System Development Life Cycle Methodology Benefits
A system development life cycle (SDLC) is ôthe overall process of developing information systems through a multistep process from investigation of initial requirements through analysis, design, implementation and maintenanceö (Kay 2002). There are varied methodologies and models for developing SDLCs, among them the waterfall model, rapid application development (RAD), and joint application development (JAD), all of which follow a series of prescribed steps. The methodology provides a way to evaluate the existing system; define new system requirements; design, develop, and implement the new system; and maintain it (ôSystems Development Life Cycleö).
Although many systems have been developed ôby the seat of the pants,ö without using any formal methodology, historically methodologies have proven to be very beneficial. A primary benefit is thoroughness. Without a methodology, it is extremely likely that something will be overlooked, omitted, or improperly linked to the rest of the system. A methodology takes the analysts and developers through prescribed steps that ensure that everything that needs to be included in the design gets in. By the same token, this thoroughness improves the quality of the resulting system, the second benefit. Informally developed systems, especially prototyped systems, often suffer from deficiencies that occur because the design was not planned completely but just thrown together in a rapid development scenario.
A third benefit of SDLC methodologies is that they provide documentation on the systemÆs design and the reasons development decisions were made. This can be helpful for maintenance purposes and for justifying decisions to upper management. Without such methodologies, developers have to rely on memory. When they cannot rememberùor worse, when they leave the companyùtheir knowledge goes with them. This can result in a situation...