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Prototyping is a technique for quickly building a functioning, but incomplete modelof
the information system using rapid application development tools. Prototypes typically
evolve into the final version of the system or application.
Advantages of prototyping
- It is useful for projects in which user requirements are uncertain or imprecise.
- It encourages active user and management participation (as opposed to a passive reaction
to non-working system models). This increase end-user enthusiasm for the project.
Projects have higher visibility and support because of extensive user involvement throughout the
process.
- Users and management see working, software-based solutions more rapidly than in model-driven
development.
- Errors and omissions tend to be detected earlier in prototypes than in system models.
- Testing and training is a natural by-product of the underlying prototyping approach.
- The interactive approach is a more ?natural? fit because change is an expected factor
during development.
- It reduces risk because you test the technical solution iteratively instead of making a wholesale
commitment to any solution.
Disadvantages of prototyping
- There can be considerable pressure to implement an early prototype. Often users
observing a working model cannot understand why the early prototype has to be
refined further. The fact that the prototype has to be expanded to handle transaction
volumes, terminal networks, back up and recovery procedures, as well as provide for
audit ability and control is not often understood.
- It often leads to functions or extras being added to the system that are not included
in the initial requirements document. All major enhancements beyond the initial
requirements document should be reviewed to ensure that they need the strategic
needs of the organization and are cost effective otherwise, the final system can end
up being functionally rich but inefficient.
- The finished system will have poor controls. By focusing mainly on what the user
wants and what the user uses, system developers may miss some of the controls that
come out of the traditional system development approach, such a back up recovery,
security and audit trails. Change control often becomes much more complicated with
prototyped systems. Changes in designs and requirements happen so quickly that
they are seldom documented or approved and can escalate to a point of being
unmaintainable.
How this approach is used
Build the model to create the design. Then based on that model, develop the system with
all the processing capabilities needed.
gregorymasila answered the question on November 27, 2017 at 13:16
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Farmquip Ltd. designs and manufactures irrigation equipment. The irrigation equipments
are sold to flower nationality. The company regards customer service, that is the ability to
respond effectively and properly to service calls as critical to its success.
Initially, field engineers inspect faulty irrigation equipment. Currently three quarters of the
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Required
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Date posted: November 27, 2017. Answers (1)
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Date posted: November 27, 2017. Answers (1)
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Date posted: November 27, 2017. Answers (1)
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