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Software models for real-world applicability tests
0306 4573184 $3 00 + .oO Pergamon Press Ltd
In$~rmrrrion Procrssin~ & Mana~rm~nr Vol. 20. No. I 2, p. 243, 1984 Pnnted in Great Britain
SOFTWARE MODELS FOR REAL-WORLD APPLICABILITY TESTS (Extended
Abstract)
WERNER KOCH Institut
fur Maschinelle
Dokumentation,
Graz
, Austria
and I. MISTRIK Gesellschaft
fur
Information und Heidelberg,
Dokumentation mbH, Sektion Federal Republic of Germany
fur
Systementwicklung,
In many application areas a need for more effective information processing has been identified. There are various means to achieve this goal: (1) new technological development; (2) new information management and organizational techniques; (3) greater awareness of economic, legal and social aspects of information processings. An attempt is being made to integrate these means into the “optimal solution” or effectiveness problem. The major integration difficulties arise from: scope and complexity of these aspects; understanding, and underweighing of certain aspects; heterogeneity of disciplines involved. An approach taken is to develop flexible software models in order to test for applicability in the real-world environment, e.g. not only technical characteristics of the particular model are being tested but also functionality thereof. A rather straight-forward method is being proposed: identify needs; specify requirements; develop a model as a laboratory system; test for technical and functional qualities. Iterate these steps as many times as feasible. Then develop a product. The crucial step in the method is to develop a “real” model (with limited design resources!); this model has to serve as a laboratory system for the development of a specific operational system. Hence the model has to meet the software quality standard with the following attributes: reliabiltiy, maintainability, enhanceability, and portability. The authors, together with a group of people, are in the midst of a project to develop such an operational software model of an integrated information and communication system. This model will serve as a laboratory system for the development of a “real” system for management of information resources. The model is designed as an abstract machine to be implemented on various computer configurations to allow real-world applicability tests. This abstract machine consists of generic information and communication components as well as application-specific components and will allow replacement and/or modification of system components. It also will allow the utilization of commercially available software components.
243
In$~rmrrrion Procrssin~ & Mana~rm~nr Vol. 20. No. I 2, p. 243, 1984 Pnnted in Great Britain
SOFTWARE MODELS FOR REAL-WORLD APPLICABILITY TESTS (Extended
Abstract)
WERNER KOCH Institut
fur Maschinelle
Dokumentation,
Graz
, Austria
and I. MISTRIK Gesellschaft
fur
Information und Heidelberg,
Dokumentation mbH, Sektion Federal Republic of Germany
fur
Systementwicklung,
In many application areas a need for more effective information processing has been identified. There are various means to achieve this goal: (1) new technological development; (2) new information management and organizational techniques; (3) greater awareness of economic, legal and social aspects of information processings. An attempt is being made to integrate these means into the “optimal solution” or effectiveness problem. The major integration difficulties arise from: scope and complexity of these aspects; understanding, and underweighing of certain aspects; heterogeneity of disciplines involved. An approach taken is to develop flexible software models in order to test for applicability in the real-world environment, e.g. not only technical characteristics of the particular model are being tested but also functionality thereof. A rather straight-forward method is being proposed: identify needs; specify requirements; develop a model as a laboratory system; test for technical and functional qualities. Iterate these steps as many times as feasible. Then develop a product. The crucial step in the method is to develop a “real” model (with limited design resources!); this model has to serve as a laboratory system for the development of a specific operational system. Hence the model has to meet the software quality standard with the following attributes: reliabiltiy, maintainability, enhanceability, and portability. The authors, together with a group of people, are in the midst of a project to develop such an operational software model of an integrated information and communication system. This model will serve as a laboratory system for the development of a “real” system for management of information resources. The model is designed as an abstract machine to be implemented on various computer configurations to allow real-world applicability tests. This abstract machine consists of generic information and communication components as well as application-specific components and will allow replacement and/or modification of system components. It also will allow the utilization of commercially available software components.
243