O/A matrix and a technique for methodology engineering

Abstract

This article presents a methodology engineering technique for describing, analyzing and refining conceptual relationships between the methods and models within an information system development (ISD) methodology. Methodology engineering (ME) is defined as being composed of the activities of developing, customizing, and instantiating an ISD methodology to meet organizational needs and to fulfill the demands of a specific project. A framework of four processing layers and four meta levels is constructed to increase the understanding of the scope and domain of ME. Based on this framework, the object/ activity (O/A) matrix is suggested as a means for describing and analyzing the dynamic relationships between the development objects and ISD activities. Further, an ME-technique is provided for the construction, analysis, and refinement of an O/A-matrix and illustrated by examples taken from the ME of the SPITS methodology.