HAT (Hyper Analysis Toolkit): A tool for hypertext-based dynamic systems analysis

Increasing system complexity necessitated the development of software engineering methods and CASE (Computer Aided Software Engineering) tools. Many software developers and businesses have adopted engineering principles and computer aided tools to cope with the growing needs of software development and maintenance. In practice, most software projects are initiated by the information needs of the end users. Precise descriptions and understandings of these information needs are critical to information systems. It is believed that increasing end user involvement and doing things right in the early stages of software development processes are the most effective ways to improve software quality.;This dissertation presents a research project to develop a tool, HAT (Hyper Analysis Toolkit), to help the end users to understand and use the structured analysis techniques. HAT provides a hypertext linkage of graphical models, such as DFDs (Data Flow Diagrams) and ERDs (Entity Relation Diagrams), with system description narratives and other documents created during the system analysis. Hyperlinks placed in the diagrams and documents provide an easy way for end users and system analysts to navigate and cross-reference the system models.;Model evaluation is as important as model description. In addition to the hypertext-based user interface for model description, this research incorporates a simulation package and a rule-based expert system to estimate the dynamic features of a DFD model. Dynamic evaluation of models at early stages will help system developers and end users to have better control over software development processes.