Joint Application Design: The Group Session Approach to System Design (Yourdon Press Computing Series)

This work aims to explain how, with JAD (Joint Application Design) methodology, systems and software engineering specialists can design more usable systems faster. The book details how organizations can use JAD to bring users and information systems professionals together to design systems in facilitated group sessions. This practical volume is organized in a modular fashion, providing information directed specifically at the information manager, systems analyst, programmer or user. Additional features of the book include JAD case studies that illustrate concepts and forms; suggested participant profiles for selecting the most qualified people based on job experience, industry knowledge and personal characteristics; productivity and planning aids such as task lists, checklists, agendas, documentation forms, estimating worksheets and alternative scheduling strategies; advice on session leader facilitation techniques, including how to manage a discussion and handle the people issues that may arise; and practical considerations for implementing JAD in an organization. Judy August is an independent consultant in the JAD field. While with IBM's Professional Services unit, she was one of the original session leaders and managed a group of IBM's JAD specialists. Over the years she has led numerous JADs across industry, application and hardware boundaries.