FLEXIBILIZATION OF THE METHODOLOGY OF SYSTEM-DEVELOPMENT

Many of the existing methods for the development of information systems have traditionally been seen as models with rigid phasing, This has mainly come about by the use that has been made of them; the freedom to suit methods to the circumstances has been present in some methods, but this has attracted little attention, This paper shows how the necessary flexibility can be brought to the foreground. An analysis of the elements of development methods leads then to a methodology in three layers: the generic level, the model level and the (project) specific level, A crucial role is played here by the concept of 'development model'; after having investigated how development models are used and which role the situation profile plays, we describe how these development models can be drawn up, Several real examples, from the authors' business practice, conclude the paper.