Relationship Analysis: A Technique to Enhance Systems Analysis for Web Development

Abstract

A significant aspect of systems analysis and design involves discovering and representing entities and their relationships. Neither structured nor object-oriented analysis techniques provide a formal process to identify relationships in a system being modeled. Existing techniques leave the relationship determination implicit; they are supposed to appear as a by-product of the other analysis activities. We present a comprehensive, systematic, domain-independent analysis technique, Relationship Analysis (RA), which focuses exclusively on a domain’s relationship structure. RA serves three major purposes. First, it helps users, analysts, and designers develop a deeper understanding of the application domain through making the relationships explicit. It serves as an effective communication tool for the user and analyst to develop a shared understanding of the domain, and to work out differences in terminology, assumptions, and viewpoints. Second, the domains relationships are thoroughly documented utilizing an RA template and an RA diagram. Third, RA results in fuller and richer application analyses and designs. RA significantly enhances the systems analyst’s effectiveness, especially in the area of relationship discovery and documentation, which will result in the development of higher quality software applications that consistently meet user needs.