Exercise 2

Finding some common ground
a. Describe the steps involved with the Rapid Evolutionary Prototyping Approach as it applies to developing a Web application. How is it related to agile development?

According to Satzinger (2007) one of the main objectives in is to adapt in hasty changing business and technological environment. Consequently system developers look for the ways to speed the development process in application development. Rapid Evolutionary Prototyping Approach or RAD is suitable approach for small projects because it eases’ handling project management and it is allows business client to see apparent costs associated with web site development (Eustace , 2009).

Connell & Shafer (1989) describes several and quite different types of approaches in RAD:

1. Throwaway Prototypes. This prototype helps in requirement analysis or in design and thrown away.
2. Nonfunctioning Mockup. This type of mock-ups is unique type of prototype where no data is process but only system surface is created.
3. Quick and Dirty Prototypes. This type of prototype can be described as agile development, where no software engineering practices are followed and shown to the customer. It will be changing gradually until the client accepts it.
4. Detail Design Driven Prototype. This prototype will include all the complete details before implementation.

Connell & Shafer (1989) defines an Evolutionary Rapid Prototype as:

An easily modifiable and extensible working model of a proposed system, not necessarily representative of the complete system, which provides users of the application with a physical representation of key parts of the system prior to implementation. Alternatively, as an easily built, easily modifiable, ultimately extensible, partially specified, working model of the primary aspects of the proposed system.

References:

Connell, J.L. & Shafer, L. (1989). Structured Rapid Prototyping : An Evolutionary Approach to Software Development. Yourdon: Press Computing Series http://phillips.rmc.ca/courses/493-1998/lectures/rapid-prototyping/rapid-prototyping.html

Eustace, K (2009). Business to business systems. Wagga Wagga: Charles Stuart University

Satzinger, J., Jackson, R. & Burd, S.(2007). System analysis and design in changin world.(4th ed.) Canada: Thompson Course Technology.