The Art of Analysis

In any software project the analysis stage is vital to the success of the project. This book provides a thorough introduction to analysis and where it fits into the software engineering process. The author applies his many years of experience - as both a manager of software projects and as a consultant to numerous companies - to illustrate successful techniques and identify potential pitfalls. Based on courses at Columbia University for a diverse audience of students and professionals, the author is concerned throughout to emphasise the stages of analysis and to identify many alternative modelling tools that an analyst can use. Particular emphasis is placed on joint application development and on prototyping. Readers are assumed to have a reasonable understanding of computer concepts and terminology, making this suitable for a first-level analysis course or for information systems professionals who need an in-depth understanding of the principles of the analysis and design process.