The good CASE Gunnar Nilsson • C4.P="---:?'GE~'Ml='N.-='l Cap Gemini BRA AB, Stockholm, Sweden ( ABSTRACT The good CASE has a result-oriented life-cycle, And it requires a new way of working. How do proper methods and supporting tools we find the good CASE -the CASE that supports a good way of working - for systems develop- CASE is not just a tool it is about new working ment in the nineties! principles. It is based on engineering principles Considering the rapid development in the CASE and computer support. It includes graphical area it is today difficult to chose the right way. presentation and user cooperation. Our first advice to a company considering CASE I In Cap Gemini we believe Ihat the rcason for is. What is the problem? Is it about methods or CASE is to be found in todays and yesterdays tools? Does the problem concern a lack of problems in systems development. methods for analysis or is it lack of programming Today our desktop computers have a power thaI productivity? would have been unimaginable just a few years ( ago.ln software there is no similar trend. The CASE tools kan improve the effectivity in ( There is an intense need for a clear improvement the working principles. But if there are no in price/performance concerning development defined working principles the first thing to do of software. is to establish that. CASE in itself does not provide defined working principles. This will putlhe following requirements on sys- tcms development: o Go for a good working principles. o Remember that the development of CASE o Increased productivity in systems develop- has but started. ment o Look at the total environment. o Increased quality in systems development o In Cap Gemini we will go for integrated o Increased effectivity in systems development working principles. THE GOOD CASE A result-oriented life-cycle, many cases it is hardly notice- guarantee quality in timely proper methods and supporting able. The 4GLs are not common- deliveries, cost and functionality. tools. ly used and in many cases sys- How can we do this? We must tems development is done today have competent staff and good as it was ten years ago. There is working principles supported by The good CASE an intense need for a clear im- good tools. CASE is not just a tool. CASE is provement in price/performance much more. CASE is about new concern ing developmen t of - Systems Maintenance is an ever working principles. It is based on software. increasing problem for many engineering principles and com- companies. An ever growing part puter support. It includes graphi- - The development towards sys- of the resources that we have for cal presentation and user tems that support the business systems development is occupied cooperation. This is the basis for operations. We are more and with maintaining older systems. this presentation. more building systems that will This is all right if the main- improve the competitiveness of tenance produces good value fOr our customers. It is no longer its money. But too often main- Background rationalizations and reduced tenance is seen only as a cost and Why is CASE such a current costs but gains in competitive- with no payoff. topic? In Cap Gemini we believe ness that we are looking for. All Cap Gemini has for some time that the reason for CASE is to be systems are unique. This puts developed a concept that focuses found in todays and yesterdays even greater demands on systems on profitability/usability as a problems in systems develop- development. A delayed relcase steering mechanism for systems ment. Quite simply our in- could mean that the expected maintenance. This starting point heritance. profit for the company never is necessary but not sufficient. shows up - the competitor might We must also create possibilities already be ahead. We as systems for reducing the differences be- A few principal points: developers must be able to tween development and main- The development of the price/performance ratio in ( hardware and software. On our own desks we can see the results DICIIIOI OIIIITID ICDIL of an enormous development in hardware. Today our desktop DECISION 1"-' computers have a power that would have been unimaginable just a few years ago. If we com- pare the development of power and performance with the I decreasing prices the develop- ment is even more fantastic. Today our money buys much more performance than what they did five or ten years ago. In software there is no similar trend. Of course we are more ef- ficient and productive but this trend is not at all as strong. In 2 tenance. The structure of a sys- not only. Our 400 staff are work- tem must not deteriorate for ing together with our customers Today there is no methods or every corrective action taken. We staff. They are also invited to use tools that covers all aspects of should try to reach an, in prin- our new way of working. systems development. What we cipal, unlimited technical life- The new way of working is not can learn from the fact that cycle for the systems that we only meant for the DP-Profes- methods and tools are in focus is build. A good way of working sionals.!! ! that a model must not havc a life and CASE tools are a prereq- of its own. TIle model must be a uisite. With a trend towards systems that natural structure for what are the support the business the group of most important issues, methods people that are really knowledge- and tools. Requirements able about the company business All in all this will put the follow- operations is .also a group that ing requirements on systems will benefit from our new way of Requirements on a new ( development: working. way of working We were just addressing thaI! o Increased productivity in sys- The way of working must be in- tems development ( o Increased quality in systems development o Increased effectivity in sys- 101111'0 fDIICiPLII... Demands tems development * Integrated This requires a new way of work- ing. How do we find the good * Graphical CASE - the CASE that supports presen ta tion a good way of working - for sys- tems development in the * Small portions nineties! That is what we will spend the rest of this presentation * PC-based talking about. Working principles - for whom? Who needs CASE? Who needs "g,,"d, Tho dMlopmo' ( new working principles? Before