Development Methodologies

What is a method ?

It is an established, habitual, logical or prescribed practice or systemic process used in achieving certain tasks with accuracy and efficiently (Business Dictionary , 2012). 

Source: Programme (2012) 

What is a methodology ? 

A system of broad principles or rules from which specific methods derived to interpret or solve different problems within a scope of a particular discipline (Business Dictionary, 2012). 

According to International Research Network  (2012) methodology is a series of choices made, they are;

• Choices about what information and data to gather 
• Choices about how to analyze the information and data that you gather 
• Other methodological choices  

Models and Life cycles 

1. Spiral model
2. Waterfall model
3. V life cycle
4. Incremental/iterative development
5. Reusable software model
6. Automated software synthesis 
7. Throwaway prototyping model
8. Evolutionary prototyping mode

Waterfall Project Life Cycle

Source: Holon Institute of Technology (2012)

Sequential development model with clearly defined  deliverables for each phase (ExecutiveBrief, 2012). According to the above life cycle returning back to the previous activity once it is completed is impossible. 

Evolutionary Project Plan

Gilb (1999) mentions that evolutionary project plan is an innovative way to get control over project results, thus it follows the principle "PLAN DO STUDY ACT". 

Spiral Life Cycle 

According to Sikder (2012) spiral model is similar to the incremental model, but concentrates more on the risk analysis factor. 

Spiral model has four phases, they are;

• Planning
• Risk analysis
• Engineering 
• Evolution  
  
  (Sikder, 2012)
  
  
  
  Source: Virginia Tech  (2012)
  
  

As mentioned by Virginia Tech (2012) in 1998 Barry Boehm proposed a more comprehensive model which is spiral model in order to overcome the inadequacies of the waterfall method.   

Author understand that spiral model is one of the best models that can used during project planining, as spiral model creates a risk driven approach to the software process while waterfall method is primarily document driven or code driven process.

References

Business Dictionary.com, 2012. Business Dictionary.com. [Online]
Available at: http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/method.html
[Accessed 17 01 2013].

ExecutiveBrief, 2012. Project Smart. [Online]
Available at: http://www.projectsmart.co.uk/which-life-cycle-is-best-for-your-project.html
[Accessed 17 01 2013].

Gilb, T., 1999. SPI Partners. [Online]
Available at: http://www.spipartners.nl/data/Evo99.PDF
[Accessed 17 01 2013].

Holon Institute of Technology, 2012. Holon Institute of Technology. [Online]
Available at: http://www.hit.ac.il/staff/leonidm/information-systems/ch01.html
[Accessed 17 01 2013].

International Research Network , 2012. International Research Network. [Online]
Available at: http://irn.uit.tufts.edu/research_planner/documents/6/methodology_tips.pdf
[Accessed 17 01 2013].

Programme, 2012. Programme. [Online]
Available at: http://programmedevelopment.com/what-is-ability-/ability-and-methods
[Accessed 17 01 2013].

Sikder, F., 2012. Worldpress.com. [Online]
Available at: http://faisalsikder.wordpress.com/2009/12/18/software-development-life-cyclesdlc-spiral-model/
[Accessed 17 01 2013].

Virginia Tech , 2012. Virgina Tech. [Online]
Available at: http://courses.cs.vt.edu/csonline/SE/Lessons/Spiral/index.html
[Accessed 17 01 2013].