Conceptual analysis of flexibility concepts in object-orientation and UML

The paper discusses the issue of flexibility in information systems and its implications in the Object-Oriented paradigm including the Unified Modelling Language (UML). Object-orientation is considered a remedy for many problems of information systems development including that of rigidity and the handling of change due to its flexible nature. An analysis and design technique like UML could help to achieve more flexibility in the object-oriented systems. The paper examines the concepts of flexibility and derives a set of features that characterise flexibility. The Objected-Oriented paradigm and UML technique are examined and discussed in relation to the flexibility features. Finally, a figure summarising the findings is presented which shows the relationship of the identified flexibility concepts and the Object-Oriented domain and UML.