The Art of Analysis [Hardcover]

Arthur M. Langer (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0387949720 | ISBN-13: 978-0387949727 | Publication Date: January 15, 1997 | Edition: Corrected

In any software project the analysis stage - documenting and designing requirements to meet the needs of the prospective users - is vital to the success of the project. This book provides a thorough introduction to analysis and where it fits into the software engineering process. The author applies his many years of experience both as a manager of software projects and as a consultant to numerous companies to illustrate succesful techniques and to identify potential pitfalls. The book is based on courses offered at Columbia University to a diverse audience of students and professionals. Throughout, the author is concerned to emphasize the stages of analysis and to identify many alternative modelling tools that an analyst can use. Particular emphasis is placed on Joint Application Development and on prototyping. Readers are assumed to have a reasonable understanding of computer concepts and terminology, and so this will be suitable for a first-level analysis course or it can be used by information systems professionals who need an in-depth understanding of the principles of the analysis and design process.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 177 pages
• Publisher: Springer; Corrected edition (January 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0387949720
• ISBN-13: 978-0387949727
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,321,054 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing but shallow, May 3, 1999

By 

Conrad H. Weisert (Chicago, Illinois USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Art of Analysis (Hardcover)

Brevity is a virtue, but Langer's explanations fall well short of showing the reader how to apply the techniques of systems analysis.

The chapters are in the sequence neither of the chronology of systems analysis tasks nor or the order of presentation in systems analysis deliverables. Each chapter is like a separate out-of-context article.

Langer steers a balanced course between competing methogologies, pointing out, as few other books do, that we should integrate the principles of object-oriented analysis into the proven framework of structured analysis. Much of what's here is good, but there isn't enough of it.

I recommend The Art of Analysis for supplementary reading by the experienced systems analyst, but not as a textbook from which to learn systems analysis.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good, brief introductory coverage of analysis, November 4, 1998

By 

S. Siegel - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Art of Analysis (Hardcover)

This is a good, brief introduction to the topic of systems analysis. The thing that I like best about this book is that it hits on most of the major topics related to analysis in about 150 pages. This is a small, compact book that I was able to read in a couple hours (and I consider myself a slow reader). This makes this a good introduction to the topic and a decent reference as well. In my opinion, the major thing that keeps this book from being a five star book is the fact that information was not presented in a fashion that I believe would easily lend itself as a guide on real life projects. I would have liked to have seen more chapter summaries that described suggested inputs, processes, and outputs through the life cycle of a project.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great confidence booster for an analyst amidst the flames., February 24, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Art of Analysis (Hardcover)

Like the hero of an action movie running from a burning jet, his fast thinking and willing feet sweeping away some hapless soul just before the big explosion consumes their former resting place, so have many of us found ourselves in IT positions of significance. We didn't begin our careers with this in mind, but as the information age has exploded around us, quick and willing minds have placed many of us in positions we were not formally trained for. Intimidating at times? To say the least! Mr. Langer's book is consumable during the explosion! His lessons on formal, academically and real world tested tools of analysis are straight forward, to the point, and packaged in chapters that are consumable in a single sitting. Following each chapter are a set of questions recapping the highlights to help set the information more firmly into your mind. Getting a solid introduction to so many great tools helped me to see which ones, out of a sea of tools available, would best suit my needs. It was also a great confidence booster to see that I was already doing so many things according to the book, Langer's book, The Art of Analysis. Buy it!