Documenting the evolution of an information system

A description is given of TASC-EDGE (The Analytic Sciences Corporation effective development through growth), and evolution methodology, which addresses the requirements uncertainty problem for information systems by using a natural-growth model which starts with a small version of the eventual product and extends and refines its capabilities in response to user feedback on evolving requirements until the final product is achieved. The methodology uses many tightly spaced incremental deliveries. The documentation is grown along with the system, fed by the computer-aided software engineering (CASE) tools used during the system development. The methodology is described as it relates to the document production process, with emphasis on the integration of CASE and other prototyping tools. On the basis of TASC´s experience with military standard development projects, improvements in the form and content of the documentation standards that offer the potential to enhance productivity and increase cost effectiveness are recommended