OBJECT VERSUS PROCESS ANALYSIS

Increasingly, object analysis is becoming the preferred mode of modeling vis-à-vis process analysis. The fundamental difference between the two is that object analysis relies on the relationships among entities (e.g., people, organizations) while process analysis relies on the exchange of data among processes.

Both object and process analysis have their origins in the information technology arena. Some popular object analysis approaches include ones by Coad and Yourdon, Jones, Booch, and Rumbaugh. Some popular process analysis approaches include ones by DeMarco, Gane and Sarson, and Hatley and Pirbhai.

Object analysis is becoming more popular with the advent of client/server computing, object-event programming, and reengineering. Its advantages are its reflection of real-world objects and their relationships and its translation to more contemporary business practices (e.g., reengineering). Process analysis, although widely used, is associated more with mainframe environments and process-oriented environments. Its advantages are its ease of application, history of application, and limited number of varieties.

for Using Object versus Process Analysis

• Determine the purpose of the analysis (e.g., use for object-oriented programming).
• Determine which type of analysis is more familiar to people (e.g., clients, analysts).
• Determine whether flow of control is an issue.
  • Note: Object analysis handles flow of control better than data flows.
• Whether object analysis or process analysis, understand:
  • the notation
  • overall architecture
  • desired characteristics of models.