Systems Building: Comparison of Information System Development Methods

This report delves into the realm of Information System Development Methods (ISDM), with a particular focus on the implementation of ERP systems, specifically in the context of Marks and Spencer. The report begins by highlighting the significance of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in modern business operations, emphasizing its role in enhancing operational and functional efficiencies. It then introduces the case scenario of Marks and Spencer's ERP software implementation, underscoring the company's success in maximizing commercial profits and improving customer experience through this system. The report proceeds to explore various ISDM, including prototyping, Joint Application Design (JAD), and Rapid Application Development (RAD), comparing their advantages and disadvantages. A comparative analysis, presented in a tabular format, contrasts JAD and RAD based on features like definition, usability, activities, roles, and workshop activities. The report concludes by asserting the importance of selecting the most appropriate ISDM based on the specific business environment, ultimately recommending the RAD method for the Marks and Spencer case due to its efficiency in addressing time-related and operational issues, considering both technical and social aspects. The report highlights the need for effective ISDM selection to meet customer desires and organizational expectations, emphasizing the importance of a standard process for maintaining information flow in terms of analysis, design, implementation, and maintenance.

Running head: COMPARISON OF INFORMATION SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT METHODS
Comparison of Information System Development Methods: ERP software implementation in
Marks and Spencer
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:

1COMPARISON OF INFORMATION SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT METHODS
Introduction
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is defined as one of the most
essential technologies using these days in almost every business organizations. Any medium and
large size company uses this application for improving their operational and functional
efficiencies. The case scenario nominated for this essay is “ERP software implementation in
Marks and Spencer”. The presented annual report of the company implies that Marks and
Spencer have maximized their commercial profit level with the implementation of ERP system
(Parenreng et al. 2016). Not only this but also Marks and Spencer is experiencing high customer
experience and multi channel application using this software. Different information system
development methods are there. Among those, company has selected the most suitable method
that is also elaborated in this essay.
A comparison considering advantages and disadvantages of the methods are elaborated in
the essay. Not only this, but also based on the IT capabilities how Marks and Spencer have
selected the method is also elaborated in this essay. These days with the help of this method
Marks and Spencer is successfully operating over 50 territories globally. Apart from that, the
company is also operating over 82,000 employees in their 854 stores. Functionally and
operationally the company has established a unique business base through this method. This
detail is also implemented in the essay. Marks and Spencer has selected Quantum retail’s
optimization business solution that is also elaborated in details.

2COMPARISON OF INFORMATION SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT METHODS
Comparison of Information System Development Methods
The case scenario that is selected for this specific essay is implementation of ERP system
in Marks and Spencer, United Kingdom based retail organization. According to Kang Lee, and
Kim (2016), the degree and nature of application difficulties can be measured with the help of
developing information system. In other words, application level difficulties can be encountered
easily if proper method of innovation is used by the company owners. It would help the business
to lead towards innovation and management system improvement. Apart from that, in order to
get to a best design of information management system Marks and Spencer needs to have proper
methodological approach for meeting the time against human as well as physical constraints.
System development methodology is comprises of steps used to form, plan and control different
process for developing an Information system because it is virtually not possible for driving a
project towards computerized methods without any previous activity. Some system development
methodologies are elaborated in the below section:
According to Kouziokas (2016), in order to develop any system or application system
prototyping is defined as one of the best methods. The advantages and disadvantages of the
system are elaborated in the below section. This method is not such complex and never includes
multiple numbers of analysts. Thus it can be said that this particular system development method
gives iterative development opportunities to the users. The users would be able to make
modifications and probable changes even after the execution of the system. Therefore,
throughout development period bringing changes into the system is possible. The users have
more feedback and input and also the system is easier for making changes (Stein, Taskaeva and
Chibisova 2016). This system can enable quick identification on the missing operations and
functionalities. The system also enables quicker execution of the applications.