model, the methods and the tools we go into detail about what new New working principles - must be united - even if they are working principles would look why? separate and to some extent ex- like we should stop to think about When we are working in our cus- changeable. these issues. tomers projects there are always Cap Gemini will during 89 make a demand for new tools and - A graphic presentation inter- a major investment in a new way methods. New tools and methods face. of working supported by CASE. are needed to perform the work We have learned from the first The questions put forward earlier well, tools are needed to perform wave of CASE tools - a picture in this paper were the ones that the work quickly and efficiently. tells more than a thousand words. we had to start with trying to A model for systems develop- If pictures are good in a tool they answer. ment is seldom asked for. Still a are of course also good in Presently Cap Gemini BRA has model for the systems develop- descriptions of model and 400 DP consultants. The new ment process is an absolute nec- methods. We must create a way way of working is meant to be cessity. It is the backbonc that of working that is based on used firstly by our own staff but holds together methods and tools graphics not just tools. 3 The basis for our model A form 10 present the way of is the descri ption of working in small portions. these results. Gone me the days of the thick What are the quality binders. A new way of working criteria for each result? must be delivered in small por- What is the purpose of tions. A new way of working the result? Which must be packaged for several pur- methods and tools can poses, depending of areas of use be used to produce the and demands from different users result? Tbe DEVELOPIIENT IIODEL - available on PC of it. This means a flexible model for development - we will come The results ca n be seen back to that laler. from different angles. Cap according to project or according Geminis result model describes to the method or tool used. There- - PC-bflsed. how the results interrelate in for the activities are handled in The way of working must be sup- result chains and result areas. Let the project plan and not in the portcd by a PC. Almost all of us me givc you an example. The development model. To focus on havc PCs on our desks and we resulting dala base depends on results also makes quality as- like to work on a Pc. That way the datya model in the result area surance easier. (reviews etc). we feel more effective. Working of Storage. principles for a PC - what is that if not a CASE tool? Cap Geminis decision model The working principles - describes the results grouped in the methods decision areas. Some other important aspects of Working principles - with Earlier development models the methods that Cap Gemini computer support were often activity oriented. One uses: Coming back to my introduction of the drawbacks of that is that - to Cap Gemini a CASE tool is they are less flexible. o IRM not everything. Consequcntly it Now we look at the results rather o Easy to learn is not enough with just a CASE than the activities. To reach a cer- o Engaging tool on PC, to say that the work- tain result the activities can vary- o Aiming for automatisation ing principles are PC-based. That is why we have put Cap Geminis new development model on PC- with the help of presentation tools or ." as an integrated part of Tht IIIULTOIIIITID ilODIL a CASE tool. STORAGE USAGE The working principles - _r===:-~ the model- based on results As mentioned earlier a well defined model for systems development is the basis for in- tegrating methods and tools. Cap Geminis model is based on rcsults: We sce systems develop- PROCESSING QUALITY ~ ment as a set of results that are to be produced. A result could in this context be a program description, a functional descrip- tion, a data model etc. 4 o Reduces the difference be- We presently lack computer sup- tween development and main- port in the following areas (there tenance are however certain differences The working principles - between suppliers): tools In conclusion we like to call this way of working Information En- o Security 4GL, CASE, I-CASE gineering. This is not a method in o Quality Assurance How could our business attain a its own right but rather require- o Routine sketching faster development of our ments on the methods that we o Implementation productivity in developing want to use. o Showing certain technical software? structures The seminar is an important part o Distributed systems/data The solution is often discussed in in our use of methods. It fits well bases terms of 4GL, CASE and 1- into project work because it o Prototyping (Prototyping in a CASE. Are there any contradic- ( provides: concentraton, quick Windows system environ- tions in these concepts? Could results, a forum for creative ment) I I they be integrated? debates, a natural opening for computer support, fast 4GL is firstly a tool for im- ( documentation of basic DATAYODa proving programm ing business operations and a I.. ~~~~~-- ..............I productivity. 4GLs does not common view for all those ~ mean that the quality of the involved. ~.IJ systems that we develop im- proves. When programming In Cap Geminis way of productivity is the main working we use the semi- pro blem 4G L~ can be an nar in several circumstan- answer.The problem with ces, for instance for project 4GLs is their lack of stand- start up, data modelling, ardization, limited areas of function modelling, goal application and lack of per- setting, project calcula- formance under top load. tion, prototyping etc. Project work is characterized by CASE adresses the problems of seminars and breathing spaces. In Formal methods apart, but using software development from the same way the number of methods is also to use earlier ex- perience. Is it possible to incor- another angle, that is analYSis. people engaged in project work The main issue is to produce th varies from a large group during porate our own experience into RIGHT system. Not just t the seminar and smaller task for- the CASE tool? produce a system and fast. CASE C' ces in between. In this way of has helped to open our eyes to a working a larger group can be Of course it is possible. In Cap graphical