A Comparison of Structured Analysis to Object-Oriented Analysis - Research Paper Example

Comparison of Structured Analysis with Object Oriented Analysis Introduction A methodology is a process by which issues are addressed regarding some existing system or a procedure to build a new one. There have been many methodologies adapted over the years for system analysis and design. Some of them are Structured Systems Analysis and Design (SSAD), Rapid Application Development (RAD), Object-Oriented Analysis and Design (OOAD). Two of the most widely used ones are structured analysis and object oriented approach.

The former is considered to be an outcome of the 1970s when the developers explored new techniques to handle large and complex projects of those times (Pefkaros, 2008). The structured approach got accepted and started being widely used for development and system analysis. Then, a methodology was created that helped the development of applications with the object oriented languages. This approach came to be known as the object oriented analysis and design. A comparative analysis has been conducted with respect to these two methodologies, along with their basic infrastructure and techniques. 2. SSAD and OOADThe structured approach enables the analyst to split a complex project into smaller and controllable parts.

This approach is based on the step-by-step execution of the phases. The start of an activity in a phase will depend on the completion of activities in the preceding phase. It is based on a top-down, hierarchal approach that produces logical and organized systems (Holon Institute of Technology, n.d.). The structured nature of the design facilitates efficient project management, resource management etc. OOAD approach follows an object oriented approach instead of a functional one that is followed in SSAD (Pefkaros, 2008).

An object in OOAD is considered to be any place, person or thing that can have the following aspects related to it; Certain properties and traitsRelationship with other objectsMethods that can be used to perform functions on its data (Norman, 1996). Object oriented system analysis and design methodology has the following main components (Hoover & Olekshy, 2001);Requirements Modeling: This component involves the analysis of who shall be using the system and how.Information Modeling: It discusses the entities and relationships between objects.

Life Cycle Modeling: This defines the way an object will interact with its environment and all the aspects that are related to the status of an object.3. Comparative Analysis of SSAD and OOADThe object oriented model focuses on the decomposition with respect to objects whereas the structured approach decomposes the system on the basis of functions (Pefkaros, 2008).The structured design is based on the waterfall model whereas object oriented design is considered to be incremental and iterative.

Structured approach promotes the concept of clear steps from the initiation of the project till the end; these steps are conventionally planning, analysis, design and implementation. Whereas the object oriented approach does provide any such specific number of phases. There are no clear steps from analysis to design.Structured System analysis and design is process oriented whereas object oriented system and design is data-oriented. There exists a clear separation between the between the data and the processes of the system in the structured approach, while the data and the processes of the system are encapsulated into objects (Pefkaros, 2008).4. ConclusionOOAD seems more flexible and adaptive to changes as compared to SSAD.

There can be many benefits gained from both of these methodologies but the dynamic changes in the current markets and thus the clients can be fulfilled in OOAD design better the conventional way of SSAD. Incremental and iterative approaches (in OOAD) bear better results since these techniques address issues and cater changes in the early stages rather than later.ReferencesHolon Institute of Technology, n.d. Structured analysis and design [PDF Document]. Retrieved from Lecture Notes Online Web Site: http://www.hit.ac.

il/staff/leonidm/information-systems/ch03.htmlHoover, H., and Olekshy, T. (2001). Object-Oriented Analysis and Design a Practitioners Approach, Avra Software Lab Inc., Retrieved from: www.avrasoft.com.Norman, R. (1996). Object-Oriented Systems Analysis and Design, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey.Pefkaros, K. (2008). Using object-oriented analysis and design over traditional structured analysis and design. International Journal of Business Research.