Revolution or evolution?: a comparison of object-oriented and structured systems development methods

  • Authors:

  • Sumit Sircar;Sridhar P. Nerur;Radhakanta Mahapatra

  • Affiliations:

  • Center for IT Management, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX;Department of COIS, Central Missouri State University, Warrensburg, MO;Department of Information Systems and Operations Management, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX

  • Venue:
  • MIS Quarterly
  • Year:
  • 2001

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Abstract

This paper examines the changes engendered when moving from a structured to an object-oriented systems development approach and reconciles the differing views concerning whether this represents an evolutionary or revolutionary change. Author co-citation analysis is used to elucidate the ideational and conceptual relationships between the two approaches. The difference in conceptual distance at the analysis and design level compared to that at the programming level is explained using Henderson's framework for organizational change. The conceptual shift during analysis and design is considered architectural, whereas for programming it is deemed merely incremental. The managerial implications of these findings are discussed and suggestions for improving the likelihood of success in the adoption of object-oriented systems development methods are provided.