Configuration of Situational Process Models: an Information Systems Engineering Perspective

Currently, one can observe a convergence of the basis technology for systems development environments. Client-server tool infrastructures due to high performance network support. Platforms with transparent operating systems, e.g. Unix based PCs and workstations. Standard graphical user-interfaces (X-windows, Motif) for fast, intuitive interaction. These technical facilities offer opportunities for a new vision on systems development tools: a flexible CASE workstation. For each project specifically a CASE workstation should be configured with tool components for the complete systems development life cycle (i.e. requirements engineering and software engineering). The most suitable tools are to be selected according to the application type, the available development expertise and the target infrastructure. For example, an object-oriented project could be performed using a selection of techniques from OMT and Fusion, in conjunction with a GUI development kit and a C++ programming environment. For a knowledge based system one desires to use the KADS method together with a Prolog interpreter. The CASE workstation should support any kind of project based on so-called method engineering functionality, i.e. support for the selection, adaptation and composition of tool components, together with transformation and generation utilities.