OBJECT-ORIENTED ANALYSIS AND DESIGN IN SOFTWARE PROJECT TEAMS

Software development poses enormous cognitive, organizational, and man agerial challenges. In this article, we focus on two of the most formi dable of these challenges and on the promise of object-oriented (OO) t echnology for addressing them. In particular, we analyze the claims ma de about OO design (OOD) and (a) dissemination of domain knowledge and (b) communication and coordination. In order to address the validity of these claims, we conducted an in-depth observational study of OOD i n an industrial setting as well as a series of interviews with experie nced OOD practitioners. Compared to similar projects using traditional methods, our study found evidence in the OOD project for a reduced ne ed for clarification in design discussions; differences in participati on, in how meeting time is spent, and in the sequential order of desig n discussions; and a much greater tendency to ask why questions. We di scuss the implications of these findings for tools, grain size of desi gn units, interactions with clients, and organizing for OOD.