The Requirements of Methodologies for Developing Web Applications

Abstract

The Internet has had a significant impact on the process of developing information systems. However, there has been little research that has examined specifically the role of development methodologies in this new era. Although there are many new forces driving systems development many other issues are extensions of problems that have been there for some years. This study identifies the main requirements of methodologies for developing e-commerce applications. A number of e-commerce application development approaches are examined and a methodology is proposed which attempts to address a number of issues identified within the literature. The Internet Commerce Development Methodology (ICDM) considers evolutionary development of systems, provides a business and strategic focus and includes a management structure in addition to covering the engineering aspects of e-commerce application development. The methodology is evaluated by three focus groups. The results of the evaluations are used to highlight the factors that practitioners identify as important attributes of systems development methodologies for developing Web applications. These include emphasising a business focus, the consideration of organisational culture and management structures, and the importance of an external focus. Practitioners would ideally like methodologies to be relevant to their industry and provide detailed approaches for changing organisational culture. Many traditional systems development methodologies are perceived as being inadequate for dealing with the development of e-commerce systems. The research work proposes that there is a need for an overarching development framework where other more sub-system specific approaches can be integrated. However, any such framework should consider the strategic business drivers of the system, the evolutionary nature of systems, effective management structures, and the development of a conducive organisational culture.