The Application of Prototyping to Systems Development: A Rationale and Model

Abstract

Abstract:While prototyping has become an important topic in systems analysis and design, several questions remain unanswered. This paper addresses issues related to the implementation and function of prototyping in the traditional systems development life cycle. A definition of prototyping and a theoretical justification of the approach are developed. Finally, a model is presented which assists analysts and users in determining when, and to what extent, to use prototyping either along with or as a replacement for traditional systems development techniques.Key Words and Phrases: Prototypingsystems developmentmanagerial learning Additional informationNotes on contributorsRobert P. CervenyRobert P. Cerveny is an Associate Professor of Management Science and Systems in the School of Management, State University of New York at Buffalo. He holds a Ph.D. degree from the University of Texas at Austin. He has been involved in many information systems projects, ranging from the establishment of an information system in a Health Systems Agency to a National Institutes of Health study of the effects of the introduction of adenine on the blood delivery system in the United States. He has also been an active consultant in the area of installing information systems for small businesses. He has had articles published in several journals, including Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Urban Systems, Interface, Risk Management, and Information and Management, Systems, Objectives, and Solutions. His current research interests include information system implementation issues and requirements analysis. He is a member of the Decision Sciences Institute and The Institute for Management Science.Edward J. GarrityEdward J. Garrity is a doctoral student in Management Information Systems at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Previously, Mr. Garrity worked as an analyst/programmer for a major international commercial bank. He is also a member of the Decision Sciences Institute. His current research interests include prototying, systems design, logic programming, and the application of artificial intelligence to data base management systems and decision support systems.G. Lawrence SandersG. Lawrence Sanders is an Assistant Professor of Management Systems at the State University of New York at Buffalo. He holds a D.B. A. degree from Texas Tech University. His current research interests include mis/dss (management information systems/decision support systems) implementation, multi-criteria decision making, systems analysis for decision support and expert systems applications, and systems evaluation. He has worked as a systems analyst and engaged in several consulting projects in the information systems area. His papers have appeared in several journals including MIS Quarterly, Decision Sciences, Information and Management, Systems, Objectives, and Solutions, and Computers and Industrial Engineering.