Situational application
Encyclopedia
In computing
, a situational application is "good enough" software created for a narrow group of users with a unique set of needs. The application typically (but not always) has a short life span, and is often created within the group where it is used, sometimes by the users themselves. As the requirements of a small team using the application change, the situational application often also continues to evolve to accommodate these changes. Although Situational Applications are specifically designed to embrace change, significant changes in requirements may lead to an abandonment of the situational application altogether – in some cases it is just easier to develop a new one than to evolve the one in use.
This contrasts with more common Enterprise Applications, which are designed to address a large set of business problems, require meticulous planning, and impose a sometimes-slow and often-meticulous change process.
in his essay entitled "Situated Software" described a type of software that “… is designed for use by a specific social group, rather than for a generic set of "users".” IBM later morphed the term into "situational applications" http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/webservices/library/ws-soa-situational1/?S_TACT=105AGX01&S_CMP=LP.
can also be considered situational applications. A forms application such as a Microsoft Access Database (MDB file) can be considered a situational application.
The latest implementations of situational application environments include Longjump, Force.com and WorkXpress.
Computing
Computing is usually defined as the activity of using and improving computer hardware and software. It is the computer-specific part of information technology...
, a situational application is "good enough" software created for a narrow group of users with a unique set of needs. The application typically (but not always) has a short life span, and is often created within the group where it is used, sometimes by the users themselves. As the requirements of a small team using the application change, the situational application often also continues to evolve to accommodate these changes. Although Situational Applications are specifically designed to embrace change, significant changes in requirements may lead to an abandonment of the situational application altogether – in some cases it is just easier to develop a new one than to evolve the one in use.
Characteristics
Situational Applications are developed fast, easy to use, uncomplicated, and serve a unique set of requirements. They have a narrow focus on a specific business problem, and they are written in a way where if the business problem changes rapidly, so can the situational application.This contrasts with more common Enterprise Applications, which are designed to address a large set of business problems, require meticulous planning, and impose a sometimes-slow and often-meticulous change process.
Origination
Clay ShirkyClay Shirky
Clay Shirky is an American writer, consultant and teacher on the social and economic effects of Internet technologies. He has a joint appointment at New York University as a Distinguished Writer in Residence at the Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute and Assistant Arts Professor in the New...
in his essay entitled "Situated Software" described a type of software that “… is designed for use by a specific social group, rather than for a generic set of "users".” IBM later morphed the term into "situational applications" http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/webservices/library/ws-soa-situational1/?S_TACT=105AGX01&S_CMP=LP.
Evolution
The successful large-scale implementation of a situational application environment in an organization requires a strategy, mindset, methodology and support structure quite different from traditional application development. This is now evolving as more companies learn how to best leverage the ideas behind situational applications. In addition, the advent of cloud-based application development and deployment platforms makes the implementation of a comprehensive situational application environment much more feasible.Examples
A structured wiki that can host wiki applications lends itself to creation of situational applications. Some mashupsMashup (web application hybrid)
In Web development, a mashup is a Web page or application that uses and combines data, presentation or functionality from two or more sources to create new services...
can also be considered situational applications. A forms application such as a Microsoft Access Database (MDB file) can be considered a situational application.
The latest implementations of situational application environments include Longjump, Force.com and WorkXpress.
External links
- Situated Software, Clay Shirky's Writings About the Internet
- Luba Cherbakov, Andy Bravery, Aroop Pandya. SOA meets situational applications, 3 part series
- Situational Applications: When the situation demands faster turnaround than IT can provide
- M. LaMonica, IBM Eyes Programming for the Masses, CNET News.com.
- Luba Cherbakov, Andy Bravery, Aroop Pandya. Changing the corporate IT development model: Tapping the power of grassroots computing, IBM Systems Journal