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Fujitsu's System Development Methodology: SDAS


FSTJ 2006-7 Cover Image

2006-7 (Vol.42, No.3)

In this special issue, we focus on Fujitsu's comprehensive system development methodology: System Development Architecture & Support facilities (SDAS). SDAS is a compilation of Fujitsu system development technologies for information systems ranging from mainframes to Web systems. We describe the tools and techniques of SDAS and Fujitsu's activities in software development standardization. We also present case studies of SDAS application.


2006-7 (Vol.42, No.3) Contents

1. Preface (26 KB)
In recent years, a top priority for our customers has been the speeding up of management so they can respond to rapidly changing markets and business trends. Therefore, there is a strong need for short-term development of the information systems that constitute a management platform. This special issue introduces Fujitsu's System Development Architecture & Support facilities (SDAS), which is a comprehensive system development methodology that can help meet this need. ---[Yoshitaka Sakashita, Group President, Software & Services Technology Unit]

Outline

2. Fujitsu's System Development Methodology: SDAS (72 KB)
Recent information systems have become critical infrastructures for both industry and society, and there are growing requirements for higher quality and reliability and a shorter development period to meet ongoing changes in the business environment. To meet these needs, Fujitsu has strengthened and enhanced its system development methodology called System Development Architecture & Support facilities (SDAS). Also, Fujitsu has adapted SDAS to new technologies and expanded its scope to cover the complete lifecycle of systems in Japan, from analysis and development to maintenance and rebuilding of existing customer systems. SDAS provides a development methodology, framework, and tools for improving quality and reducing the time needed for development. SDAS features an accurate definition of requirements, a high degree of expandability and maintainability by using a mission-critical application framework, and effective development tools to automate testing and documentation. This paper outlines the features of SDAS methodology, its framework, and development tools. ---[Takeshi Oshima, Masayuki Kashiwagi, Hiroshi Fukao]

Development Technologies I: Clarifying Customer's Requirements and Sharing Them within Development Team and Customer

3. Approach to EA at Fujitsu and Relationships between EA, SDAS, and SOA (84 KB)
Enterprise Architecture (EA) is an increasingly popular system that totally optimizes business and information systems by IT governance and adjustment of business and information strategies. The EA used at Fujitsu has features such as 1) an approach for realizing IT governance, 2) early development support of EA, and 3) smooth cooperation for operation and further development of EA. Our EA receives good reviews by providing a practical EA methodology in the form of a development and consulting service. From the viewpoint of System Development Architecture & Support facilities (SDAS), Fujitsu's EA is not only positioned as an entry point that connects a business strategy with system requirements analysis, but also deeply incorporates the concept of SDAS into its methodology. This paper outlines EA, Fujitsu's approach to EA, and the relationships between EA, SDAS, and Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA). ---[Hiromi Matsuyama]
4. Standardization of Development Process and Additional Efforts Focusing on Web Application Development (226 KB)
In this time of remarkable informationization, information systems have become an essential business infrastructure for managing corporate activities. Under these circumstances, due to the highly diverse functions and the related highly divisionized and specialized work, a large number of field workers are involved in system development. They must therefore communicate properly and cooperate in work through a common understanding. They must also share their roles systematically and clarify the range of responsibilities between themselves. To help meet this need, Fujitsu has developed the Solution-oriented system Development Engineering Methodology 21 (SDEM21), a system development map that plainly systematizes the tasks of an entire lifecycle, from planning to operation and maintenance. Web application development has accelerated in recent years, and to assist in this area, Fujitsu has developed ComponentAA Development Method. This method makes it easy to construct a flexible project development standard for various technologies for implementing Web applications. Moreover, Fujitsu has developed Secure Web Application, which is a security countermeasures standard for building stable and secure Web services. This paper introduces SDEM21, ComponentAA Development Method, and Secure Web Application. ---[Ryoko Saito, Satoru Okiyama, Fusami Hirai]
5. Toward Realization of Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) (90 KB)
These days, companies must quickly identify changes that will affect them and quickly respond to those changes. In some cases, to secure global competitive superiority, companies must make rapid decisions to start new businesses as early as possible. On the other hand, because the IT systems at the heart of businesses are developed in response to individual requests, there are multiple platforms and application architectures, which causes complexity and bloating. This makes it hard to grasp the overall situation, making it difficult to adapt a system to a new business and ensure consistency when a system is maintained. Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA), which is a concept for making systems robust against change, is attracting attention as a way to solve these problems. Fujitsu made its system of SOA technologies public in July 2005 to facilitate the realization of IT systems that are robust against change. This system provides SOA development techniques (SDAS/Service Modeling). This paper describes the technologies used to realize SOA. ---[Isao Morita]
6. Use of Business Modeling in Requirements Definition Phase (115 KB)
For many enterprises, how to anticipate various changes in the business environment and promptly respond to those changes are important issues. However, in many cases, the IT systems that support the basis of business are extremely complicated and difficult to respond to changes. To address these problems, Fujitsu recently reviewed its SDAS system development methodology from the requirements definition phase by reconsidering its original concept. First, enterprise businesses and related IT systems can be correctly visualized and commonly understood by everyone by improving a few key modeling techniques for the requirements definition phase (e.g., business process modeling and business data modeling) based on our previous practical experience. Secondly, the total optimization of systems by taking new approaches such as Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) becomes possible by providing the means to redesign complex IT systems into flexible, mutually separated ones. This paper describes the concept of modeling and then examines business process modeling and business data modeling. Lastly, this paper describes how these business modeling techniques are used to realize SOA systems. ---[Naritoshi Tsugane, Takeo Asakura]

