Enhancing software maintenance through explicit system representation

Abstract

Studies have shown that the major part of systems maintenance is a direct result of the need for systems to respond to changes in user requirements. While contemporary research has focused on producing methods that capture user requirements better, considerably less effort has been directed to the area of changing user requirements - a problem that is intrinsic to any software system. Even if a system can be designed to be totally reliable and well structured and completely meet user requirements, it will still require change during its lifetime. The key issue in designing methods for software production, therefore, is the provision of a rational basis for system evolution and thereby reduce the maintenance burden. The paper describes an approach to modelling and developing business information systems that enables the easy implementation of new or amended user requirements.