Customer Reviews

Structured Systems Analysis: Tools and Techniques. (Prentice-Hall software series)

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As a business process consultant and information systems designer, I am constantly looking for effective techniques for capturing business details and new system requirements. I have looked at every new tool and method to come along, but this is STILL the best one there is. A testament to this book and it's methods is that many of the latest software tools, using the latest technology, still build on the methods and diagrams used in this book. And it's all still valid. Every consultant, business analyst, and systems designer MUST have a copy of this book in their library!

This is an EXCELLENT text and workbook. I was searching for a current publication. I have a very old copy but I find it still extremely relevant. I Took a graduate course in structured systems analysis in 1997 and the text the professor/ school ordered for the students was horrible and absolutely no help. I took out my old copy and was able to follow along very well. (I would bet the professor was also using this text as his guide :-) THIS BOOK NEEDS TO BE KEPT IN CIRCULATION!!!!

I read this book over 20 years ago. It is still the best. I keep it right on my desk.

I was introduced to Data Flow Diagraming in college with this book. Since then I have seen many other books describing DFD's. All fail to explain them as clearly as this book does. I highly recommend it!

This is an EXCELLENT text and workbook. I was searching for a current publication. I have a very old copy but I find it still extremely relevant. I Took a graduate course in structured systems analysis in 1997 and the text the professor/ school ordered for the students was horrible and absolutely no help. I took out my old copy and was able to follow along very well. (I would bet the professor was also using this text as his guide :-) THIS BOOK NEEDS TO BE KEPT IN CIRCULATION!!!!

One of the first book written on structured systems analysis and still, after 20 years, one of the best. The techniques has stood the test of time.

Received the item many days before its actual due delivery date, great shipping. Item was in much better shape than I expected given its age. Will use this vendor again if the opportunity arises.

This book has been in my library since it was first published. It has never gathered dust. The major benefit I've gained from Gane and Sarson's master work is in the area of procurement. I use the Gane and Sarson insights to assess seven types of projects. Three of these types are: Discovery or exploratory projects which have tight coupling and low cohesion. Client-centered projects which have moderate coupling and cohesion and programs of projects which exhibit loose coupling and high cohesion.

These insights enable project managers to structure their projects to maximize the value of the scarce resources they have to achieve successful completion. The implications of these three examples map quite nicely to three of the five hierarchical Software Capability Maturity Model approaches: Initial, Defined and Optimizing. This additional insight permits project managers to organize appropriately for the nature of the undertaking.

Tight coupling and low cohesion is best achieved with project personal co-located, dedicated and singularly focused on the assignment from beginning to end.

Moderate cohesion and moderate coupling is best approached by rolling in and out specialized staff by development phases with attention to a thread of dedicated project participants.

And loose coupling and high cohesion is particularly applicable to globally sourced project contribributors since there is a stable and defined operational basis for improved performance.

As an author of a CAPM exam preparation text I am bemused when candidates for CAPM and PMP exams think the project management body of knowledge is contained within the PMI published Guide. Few project managers with whom I consult, coach or train can name a single publication from which they learned about their profession.

When I did my Degree in Systems Analysis back in 87, Gane and Sarson was a classic then when you wanted to understand information systems and guess what? ... it was a classic then and in 2009 things have not changed. Technology may change but underlying principles and fundamental ideas don't. If you want to analyse informatation systems then this is the definitive text. If you what to know how External Entities, Processes, Data Stores, and Data Flows all fit together in a Data Flow Diagram then this the book to buy.

I was given this book when I first joined Mcdonnell Douglas back in the early 90's, as every programmer did. It is the bible of design books. Every software engineer and designer should have a copy.