Development Technologies II: Tools and Frameworks

7. Improvement of Software Quality and Productivity Using Development Tools (180 KB)
Information systems, which successively meet the requirements of on-site management and staff, have become enormous and complicated after many years of modification. To make IT investments efficient, it is essential to reuse current software assets effectively, quickly develop systems, and reduce testing costs. To help customers achieve these goals, Fujitsu provides a systematic development environment called the System Development Architecture & Support facilities (SDAS). This environment covers the entire lifecycle of application development. This paper introduces some systematic development tools for SDAS-based Web application development. Specifically, it introduces Interstage Apworks, which is an integrated development environment based on open standards; the SIMPLIA series of testing support tools; the PROSPECS reverse engineering tool; and the NetCOBOL multi-platform COBOL compiler. ---[Hideo Abotani, Tomoki Shiratori, Kouji Sasaki, Masaki Tonomura]
8. Promotion of Development Efficiency by Using Frameworks (127 KB)
The framework is the core SDAS technology for reducing the time needed to develop a system and improve development efficiency and quality. Fujitsu provides the B2.Sframework, which consists of three frameworks, as its application framework system. The first framework, Web Front Framework, can make development and maintenance more efficient because it separates screens, business logics, and data. It can also improve the security of Web applications. The second framework, Mission-critical System Framework, is used for mission-critical systems. Mission-critical System Framework ensures the efficient construction of mission-critical systems by providing a multi-language container and batch framework functions. The third framework, Client J Framework (CJF), uses Java to establish a rich client system. This paper introduces the latest facilities for using these frameworks and cites some examples of how these frameworks are applied. ---[Toshiya Hanamori, Noboru Kurumai, Takashi Shima]

Development Technologies III: Migration Technologies

9. TransMigration Services (76 KB)
Information technology (IT) systems are now directly linked to business strategy and are a critical factor in determining whether a business succeeds. Therefore, businesses must optimize their IT systems enterprise-wide to ensure long-term business expansion. Fujitsu offers TransMigration Services to customers who face challenges in optimizing their IT systems. TransMigration Services enables customers to transform their systems safely, surely, and swiftly into optimized systems by effectively using existing software assets to address a broad range of business challenges and requirements. This paper describes the key considerations when using TransMigration Services to optimize a system. Then, it describes the two phases of TransMigration Services and its supporting technologies. Lastly, this paper presents a case study of a TransMigration Services application. ---[Shigeki Kimura, Shoichi Senda, Manami Uda]

