Page 79 - DCAP405_SOFTWARE_ENGINEERING

Software Engineering

Notes 5.2.3 DSDM

Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM) is a structure based initially around Rapid
Application Development (RAD), carried by its continuous user involvement in an iterative
development and incremental approach which is approachable to changing requirements, in
order to expand a system that meets the business needs on time and on budget. It is one of a
number of Agile methods for developing software and forms part of the Agile Alliance.
DSDM was developed in the United Kingdom in the 1990s by a group of vendors and experts in
the field of Information System (IS) development, the DSDM Consortium, unite their best-
practice experiences. The DSDM group is a non-profit and vendor independent association
which owns and administers the framework. The first version was finished in January 1995 and
published in February 1995. The current version in use at this point in time (April 2006) is
Version 4.2: Framework for Business Centered Development released in May 2003.

As an expansion of rapid application development, DSDM focuses on Information Systems
projects that are distinguished by fixed schedules and budgets. DSDM addresses the ordinary
reasons for information systems project failure counting exceeding budgets, missing deadlines,
and lack of user participation and top management commitment.
DSDM identifies that projects are limited by time and resources, and plans consequently to meet
the business needs. In order to attain these goals, DSDM encourages the use of RAD with the
ensuing danger that too many corners are cut. DSDM applies some principles, roles, and
techniques.

Notes In some circumstances, there are possibilities to integrate practices from other
methodologies, such as the Select Perspective, Extreme Programming (XP), and PRINCE2,
as complements to DSDM. Another agile method that has some similarity in process and
concept to DSDM is Scrum.

Principles of DSDM

There are 9 fundamental principles of DSDM consisting of four foundations and five starting-
points for the structure of the method. These values form the keystone of development using
DSDM.
User participation is the main key in running a well-organized and effectual project,
where both users and developers share a workplace, so that the decisions can be made
precisely.
The project team must be authorized to make decisions that are important to the progress
of the project, without waiting for higher-level approval.
DSDM focuses on recurrent delivery of products, with supposition that to deliver something
“good enough” earlier is always better than to deliver everything “perfectly” in the end.
By delivering product frequently from an early stage of the project, the product can be
tested and reviewed where the test record and review document can be taken into account
at the next iteration or phase.
The main criteria for acceptance of deliverable in DSDM are on delivering a system that
addresses the current business needs. It is not so much directed at delivering a perfect
system addressing all possible business needs, but focuses its efforts on critical functionality.

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