REFLEX is a working method for developing information systems starting with information strategy continuing with business analysis and concluded by systems development and maintenance. The method is well proven and used by Programator and its customers, including many of the largest corporations in Scandinavia and northern Europe, for more than twenty years. The method has been continuously enhanced to embrace the use of modern tools for documentation and prototyping. DEFT is a CASE tool for the Macintosh developed by DEFT INC., Canada, marketed in northern Europe by Infotool, Stockholm. DEFT supports the REFLEX method. DEFT is easy to use and provides the analyst with documentation and the results from the analysis can be transferred into the prototyping stage automatically. The talk includes a survey of the REFLEX method as used for analysis and development supported by DEFT. Experiences from a development project at The Swedish Tourist Board are described. Results from this project include a better user participation, a more creative way of systems development, less efforts in manpower and reduced development time and of course a much better documentation.
THE OBJECTIVE IS INCREASED PROFIT ABILITY! In today's business world, well functioning information systems arc more impork1ntthan ever. Information is necessary to rationalize routine tasks, to improve logistics, to minimize inventory costs, to bring responsibility and authority closer to the clients. Information is necessary for the development of the business, to follow up on marke ting slIategies, for the development of new services and products, etc.
Today, information is slIategieally one of the most impork1nt competitive resources. The problem lies in providing information at the right time and at the right price.
Therefore, we always must weigh benefits against costs whether we arc working with specifying priorities, develop ment, usage or maintenance of computer systems or computer production. Focusing on profiLability is a main feature in the cooperation with management, end users and computer professionals.
The road to profitability is a structUl'ed working method supported by effecti ve tools - REFLEX with DEFT Programator has more d,an twenty years of experience as computer consullants. A working medlOd has been developed and refined aiming towards profik1ble information processing, while ensuring high quality in each link of the development chain.
Quality means selecting the right function, the right technology and the right usage at the right time and at the right price. The method which have been tested and developed to fulfill these requirements is called REFLEX. REFLEX is short for REsulls orientation and FLEXibility.
REFLEX can be used to describe Programator's basic working philosophy. It consists of four blocks: Infonnation SlIategy, Business Analysis, Development and Maintenance. REFLEX also has a model for Project and Quality
Each block has a general Objective, decision points, working process, tcchniques and help facilities. The client will usc only those parts which will fit his actual requirements. He may utilize his own working tcchniques if dley arc available and function well. A projcct or an assignment may utilize the whole REFLEX concept, or only the wor king tcchniques within one separate pan.
Deft is a CASE-tool that supports Renex. The tool is easy to use and gives documentation in most of the steps in dIe method-chain. Deft gives higher quality in the system develoJlment process. The end user can be active in the work and ascertain that they get the system dlCy want to have. (
Reflex with Modern Tools Today, system development is more often than before Systems analysis and development can be carricd carried out in environments where modern tools are out more gradually and iterativcly in REFLEX than available. Fourth Generation Tools (4GT's) are traditionally possible. In order to test technical or included in the realm of modern tools, sometimes user solutions, prototypes are constructed to support supplemented WiOl CASE tools as computer support decisions regarding system design. Simplification is for analysis and development. attained, since certain steps can be combined. In ad dition, the tool itself performs many operations that used to be done by hand.
methodological working procedurcs. Therefore
tion - a user adapted method complete with all O,e new possibilites. The end user's role is enhanced and the computer itself is utilized more during the system development process.
REFLEX with modern tools has as its moUo 010 following for system developmet: -Quick andeffective - Provides easy computer system maintenance - Correct functional and technical quality Pro
INGRES
Thissegment consists of thoseadaptat ions that have been made in REFLEX Ana ly sis, Development andMain tenances and appl ied to system development through tile use of modern tools and act ive end user invo Ivement.
Til is segment describes how thedirrerent tools can best beused in practice. Specific methodand tool adaptations already exist for some 4G tools and CASE -tools, sue/las INGRESandDEFT. They con tain examp les of documenta t ion and tai loredmethod in structions for the tools. For each step in themet/lodan explanation isgivenhow to best use tile too I and what to do if the tool does not support the metllOd. Furtller ...J tool adaptat ionsarebeing developed.
