Summary
Rapid Application Development is a team-based model that uses a large group method to fasten the information systems development and gives a useful information system that functions. Their final result is the new information system. The companies use this technique to minimize the cost and the development time and to raise their chance of success.
This process that is the RAD gives the users chances to test their working model earlier and if it meets their needs. The project team makes use of the CASE tools to make the prototype and create a flow of documentation.
It consists of four stages which include:
The user design
Here the user communicates with the systems analysts and designs models and prototypes which represent the system processes inputs and outputs. This group makes their work by using JAD techniques and CASE tools to transform user needs into working models.
The requirement planning
In this stage, the managers, the users, and all the IT staff members get to merge their views by discussing and coming to an agreement on the business requirements and the system needs since it combines elements of system planning and analysis.
Cutover
This stage is as that the last task of the SDLC implementation stage in which the new system is made, delivered, and assigned the task.
Construction
This stage pays attention to program and application development jobs related to the SDLC. In RAD, the users contribute and can even give their opinion on changes to be done or to better as the real screens or reports are designed.
RAD Advantages and Disadvantages
The key advantage is that the systems can be designed faster at a low cost while the disadvantaged part of it is that there is a risk since the systems might work well in a short term, thus making the corporate not meet their long term objectives for the system. Another disadvantage is that the required period might give less time to design consistent, quality, and design rules.
Modeling Tools and Techniques
Modelling is a graphical method that represents the system at different stages of development. During modelling, a variety of tools can be used to explain the business needs and user interaction with the system.
The tools used include the CASE Tools which is used to document the functioning of the business, the reasons as to why it functions in that manner and who does the very task and how it is done. Also to help them understand the system needs, the analysts use what is known as functional decomposition diagrams which gives an overview of the business and the modelling language, that defines how people interact with the system.