3COMPARISON OF INFORMATION SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT METHODS
System prototyping can lead an organization towards monitoring exceptionally external
risks. If any process of documentation is avoided then due to insufficient justification system
may lack some objectives or aims.
Joint application design is other design stage. This ISD process is used y both managers
and system developers. With the help of this application design process can be speed up. This
system helps identifying stakeholders and executive goals as well. However, this system also has
some problems (Parenreng et al. 2016). In order to design a system using joint application design
development approach many organizational bodies are required. These kinds of systems are
pointed as successful one only if trained facilitators operate and lead this.
RAD is the other system development method which provides advanced tools,
techniques, objects and collaboration tools for development. This tool includes graphical user
interface builder, proper computer aided software engineering process, database management
system, code generator, fourth generation programming. This type of ISD saves time
consumption as well as human efforts. Apart from that, it also gives constricted fit between the
system specifications and user requirements as well (Joosten, Basten and Mellis 2016). This type
if system development method is concentrated on organizational future. This method is much
focused on future profit, operation and application level success. However, there are some
disadvantages as well. RAD system development method can lead poor quality system delivery
and inconsistent design approach. In case of module usability and future system development
difficulties may occur. It is duty of the project team members and other project associates to
select best development method (Satyawati and Cahjono 2017). For both large and medium sized
project execution in short period of time this development method is effective.

4COMPARISON OF INFORMATION SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT METHODS
In this new era of business time is defined as an essential resource. If the time resource is
managed properly then it will contribute a lot to achieve the ultimate project goals and
objectives. For meeting the customer needs and staying ahead of the competition time resource
plays essential role. In other words time resource management helps an organization being
competitive and commercially successful as well. If correct system is placed for the business
purpose along with accurate information for appropriate decision making then client’s
requirement will become easy to meet. It has been identified that effective ISD method selection
is important to meet the customer desires and other organizational expectations. Information
system development method is defined as a standard process that any organization needs to
follow to maintain the information flow in terms of analysis, design, implementation and
maintenance as well (Jordan 2017). The traditional ISD life cycle is comprises of steps like
project identification and selection, project initiation, project planning, system analysis and
design, implementation and final maintenance. This development method is applicable for large
projects because it needs extensive time for design and execution. This process of design and
development was quite complicated and fails to satisfy customer each time. The development
method was really expensive than other and excessive tome consuming well (Andriani 2018). It
has been recognized that, there were approximately 60% large projects those have faced
significant issues of cost overrunning. There were 75% of completed system those require
continuous improvement or maintenance as well. Many such large projects have been identified
that faced functional and operational errors. These observations lead to development methods
which include more numbers of user inputs and utilizes short development period where focus
would be more on the design and analysis

5COMPARISON OF INFORMATION SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT METHODS
Again Fauzi and Harli (2017) argued that innumerable information system development
methods are available that cannot be used in real life applications. Therefore, after analyzing the
operational and functional applications the best suited method has to be selected and applied y
the organization. A comparative analysis between the different methods are done in the below
section in a tabular format. The comparative analysis is elaborated below:
Feature JAD RAD
Definition JAD is an information System development
methodology that involves clients as well as end users
present in the design and development activities
(Altunina and Kuvshinov 2018). In this type of
development methods information has to be collected
from different relative resources.
Rapid Application
Development method is
defined as a process
used to radically reduce
the application and
development timing
while implementing an
information system.
This method of
application and
development requires
extensive user
involvement and CASE
tools and code
generators. The code
generator has to be
object oriented

6COMPARISON OF INFORMATION SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT METHODS
programming. It helps
the developers to build a
system faster than any
other development
strategies.
Usability This method was invented by IBM in the year of 1970.
However, initially it was invented as a computer based
system design process. This method is user and
technology centered. The JAD method influences or
encourages the partnership between the management
IS personnel and clients as well. The aim of the method
is to include all the associates (Davis and Yen 2018).
RAD development
method in most cases
use integrated
development teams. This
method is not applicable
for complex projects
because it reduces the
timeframe and
complexity as well. It
needs effective and
informal communication
between project manager
and other associate team
members.
Activity This method requires contribution of all the project
team members including sponsors, partners and
manager as well. In other words it can be said that
JAD requires mixed people activity to achieve the
This method is
dependent on high
continuous and high
quality production. In

