Rocky Flats experience with SDM/70
Jerry Sanders · University of North Texas Digital Library (University of North Texas) · 1979
SDM/70 is a comprehensive system for developing systems. It employs a series of phases designed for consistent, orderly progress through the entire system development life cycle, with heavy emphasis on interaction with the users in the early phases and straightforward, but thorough, documentation throughout. The overall package includes a standard structure of tasks and steps for each phase, methods guidelines, many good forms and tutorials on state-of-the-art techniques. It has guidelines for estimating costs and schedules, approaches for improving project management, and ways to match the effort to the size and type of project (even for small applications or maintenance and enhancement of existing systems). Reasons for adoption of a new methodology by the Computing and Information Systems Department at Rocky Flats are reviewed. The choice of SDM/70 is described, and the status after about a year's experience, including the benefits perceived during that time, is discussed. (RWR)