DSDM Method

Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM) is a framework based originally around Rapid Application Development (RAD), supported by its continuous user involvement in an iterative development and incremental approach which is responsive to changing requirements, in order to develop a system that meets the business needs on time and on budget. It is one of a number of Agile methods for developing software and forms part of the Agile Alliance.

DSDM was developed in the United Kingdom in the 1990s by a consortium of vendors and experts in the field of Information System (IS) development, the DSDM Consortium, combining their best-practice experiences. The DSDM Consortium is a non-profit and vendor independent organisation which owns and administers the framework. The first version was completed in January 1995 and published in February 1995. The current version in use at this point in time (April 2006) is Version 4.2: Framework for Business Centered Development released in May 2003.

DSDM Public Version 4.2 (www.dsdm.org) was made available for individuals to view and use in July 2006. However, anyone reselling DSDM must still be a member of the not-for-profit consortium.

As an extension of rapid application development, DSDM focuses on Information Systems projects that are characterized by tight schedules and budgets. DSDM addresses the common reasons for information systems project failure including exceeding budgets, missing deadlines, and lack of user involvement and top management commitment.

DSDM consists of 3 phases: pre-project phase, project life-cycle phase, and post project phase. The project life-cycle phase is subdivided into 5 stages: feasibility study, business study, functional model iteration, design and build iteration, and implementation.

DSDM recognizes that projects are limited by time and resources, and plans accordingly to meet the business needs. In order to achieve these goals, DSDM encourages the use of RAD with the consequent danger that too many corners are cut. DSDM applies some principles, roles, and techniques.

In some circumstances, there are possibilities to integrate practices from other methodologies, such as Rational Unified Process (RUP), Extreme Programming (XP), and PRINCE2, as complements to DSDM. Another agile method that has some similarity in process and concept to DSDM is Scrum.