way to presentation. better activated. The quality of Gemini we have chosen to incor- With CASE it is, for the first the work improves and the or- porate our methods into the tool. time, possible to work stand- ganisation is more devoted to the Through the orientation towards ardized and methodological in work. results in our model we can large projects down to the last describe our methods directly in specification. With CASE Is there enough experience built the tool, with an example redrawing is no major obstacle. into the method of the CASE throughout the model, with With CASE it is no longer dif- tool? Does the CASE tool cover standards etc. ficult to integrate several types of all areas of methodology? diagrams. Un fortunately the total tool does I-CASE (or Integrated CASE) is not yet exist and it is doubtful if a further development of CASE. it ever will. Perhaps it is not even An integrated CASE tool creates to be wished for. 5 possibilities for combining the o Integrated with systems hard figures. The explanation for advantages of CASE and 4GLs. management tools that is that the quality improves Effective analysis and effective even more. Our customers have programmll1g. for the first time been able to make a complete analysis. This End uscr functions However, I-CASE is just one will show. in beller quality now more step on the way. There is o Report generators and in the future, during main- still a long way to go before we o Query languages tenance. have the total tool. Let us think for while what such a tool could be made up of: What can CASE give us CASE for beller systems main- today? tenance. We are only in the beginning of a functions as dcvclopmcnt tools: major development phase. But Maybe the biggest payoffs will o Above all a complete diction- wecan already today note several occur in systems maintenance: ( ary (reposi tory) advantagcs with using CASE o Simulation and prototyping tools. o By reducing the differencies facilities between development and o Description of logic and pro- CASE for increased productivity maintenance. The system ( gram- and data base genera- - quality structure does not deteriorate tions when programs are changed (Methods tailored to the com- CASE can improve our produc- since everything is panys needs) tivity. We do not have to redraw regenerated from the changed o Word processing diagrams. We can automatically specifications. o Presentation tools generate data bases and screens. The tool can check for consisten- o The number of deliveries cy in away that we could not have during a systems dcvelopment Functions for managcmcnt done on our own. process are red uced. Now we o Integrated with project can reach our results succes- management tools Sometimes the improvement in sively. The end user has productivity is not to be seen in greater possibilities of con- trolling the whole chain of events. This should give us ( , beller systems and beller maintenance. models logic o In analyzing more thorough Iy we wi II find ( more errors in an earlier llLOCAL stage and there will be less errors to contain in testing • ENCYCLOPEDIA and in production. An error detected during main- tenance costs many times more to correct than an CENTRAL error detected during ENCYCLOPEDIA analysis. CODE What should we do GENERATOR today? Considering the rapid development in the CASE 6 ( area it is today difficult to chose working principles. CASE can - Go for good working principles. the right way. The fact that the also fail - if it is not founded on a Try to find the strengths and the ( most influential hardware and good way of working. weaknesses of todays. principles software suppliers still have nlot of working. Go for the profitable shown their strategies and plans Lack of programming produc- solutions. Making the largest in- does make it easier. How should tivity does not neccessarily indi- vestment does not have to mean a company act? Is it better to wait cate a need for a complete 1- reaping the largest profit. for something even better? Or CASE tool. Cap Gemini is right - Remember that the develop- should one try to be in the front now performing tests where we ment of CASE has but started. line? Is there other alternatives? compare qual ity and productivity There will be ever more new when using a PC work station as products and ever more new Our first advice to a company opposed to conventional rcleases. Waiting is probably not considering CASE is. What is the programming. a good strategi but neither is problem? Is it about methods or It is a qucstion of putting the con- going for one single solution. tools? Does the problem concern ventional programming environ- - Look at the total environment. a lack of methods for analysis or ment on a PC in order to gain What dictionary does the com- is it lack of programming produc- advantages. pany have? How does it work? [s tivity? the dictionary an asset or a bur- If the task comprises the whole den? Do not let CASE be a bas- The CASE tools kan improve the chain from analysis to program- tard in the technical environ- effectivity in the working prin- ming I-CASE seems to be the ment! ciples. But if there are no defined choice. But that means not con- - What effects will IBMs working principles the first thing sidering the costs of it. On top of proposal for a new CASE dic- to do is to establish that. CASE in that I-CASE is a rather untried tionary have? itself does not provide defined concept. Who wants to pay for working principles. the development that still has to [n Cap Gemini we will go for be done? Considering the large integrated working principles: Lack of effectivity and quality in investment this group of products the analysis is mostly due to is the most sensitive to develop- o MODELL problems with methods. There is ment. Will the products available o METHOD a lack of methods, methods exists today still exist tomorrow? In- o TOOL but are not used or methods exists tegrated CASE on PC, what role only in the minds of experienced will it play in the future? And do not forget that thc work- analysts. A CASE tool could ing principles is to be used by the work as a catalyzer. A vehicle for Many questions? Fewer individual in the development implementation of good methods answers? Bul... proje~ts ! and to for implementing good 7