Management Technologies

10. Requests and Main Problems Regarding Configuration Management in Open System Development — Management in Short-Term, Congested Developments — (63 KB)
To cope with the drastically changing business environment, enterprises are becoming strongly focused on ways to achieve speed-oriented management, improve management efficiency, and reduce costs, even at their system development sites. To help them achieve these goals, IT is becoming more open and is expanding its range of applications. For example, Fujitsu has developed configuration management models that target not only conventional library management areas, but also linkages with other management areas and areas of system specifications. We are currently verifying the effectiveness of these models in individual business fields. We regard problem-solving methods for configuration management as configuration management solutions. This paper describes the configuration management models we have developed that standardize these solutions and problem-solving methods by using configuration management solutions. ---[Masashi Iizuka]
11. Application of Knowledge Management to System Development (48 KB)
Fujitsu is currently undertaking the project management advocated by PMI Co. of the U.S. based on PMBOK and a development management based on SDEM/SDAS. Given this background, FSI-BOK/PM is set as a practical benchmark for achieving both types of management. To effectively manage projects based on these standards, it is important to share specific development information among management activities supervised by project managers and other leaders, as well as those conducted by all development staff members in order to make these activities practical. For these reasons, Fujitsu is promoting efficient on-site activities to improve software through a mechanism called SolutionNET, which is a knowledge management concept established in 1997 that enables a systematic spiral for restructuring business operations. This paper introduces the implementation of ProjectWEB, which is the support tool used to practice these activities, to system development. ---[Kazuo Hosono]

Other Activities Related to SDAS

12. Mechanism of Third-Party Quality Assurance (64 KB)
Computer systems are now so deeply ingrained in society that they form a major social infrastructure. Consequently, computer system problems can have a serious effect on society. At Fujitsu, the urgent tasks of reducing the delay in service release time caused by quality problems and curtailing projects that adversely affect profit must be addressed. Therefore, Fujitsu has devised a mechanism of third-party quality assurance that determines whether sufficient quality is achieved from the early stage of design. This paper describes two mechanisms of third-party assurance based on application auditing: Project Quality Design (PQD) and Application Quality Inspection (APQI). ---[Nobuo Iida]
13. Software Engineering Center and Fujitsu's SEC Contributions (62 KB)
The Software Engineering Center (SEC) was established in the Information-Technology Promotion Agency (IPA) by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) in October 2004. The SEC has started activities to improve the competitiveness of the software industry in Japan, facilitated software development technology, contributed to international standardization activities, and developed human resources in software. "SEC activities cover research in software engineering for enterprise and embedded systems and practice in advanced software development projects where results from the research activities are investigated via collaboration among industry, academia, and government" (quote from the SEC Web page). As one of the leading companies in the Japanese software industry, Fujitsu has been playing a major role in these activities and playing a major role since the SEC's establishment. This paper describes the activities of the SEC and Fujitsu's SEC contributions, focusing on the SDAS technology for enterprise systems. ---[Kenji Wakasugi, Noritoshi Murakami, Haruhiko Gouda]