7COMPARISON OF INFORMATION SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT METHODS
ultimate project aim or goals. fact it can handle
difficult and complex
situations. Though this
process is hard to
measure.
Roles Facilitators, documentation experts play important role
in such development activities. Individual facilitator
organizes the sessions and focused on deliver the tasks
on estimated duration (Laudon and Laudon 2016). The
norms, rules regulation that team and manager are
required to follow throughout the development life
cycle are developed by the facilitators and session
leaders.
The documentation experts also play important roles
during the usage of JAD method. However, the
documentation experts need to possess CASE tools for
designing diagrams and some other applications. The
project managers are responsible to direct and manage
the other project team members (Davis and Yen
2018). The progress update helps the team associates
understand the current status of the project.
Besides this the IS representatives and executive
sponsors should have enough of experience in this
In order to design and
develop information
system projects using
RAD project manager
and technical experts
play important roles and
responsibilities.

8COMPARISON OF INFORMATION SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT METHODS
application field.
Other
activities
Before initiating the project the team and other
associates must identify the project objectives and
limitations. It means that in case of JAD before
beginning the project the team needs to be aware if the
activities and expectation of the clients from the
project. Not only this but also, before final planning the
political sensitivity of the project needs to be assessed
(Kouziokas 2016). Besides this, the critical success
factors of the project are also needed to be identified in
this method before designing the final development
planning. In this method the team and project manager
must select the participants defining the project
deliverables.
It helps reducing
unwanted features and
functionalities.
Workshops
activities
This method needs experiences and technical skills as
well. It implies that the project manager and team
should arrange workshop for the project manager and
other associates. It is duty of the project manager and
team to prepare workshop materials (Stein, Taskaeva
and Chibisova 2016). Apart from that, workshop
activities and exercise are also needed to be considered
by the project managers before the final planning
execution of the project.
No such workshop
activities are needed to
conduct this method

9COMPARISON OF INFORMATION SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT METHODS
In order to avoid probable interruptions workshops for
this method are held off sites. The duty of the project
manager is to ensure that visual audio tools are initially
considered and revised before final execution. In this
method at first the system requirements are needed to
be identified. After that the documentation has to be
finalized. The very next step of the development is to
build a prototype or generate the official respective
codes. However the stage of code generation may
require additional workshops.
From the functional and operational application perspectives it is determined that, JAD
and RAD both methods are beneficial if applied on correct condition and business environment.
For the chosen case scenario of Marks and Spencer’s ERP system implementation use of RAD
method over JAD stands useful because it reduces the time related and operational issues. From
both technical and social aspect RAD method is a better choice. It allows reusability
opportunities to the users. Therefore, for avoiding operational and functional errors, Marks and
Spencer must use RAD ISD method over others.
Conclusion
From the above discussion it is concluded that, based on organizational and business
themes and features Information system development method is selected. The aim of the essay is
to briefly make comparison between different system development methods out of multiple. A

10COMPARISON OF INFORMATION SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT METHODS
critical analysis for each form of development concludes that there is no such universally
prescribe control available which can deal with variabilities of multiple influential factors
widespread in particular business environment. Each potential user is always concerned about
situation in which diverse approaches are accurate. For different business, problem situation
always varies. It is duty of the board committee members of the company to select best
information system development method. Marks and Spencer has also selected the best suited
method for developing the Information System. Different types of problem situations those can
be operated or resolved with this method include well structured problem situation, unstructured
problem situation, complex problem situation, problem situation that include high level of user
interaction and well defined problem with a clear requirements. For each problem situation,
typical information system development method is placed. Marks and Spencer has compared the
development methods and placed the best one for their operation. The strengths and weaknesses
of each of the method are elaborated in this essay and the reason for which among object
oriented, ISDM, ISD, SDLC, waterfall, PRINCE2, SSM etc development method system
prototyping method is chosen and applied by Marks and Spencer company.

11COMPARISON OF INFORMATION SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT METHODS
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