Technique

Definition

Technique

a low-level work unit that is the reified implementation of (i.e., way of performing) one or more work units

Classification

As illustrated in the preceding figure, techniques are part of the following inheritance hierarchy:

• Type: Concrete
• Superclass: Work Unit
• Subclasses:
  • Common Techniques (useful for multiple tasks):
    • Abstraction
    • Active Listening
    • Application Studies
    • Brainstorming
    • Categorization
    • Cohesion
    • Cost/Benefit Analysis
    • Cost Estimation
    • Coupling
    • Gap Analysis
    • