week 2Week 2 DQ1
Write a 200- to 300-word short answer to the following questions:

Describe how joint application design (JAD) might be considered a better information-gathering technique than the traditional method of requirements gathering? What are its shortcomings?
The existing method entailed application developers spending months learning the specifics of a particular department or job function, and then developing an application for the function or department. In addition to significant development backlog delays, this process resulted in applications taking years to develop, and often not being fully accepted by the application users. (JAD) is a process used in the prototyping life cycle area of the Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM) to collect business requirements while developing new information systems for a company. "The JAD process also includes approaches for enhancing user participation, expediting development, and improving the quality of specifications." It consists of a workshop where “knowledge workers and IT specialists meet, sometimes for several days, to define and review the business requirements for the system.” The attendees include high level management officials who will ensure the product provides the needed reports and information at the end. This acts as “a management process which allows Corporate Information Services (IS) departments to work more effectively with users in a shorter time frame.”
Through JAD workshops the knowledge workers and IT specialists are able to resolve any difficulties or differences between the two parties regarding the new information system. The workshop follows a detailed agenda in order to guarantee that all uncertainties between parties are covered and to help prevent any miscommunications. Miscommunications can carry far more serious repercussions if not addressed until later on in the process. In the end, this process will result in a new information system that is feasible and appealing to both the designers and end users.
JAD decreases time and costs associated with requirements elicitation process. During 2-4 weeks information not only is collected, but requirements, agreed upon by various system users, are identified. Experience with JAD allows companies to customize their systems analysis process into even more dynamic ones like Double Helix, a methodology for mission-critical work.
JAD sessions help bring experts together giving them a chance to share their views, understand views of others, and develop the sense of project ownership.
The methods of JAD implementation are well known, as it is "the first accelerated design technique available on the market and probably best known", and can easily be applied by any organization.

Easy integration of CASE tools into JAD workshops improves session productivity and provides systems analysts with discussed and ready to use models.

"Do your homework". Without multifaceted preparation for a JAD session, valuable time of professionals can be wasted easily. The wrong problem can be addressed, the wrong people can be invited to participate, inadequate resources for problem-solving can be used - all these scenarios can happen if organizers of the JAD session do not study the elements of the system being evaluated.
2. The team chosen to participate in a JAD workshop should include employees able to provide input on most, if not all, of the necessary parts of the problem. That is why particular attention should be paid during participant selection. The group should consist not only of employees from various departments who will interact with the new system, but also from different places on the organizational ladder. This variety of thought process understanding will reflect different, sometimes even conflicting points of view, but will allow participants to see a "different side of the coin". With better understanding of the undercurrents of processes JAD will bring to light a better model outline.
3. The facilitator as a smoothing and motivational force has to make sure that all participants, not only the most vocal ones, have a chance to offer their opinions, ideas, and thoughts. All business experts on the JAD team should be encouraged to offer their input, making discussions more fruitful.

http://www.bee.net/bluebird/jaddoc.htm