OBJECT-ORIENTED ANALYSIS - CRITERIA AND CASE-STUDY

Three object-oriented analysis techniques: Shlaer & Mellor, Coad & Yourdon, and Document-Driven Analysis were evaluated. Criteria for comparison of analysis techniques were developed. These criteria state that an analysis technique should (1) cover data, transformation, and control perspectives of the problem, (2) address large problems through partitioning, bounding the problem, and supporting prototypes and incremental analysis, (3) provide approaches for verification and validation, and (4) support configuration control. A case study in a software engineering class was conducted using the three OOA techniques. Through the case study we found that (1) identifying objects is affected by notation and flexibility of object models, (2) visualizing global data, transformations, and control are necessary to capture end-user's processes, (3) emphasizing hierarchical structures and third normal form divert the analyst's attention from analysis to implementation, (4) an explicit representation of relationships is necessary, (5) peer review is useful in improving selection of objects and methods to support end-user processes, and (6) supporting a standard document from OOA products is not easy.