major research issues in each of these areas.Information Systems Working Papers Serie

Recommendation Systems: Decision Support for the Information Economy

Information Systems Working Papers Serie

HYPERTEXT-BASED RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT FOR DSS

There is a need for integrated access to a wide range of information related to the development and use of DSS in organizations. This information comes in many forms, both formal and informal, and is highly interrelated. To handle this complex information base, we argue that a separate relationship management component should be added to the three traditional components of a DSS (namely, the database, user interface and model management systems). The role of the relationship management component is to relieve DSS application programs of the need to maintain and provide access to the complex set of relationships that can exist between elements in the application domain. We discuss the kinds of information and relationships that arise during the development and use of a DSS, outline the requirements for an independent subsystem to manage this information base, and propose the use of an extended hypertext software system, H+, to simultaneously handle relationship management and provide an interesting and useful interface to users.Information Systems Working Papers Serie

A MODEL FOR PEFORMANCE EVALUATION OF INTERACTIVE SYSTEMS

We describe a quantitative model for the performance evaluation of interactive computer systems. The approach involves the development of an "interaction graph" or state transition diagram to describe the user-machine interaction. Given numerical data on transition times and probabilities, the model can be used to perform sensitivity analyses of changes in system parameters and user behavior. To illustrate the model, we use empirical data from field and laboratory experiments designed to compare a prototype natural language query system with a formal (relational) query system. The general approach is applicable in a broad range of other contexts including bibliographic retrieval and the analysis of web-log data. It should be of interest to both system developers and potential users of these systems.Information Systems Working Papers Serie

RESEARCH PROGRESS IN MIS: THE CENTER FOR RESEARCH ON INFORMATION SYSTEMS NEW YORK UNIVERSITY

Information Systems Working Papers Serie