4
ment process. The CASE tools that exist today have become complements to those 4G tools 013tlack ana lysis support, or else they are independent products which ean be combined with differentlools. CASE toolsshouldhave the fol lowing capab iii ties: • Graphical analysis support • Data dictionary support • Analysislverificationrules .'nteractiveprototypingtools • Automatic documentation •
phascs ill system development. DEFf rUIlS 011 the
ments such as !NGRES, ADABAS, ORACLE, Rdb,
way to MIMER is also under devlopment. DEFf is easy to use and is compatible WiOl most Macintosh word processing and graphics programs. Today Deft produces screens and data definition-syntax for Ole
DEFT CASE tool Inc It/des: • Graph Ica I ana II'S is support • Data flow editors, programm ing struc ture edi tors, ent it I' re lat ionship dia gramming and screen format editors • Data dictionary for SOL definitions • Analysislverificationmodule • Automaticdocumentation • Gateway to host computer DEFT
\
DATA DATABASE ......
activities - database construction and program creation.
When working Wi~l development, it is imp0rlanllO have a positive working environment and the correct technical conditions.
lively, symbolizcd by lhe spiral in lhe middle. We calilhis for proIOlyping!prOlo-cyciing.
and documented wilhin lhe 4G 1001 until lhe prototype and/or a production system is completed.
stem's data structure as well as data processing functions -the foundation upon which databases and programs will be buill.
After successive developmenl nnd modification, lhe prototype appronches completion and the finished system cao be installed. During ilS lifetime the syslem is supervised and subject to continuous maintenance. This provides for [urUlcr development of the system in step with changes occurring in the business itself.
Why REFLEX with DEFT? The following effecls and resulls arc a1tained: functionality arc investigated and tested early during the analysis. ( • • • •
area is found. This is done Ihrough busi ness analysis. where each business prob lem is backed by the correct compUlcr solution.
standmg and sk.llto fully ulilize the com puler syslem. This is reached through active user participation during all deve lopment phases.
ued introduclion period, since Ihe end users can [ofm and lest organizational
and decision-makmg warrant a hIgh quality compuLer system. Unknown and critical parts in respcctlo technology or
working procedures provide a basis for planning and follow-up.
users cooperate during the whole develop menl process, their combined competence is utilized morc efficiently than in traditio nal syslem development.
zed and therefore can be carried out quickly. This is aHained by Ihe effecti ve utilization of 100is and an early de finition of guidelines, general concepls and standards.
Mainlenance is facilitated by building in a flexible and well documented sys tem structure. This structure is based upon how responsibilily, aUlhorily and work is organized in the business. Active user participation also results in higher competence in system maintenance
optimal for the business. Since speeificalions arc nol fixed from the beginning, Ihey can be optimized by
an early stage see the flaws and deficiencies, and slale his demands upon the design. It is much easier for the driver to be knowledgable about a langible produel lhan in complicated descriptions on paper of the planned final produe!.
trimmed and lested finished produc!. This is whal we call protocyeling. Somelimes the differences bel ween Ihe prototype and Ihe final objeclive 'tre so large, or Ih. else Ihe operaling environment is another, so tllal production is staned from the beginning again.
common clem and thoroughly tested user specifications.
----====: Steering Towards the Same Objective It is vcry imparlant that objectives and conditions arc defined for pro lOtyping, before the actual deve lopmenttakes place. It is important that all are striving towards the same goal, and that only the proper parts of the system become an imegral part of the prototype. In
A Positive Project Environment
facilitate work is a quite obviolls but often forgollen measure. In REFLEX wilh Modem tools we place much emp hasis on this point in order to increase efficiency and to simplify developmen In the development and production en vironment, the tools arc modified and supplemented while at the same time standards, guidelines and general concepts are defined. Resulting expc riences are systematically utilized. Re quirements are specified for the upcoming environment. All this is don whh the aim in mind 10 optimize work l effort in the procedural steps to come. In ordcr to work efficiently, the correct work procedures must be applied and the end users must be given the timc and Ole possibilily to engage themselves in the pro ject. Furthermore, all practical details must be settled so Olat cnd users and computer professionals can cooperate well and Ihal deve lopmenl fiows smoothly. ( -==~¥::~:: J
almost impossible. Therefore quality must be designed into the system during development.
foundations of REFLEX with Deft, provides a completely different possibility for checks and verification Hum what traditionnl system develop· ment allows. Therefore a quality control and decision making module has been added to Ulis procedure.