Case Studies of SDAS Application

14. Practical Case of Applying ComponentAA Development Method (58 KB)
Fujitsu's ComponentAA Development Method is a development standard for Web applications that is designed to provide short-term delivery and high-quality system integration. It gives specifications for the technological elements of documents and techniques and guidelines for designing and testing. In the industry & distribution business, to verify the effect of ComponentAA Development Method, we adapted it to a model project and achieved a quality improvement and person-hour reduction. These benefits were achieved by facilitating customization activities such as the integration of documents and the creation of sample descriptions and charts showing the relationships among documents. In this paper, we introduce the challenges of adapting ComponentAA Development Method in the industry & distribution business, some effective customization methods, and the effects of applying ComponentAA. ---[Yuzo Yonemura]
15. Reconstruction of Large Systems Based on Business Data Model (54 KB)
Some of our customers have large mainframe systems that have become oversized and hard to maintain, and these customers now want to structurally reform these systems. However, it has been difficult for them to learn how to make this reform. This situation prompted Fujitsu to develop the FUTURITY solution, which is based on the experience we gained in the structural reform of KDDI Corp.'s system and involves work processes, development methodologies, and tools. FUTURITY is composed of four solutions: FUTURITY-TB, which is used to abstract a customer's business into a business data model and develop To-Be data models; FUTURITY-AI, which is used to abstract the data structure of a customer's current system and develop As-Is data models; FUTURITY-MP, which is used to compare To-Be data models with As-Is data models and develop reconstruction plans; and FUTURITY-SI, which provides methods and tools for efficiently developing a system designed on the basis of business models. This paper describes the basic system development philosophy and other details of FUTURITY. ---[Shoichi Okugawa]
16. Utilizing SDAS to Implement Financial Solutions (103 KB)
Fujitsu's customers in the financial industry have restructured and expanded their systems. Now, these customers not only need the reliability and quality they enjoyed in the past but also need this reliability and quality much more quickly. Especially these days, it is necessary to use the latest technology and development methods to keep up with the constant changes in the business environment and IT techniques. To achieve this, the previously used development methods are becoming inadequate, and it is now necessary to establish and develop financial solutions that adopt SDAS. In this paper, we first explain the requirements of the solution architecture for the leasing industry and the design concept of a solution for lease system construction that covers both the business side and system side. Next, we introduce an approach that covers the design concepts on the system side. By repeatedly using solutions that adopt SDAS, we have achieved high-quality, short-term system development. ---[Hiroshi Ojima, Seigo Kuroda]
17. Adaptation of Frameworks for Development of Public Office Systems (47 KB)
Conventionally, the development of information systems in Japanese public offices has been based on mainframe computers. However, the development of information systems in public offices has recently mainly been Web-based in order to reduce system lifecycle costs, expand public services, and create a ubiquitous society. Web applications for public office must be developed quickly, at low-cost, and to a high quality. One approach for meeting these requirements is the use of frameworks. This paper shows how Fujitsu reduces the cost and development time of Web applications for public services by adapting a framework to enhance the functions of Interstage Application Framework Suite, which is a framework product that conforms to J2EE. ---[Hitoshi Inoue, Hiroki Nakanishi]
18. Development of Enterprise Business Application Software by Introducing Toyota Production System (64 KB)
Fujitsu Applications, Ltd. (FAP) was established in April 2004 as part of the Fujitsu Group to focus on developing business application software in Japan. To develop business application software (the basic task of FAP based on SDAS development standards), reducing the development period and achieving high quality are essential. In December 2004, we began introducing the Toyota Production System (TPS) for developing a full-scale application software production phase, while studying and attempting to apply TPS for developing business application software. This paper describes how TPS was concretely introduced (for relatively short-term, large-scale projects involving business application software based on SDAS), and how daily Kaizen activities are linked to achieve expected results. Also described are the issues to address for achieving high productivity and high quality, as clarified through case examples. ---[Tsutomu Sekimura, Tomiko Maruyama]
19. Case Studies of System Architectures That Use COBOL Assets (71 KB)
The Common Business Oriented Language (COBOL) was developed as a programming language for business transactions. For a long time, it has been a major programming language for mission-critical systems because of its high reliability and compatibility ensured through international standards. NetCOBOL is a COBOL development environment offered by Fujitsu that supports quick construction and stable operation of mission-critical systems in cooperation with Java and Visual Basic. It achieves this by using existing COBOL assets as well as many supporting tools and standard development styles based on technologies that comprise Fujitsu's Systems Development Architecture & Support facilities (SDAS). In this paper, we introduce case studies of the architectures of three systems that use COBOL assets. The first system, at Seikodo Co., Ltd., is based on a combination of Java and COBOL. The second, at Meitetsucom Co., Ltd., is a .NET Framework-based system linked with a combination of Visual Basic and COBOL. The third, at Presidential Life, is a .NET Framework-based system built using COBOL. ---[Haruhiro Okishima]