Retooling Information Systems for High systems. In the 19905, managers must be able to build strategically im- portant applica- tions faster, with higher guality and at lower cost. The technologies available to meet these goals include ad- vances in integrated computing architec- tures, applications-development method- ologies and integrated CASE tools. | Managers need to ask themselves a | few key guestions: Where do we want information systems to be three or five years from now? What, issues should we be looking at now? What are the compo- nents of a strategic plan for retooling in- formation systems? How do architec- tures, methodologies and tools fit into the strategic plan? "The figure illustrates a useful starting point for dealing with these issues. It 'emphasizes that one must begin 'with'a definition of the overall information-sys- tems architectural framework, then re- solve methodology issues and, finally, se- lect tools that support those choices. As shown in the figure, architectural issues need to be resolved first. These in- clude reguirements for interoperability, portability of applications, connectivity, consistency of user and communications interfaces, standard applications-devel- opment environments and support of cooperative-processing applications. IBM SAA and Digital Eguipment's NAS exemplify integrated computing ar- chitectures. They provide a framework PG WEEKNAPPLIGATION DEVELOPMENT APPLIED INTELLIGENCE so that cooperative-processing applica- tions can distribute data and code for cross platform compatibility throughout, a complex computer network. I recommend evaluating SAA in the 1BM environment and NAS in the Digital environment, and starting to plan to move to those architectures now. You The Seguence of Examples: »IBM's SAA ing a well-defined set of tasks. Rapid- prototyping methodologies, such as rapid applications development (RAD), let us build strategically i much faster than is b A commitment to RAD has a major irapact on the selection of CASE tools. A rapid-prototyping development life cycle Defining Components Of a Strategic Plan First Define Arehitecture And Methodology, Then Select Tools To Implement Them « DEC's NAS « Information enginee: » Rapid prototyping » Structured engineering can use major aspects of them today, and by making a commitment to an in- tegrated architecture, you establish a framework for many of the other deci: sions that will be made in the selection of methodologies and tools. 'The second major area reguiring strate- gic planning is that of methodologies, which allow us to build applications us- » Integrated CASE, CASE « Fourth-generation languages (4GL) » Experi systems John Avakian works best if the application prototype is demonstrated to the end user. The prototype typically contains screens and reports, menus, dialogues and some pro- cedural logic. The end user can then sug- gest improvements. 'The use of rapid-prototyping tech- nigues places a heavy burden on the CASE tool. Methodologies such as RAD t applications otherwise ible. Pace 67 Guality, Low Cost produce the greatest increase in produc- tivity if the CASE tool is used to devel- op entire applications on the desktop. % However, current CASE technology cant fuhiy: meet this objective- od SiŠ Even though CASE technology is still in its infancy, it does allow us to select tools that are capable of converting de- sign specifications into the code re- guired for a running application, and to generate the whole application on the desktop. ; In evaluating CASE tools for rapid- prototyping applications, look for inte- grated tools that provide a tightly inte- grated code generator, capable of gener- ating all the code for an application on the desktop and in multiple source lan- guages. The tool should help ereate co- operative processing, real-time, and engi- neering applications under Unix, all for use on multiple hardware platforms. Additional reguirements for an inte- grated tool include version control, traceability, project-management abili- ties and support for an industry-stan- dard repository of design information. No single integrated CASE tool supports all of these reguirements, but leading vendors are working toward this goal. Next week, Ill discuss the evolution of a corporate information strategy based on advances in integrated archii methodologjes and integrated CASE tools. 8 The concepts embodied in this article are described in the High-Productivity Technology volume in The James Mar- tin Report Series. For more informa- tion on this volume, call (617) 639- 1958. For information on seminars, contact (in the United States and Can- ada) Technology Transfer Institute, 741 10th St., Santa Monica, Calif. 90402 (213) 394-8305. In Europe, con- tact Savant, 2 New St., Carnforth, Lancs., LA5 9BX United Kingdom (0524) 784 505. POR bei as intelli kasne kej maintaii Nco See an in depih nos COBOL/2 Workbench faci ironment uses personal gent, distributed workstations for developing, ning host-based COBOL applications. At 'Seminars you will: Y See the positive i peč opa VE impact the programmer workstation can vity technical demonstration of the vip Focus "" Watch CICS ani IMS code ona umet a S code ofoaded from ih The COBOL Programmer Workstation and Its Impact on Productivity The Micro Focus Developers Seminar Schedule The Programmer Workstation env la There is no charge for attendin Seminar. For more information or about Micro Focus products call 415 g a Micro Focus Developers about the Developers Seminar »856-4161.