EXAMINATION PAPER: ACADEMIC SESSION 2007/2008

Campus Maritime Greenwich

School Computing and Mathematical Sciences

Department Information System and Multimedia

Level Three

TITLE OF PAPER Rapid Development Methods

COURSE CODE COMP1487

Date and Time Monday 9th June 2008 (2 hours)

BAHRAIN 15:00 GREECE 15:00

HONG KONG 18:30 LONDON 13:00
MALTA 15:00 MALAYSIA 18:30
SINGAPORE 18:30 SYRIA 16:00
TANZANIA 16:00 TRINIDAD 09:30
U.A.E 17:00 ZAMBIA 15:00

You MUST answer question 1 which is worth 40%.

Marks will be awarded for your best TWO answers to the remaining THREE questions.
Each question is worth 30% marks.

CALCULATORS AND ELECTRONIC DEVICES ARE NOT PERMITTED

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Question 1 is compulsory. You MUST answer this question.

1. It is claimed that DSDM, which provides a complete framework for building and maintaining
RAD systems, is now the “de facto standard for RAD projects in the UK”. (Stapleton, 2003).
This question is concerned with the DSDM lifecycle.

a) Draw a diagram to demonstrate the main phases of the DSDM framework and the
pathways between them.
[15 marks]

b) Briefly explain the objectives of each phase of the lifecycle.

[10 marks]

c) “Active user involvement is imperative” is the first principle of DSDM. Identify and
explain the main benefits derived from this.
[15 marks]

Marks will be awarded for your two answers from Questions 2, 3 & 4.

2. The rapid changes in different technologies that underpin information systems have
led to a reassessment of the types of methodologies needed to help develop
information systems.

d) Describe the changes in software, data communications and other underlying

technologies that have led to this reassessment.
[10 marks]

e) Discuss the impact of these changes upon the system developer and businesses
requiring new information systems.
[20 marks]

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3. The use of a participative design framework to understand socio-technical

requirements is one approach undertaken in the quest for successful information
systems development.

a) Discuss, within the context of the ETHICS method, what is meant by a

participative design framework.
[20 marks]

b) Explain why a clear understanding of the socio-technical requirements of any

information system development play a vital role in ensuring its eventual success.
[10 marks]

4. The use of iterative prototyping is considered to be essential to the DSDM process

(Stapleton, 1998).

a) Give a description of each of the following DSDM Prototypes:

(i) Business prototype.
[5 marks]

(ii) Usability prototype.

[5 marks]

(iii) Capacity and Performance

[10 marks]

b) Describe, with the aid of a diagram, where and how you would choose to set up a
JAD workshop.
[10 marks]

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