what is jad
JAD stands for Joint Application Development. It is a requirements gathering and software development process centered around collaborative workshops known as JAD sessions.
The JADapproach was first used in the late 1970s as a way to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the software development process. It brings together business area people (end-users) and IT (information technology) professionals (developers) in a highly focused workshop.
The objective of a JAD session is to pool in subject matter experts and stakeholders in one room to collaborate, discuss, and agree upon the needs and features of the system. The process is facilitated by a JAD facilitator (usually an experienced business analyst) and the output is a document outlining the consensus based business requirements.
Benefits of JADinclude:
- Enhanced communication among stakeholders, leading to more accurate requirements.
- Reduced development time due to the collaborative nature of the sessions.
- Higher user involvement, leading to more user-friendly systems.
- Increased likelihood of project success as stakeholders are involved from the start and feel ownership of the project.
However, JADsessions require careful planning and effective facilitation to be successful. They also need a significant time commitment from all participants.