CASE Tools Usage and Impact on System Development Performance

Abstract

Research results concerning the use of computer-aided software engineering (CASE) tools and their impact on system development performance have been largely contradictory. Our objective in this study was to gain a better understanding of factors influencing CASE tools use and to explore the relation between the degree of their use and the resulting system development performance. We constructed a model explaining the contribution of different factors to CASE tools use and its subsequent effect on system development performance based on sound theories of human behavior. We then tested the model empirically with a survey. Data collected from 290 organizations showed that facilitating conditions (e.g., management support, internal expertise, established norms and standards), habits (i.e., where CASE tools use is routine and not consciously considered), and beliefs concerning improvements in the maintainability of systems developed with CASE tools have significant effects on CASE tools use. The data also showed that CASE tools have a significant effect on all performance aspects considered in our study, that is, systems development process (control and efficiency) as well as the product (quality and maintainability).