Dynamic Systems Design Method is a Rapid Application Development method concerned mainly with the development of computerised Information Systems. It originated in the UK in 1994 as a vendor-neutral method (in context, one unaligned with a specific CASE tool os consultancy organisation) and is managed by a consortium of interested companies and individuals.

System development methods are part of a broad discipline within the software development industry which seek to provide a framework for activity and the capture, storage, transformation and dissemination of information so as to enable the economic development of computer systems that are fit for purpose.

RAD is an approach characterised by short task iterations, low volumes of documentation, and a willingness to add, amend or drop requirements rather than amend budget or timescale. It is in contrast with a traditional waterfall approach such as SSADM.

DSDM has a number of hallmarks, including:

• Empowered project teams with specific memberships
• Timeboxed and iterated task cycles
• Propritisation of requirements using the MoSCoW mnemonic

Timeboxing is the convention that there is a set time in which a task may be worked on, after the expiry of which work on that task will halt, irrespective of the point in the task that has been reached.

The MoSCoW mnemonic describes the relative desirability of features of a system design:

• Must have
• Should have
• Could Have
• Would like to have

External links

• DSDM Consortium website