Incorporating Reusability Concepts into Systems Analysis and Design Course Coverage: Why and How
Olga Petkova, A. Tomasz Jarmoszko and Marianne D'Onofrio
The process of developing information systems solutions is complex and consumes significant organizational resources. While organizations undertake new systems development to meet changing and emerging needs, development often seems to progress without reusing the organization’s existing information and knowledge products.
Mainstream analysis and design texts all mention reusability and its potential benefits, but do not carry a reusability theme through their coverage of the systems development phases. Thus, students complete their courses with a superficial exposure to the concept, and may neither grasp its significance nor recognize the opportunities to reuse work products in the field.
This work reviews the spectrum of potential reuse opportunities within the context of the familiar systems development framework. Then, we present specific suggestions for integrating reusability concepts into specific topical coverage within Analysis and Design courses, without the need to remove other important coverage. This approach will be piloted in Fall 2005. We expect that with an improved awareness of the possibilities, students can better understand and apply the concepts in the classroom and in the field.
Keywords: reusability, analysis and design, object-orientation
Laurie Schatzberg is an Associate Professor of MIS at the University of New Mexico’s Anderson Schools of Management. She is also UNM’s Assistant Academic Vice President for MIS, and actively involved in the implementation planning for the university’s ERP. Her recent teaching includes object-oriented analysis and design, and an MIS case studies course. She developed and implemented a non-credit self-paced training and testing process to replace a required computer skills course, and has developed a “train-the-trainer” process to teaching management students advanced spreadsheet skills. She remains active in case study and pedagogy-oriented MIS research.
Amy Schumis the Ambulatory Clinical Informatics Manager for Presbyterian Healthcare Services. Presbyterian Healthcare Services was recently voted one of the Top 10 most Integrated Healthcare Networks in the country by Modern Healthcare. She is currently serving as Technical Project Manager for the implementation of an Enterprise Master Person Index and an ambulatory electronic patient record. Both will focus on integration with the inpatient environment to provide physicians with a complete electronic health record for their patients.
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