Functional verification Technical verification • ( (
Business Review Environmental Review Design Review
SYSTEM I J
DATA system ReviewT3 Prototype / DATABASE @ •
PROTOTYP Operations Review
PREVIEW SYSTEM • • • Environmental Review System / protype Review Operations Review The most important check and review points arc shown in the diagram above, to which decision-making points nrc also auached. The different circles designate the succcsive testing procedure wilhin each phm;e. Where the circles meet, the respective decision~making points are found. If a decision is mude to approve a result, olle continues into the next circle where new decisions afC made. If a result is nol approved of, t.hen another round of developmenL and decision making is begun. REFLEX with DEFT
PRODUCTION PROTOTYPE/SYSTEM ( Experiences from a Project carried out at the Swedish Tourist Board Description of the Company and their situation The Swedish Tourist Board (STB) is a foundation whose activity is based upon the input and output of information. In other words, STB's business is knowledge oriented, with a great need of infomlation exchange and flexibility. However, it has been difficult to fomlalize and specify infOImation needs.
Some of the main goals of the STB are increases in tourism income for the Swedish State and to facilitate "tourism for everybody".
In the beginning of 1987 there was no extensive computer support at the STB other than some Macintosh and other PC applications for desktop publishing, with no communication links between them. They also had problems with excessive dependency on a few people and unclear responsibilities. They decided to instigate changes in their situation. A project with consultants from All Programator and end users from the STB was commenced during Spring 1987. A new technical environment was implemented during 1987-88, using a Micro VAX II and integrated Macintosh and PC's in a Apple Talk Network for local information processing. An initial business analysis resulted in uncovering the necessity for different information sy stems. Powerful and uncomplicated tools were needed in order to simply and quickly change between systems and retrieve information in various ways. Development of these systems is still in progress.
As a first step, an infOlmation system named the Product Bank was constructed. The Product Bank keeps track of events, worthy sights, touristic activity in Sweden, etc.
The goal of the Product Bank is to make product information universally available and easily accessible within STB, as well as to rationalize the effort involved in the production of printed materials.
The system must be flexible in respect to new products and to the possibility to search for infor mation.
Methodology REFLEX adjusted to DEFT and INGRES has been used as the method of system development. INGRES has been used as a 4G tool and DEFT on the Macintosh as an aid to analysis. Use has been made of the following: DFD (structure of functions), ERD (data models), FORMS (hand ling of screens) as wells as GATEWA Y (transfer to VAX for data base and picture generation). During Stage I, a functional system (a prototype) was constructed that treated inf0l111ation con cerning only those events which would go into the production of a daily journal. The reason for this was to:
II I Test an operational method where the Macintosh and VAX computers were utilized to the maximum. • Judge the effects of this type of information processing in the daily business routine.
Find and test routines in order to keep continuously changing data up to date. •
Ascertain the intended method of operations in respect to both maintenance and infor mation reu'ieval before the system is completely finished.
All documentation is on the Macintosh. Screen layouts and data models are DEFT documents, which are also the basis of the actual pictures and data bases. Word and MacDraw have been used for other documentation. Word documents can be transferred to the VAX and be used in the system as mechanical user's manuals.
There are in fact some steps in the method chain which cannot be done with DEFT. It is very imponant not to forget these method steps even though the tool does not suppon them. Results, Effects and Experiences •
Users that have taken part in the project have thought it to be fun and exciting. Through active participation, they have helped in forming the system and have seen results. In fact, they have increasingly taken over more of the development and construction themselves. • The system development environment with VAX (lNGRES) and Macintosh (DEFll'
Word) has functioned well. Descriptions are found only in one place in DEFT. • The technical solution where the Macintosh and VAX communicate with one another ma king possible the transfer of data between the INGRES data base and the Macintosh, results in a new and flexible way for the end user to process infonll<ltion. However this process still need some technical improvments to work better. • If REFLEX methodology and prototyping together with the effective use of tools had not been used, then STB's needs probably could not have been specified nor the technical difficulties solved. • The end users were educated in the use of the method and DEFT. Because of the clear and simple way of using the tool, they can be active in the systems development process. This is a very stimulating and a creative way of systems development, both for EDP experts and the end users. ( (