Rapid Application Development (RAD) is a methodology that aims to drastically decrease the time needed to design and implement information systems through extensive user involvement, prototyping, integrated CASE tools, and code generators. The RAD process follows traditional SDLC steps but combines phases through iteration limited to design and development. RAD is supported by conceptual pillars focusing on tools, people, methodology, and management. Examples demonstrate RAD enabling systems to be developed rapidly at lower costs with time savings of 50% or more. However, RAD also risks lower quality, inconsistent designs, and lack of scalability without attention to later administration.

1. Copyright 2002 Prentice-Hall, Inc.
Modern Systems Analysis
and Design
Third Edition
Jeffrey A. Hoffer
Joey F. George
Joseph S. Valacich
Chapter 19
Rapid Application Development
19.1

2. Learning Objectives
Explain the Rapid Application Development
(RAD) approach and how it differs from
traditional approaches to information systems
development
Describe the systems development
components essential to RAD
Discuss the conceptual pillars that support
the RAD approach
Explain the advantages and disadvantages of
RAD as an exclusive systems development
methodology
19.2

3. Rapid Applications
Development (RAD)
Systems development methodology created
to radically decrease the time needed to
design and implement information systems
radically.
Five key factors
1. Extensive user involvement
2. Joint Application Design sessions
3. Prototyping
4. Integrated CASE tools
5. Code generators
19.3

4. The Process of Developing an
Application Rapidly
RAD is a general strategy rather than a
single methodology
Goals
 To analyze a business process rapidly
 To design a viable system solution through
intense cooperation between users and
developers
 To get the finished application into the hands of
the users quickly
Traditional SDLC steps are followed, but
phases are combined
Iteration is limited to design and
development phases
19.4

5. Components of RAD
User involvement is key to success
Prototyping is conducted in sessions
similar to Joint Application Design
(JAD)
Prototyping screens become screens
within the production system
CASE tools are used to design the
prototypes
19.5

6. Approaches to RAD
Martin’s pillars of RAD
 Four pillars
 Tools
 People
 Methodology
 Management
 Conversion to RAD within organization should be
done with a small group of well-trained and
dedicated professionals, called a RAD cell
 Over time, cell can grow until RAD is the
predominant approach of the information systems
unit
19.6

7. Approaches to RAD
McConnell’s pillars of RAD
 Four pillars
 Avoid classic mistakes
 Apply development fundamentals
 Manage risks to avoid catastrophic setbacks
 Apply schedule-oriented practices
 Table 19-1 lists some of McConnell’s 36
classic development mistakes
19.7

8. Approaches to RAD
McConnell’s pillars of RAD (continued)
 Development mistakes
 Weak personnel
 Employees that are not as well trained in skills necessary
for success of the project
 Silver-bullet syndrome
 Occurs when developers believe that a new and untried
technology is all that is needed to cure the ills of any
development project
 Feature creep
 More and more features are added to a system over
course of development
 Requirements gold-plating
 Project may have more requirements than needed
19.8

9. Approaches to RAD
Software tools
 Case tools can be used for
 Prototyping
 Code generation
 Example: COOL:Gen
 Visual Development Environments
 Visual Basic
 Delphi
19.9

10. Approaches to RAD
Martin’s RAD Life Cycle
 Systems requirement determination is done in
context of a discussion of business problems and
business areas
 User Design
 End users and IS professionals participate in JAD
workshops
 CASE tools are used to support prototyping
 Construction
 Designer creates code using code generator
 End user validates screens and other aspects of design
 Cutover
 New system is delivered to end users
19.10

11. RAD Success Stories
Inprise/Borland’s Delphi
 U.S. Navy Fleet Modernization
 Requirements
 Move from three character-based systems to a unified,
GUI-based system based on a single database
 Reasons for choosing Delphi
 Support for rapid prototyping
 Promise of re-use of components
 Outcome
 System developed in 6 months
 Estimated development savings of 50 percent
 New system resulted in immediate 20 percent savings due
to reduced maintenance costs
19.11

12. RAD Success Stories
Inprise/Borland’s Delphi (continued)
 First National Bank of Chicago
 Electronic Federal Tax Payment System
 Delphi enabled rapid prototyping and
development
 10 months of development time
 125 programmers
 250 million rows of data and 55 gigabytes of
data on-line
19.12

13. RAD Success Stories
VisualAge for Java
 Comdata
 Modular Over the Road System (MOTRS)
 IBM Global Services chosen as vendor
 Servlets
 Programming modules that expand the functions of the
Web server
 Applets
 Embedded code run from client browser
 Nine months to completion
 Three months of research
 Three months of coding
 Three months of testing
19.13

14. Advantages Disadvantages
Dramatic time savings the systems
development effort
More speed and lower cost may
lead to lower overall system quality
Can save time, money and human
effort
Danger of misalignment of system
developed via RAD with the
business due to missing information
Tighter fit between user
requirements and system
specifications
May have inconsistent internal
designs within and across systems
Works especially well where speed
of development is important
Possible violation of programming
standards related to inconsistent
naming conventions and
inconsistent documentation
Ability to rapidly change system
design as demanded by users
Difficulty with module reuse for
future systems
System optimized for users involved
in RAD process
Lack of scalability designed into
system
Concentrates on essential system
elements from user viewpoint
Lack of attention to later systems
administration built into system
Strong user stake and ownership of
system
High cost of commitment on the
part of key user personnel
19.14

15. Summary
Rapid Application Development
Approach (RAD)
Components of RAD
Conceptual pillars that support RAD
RAD success stories
Advantages and Disadvantages of RAD
19.15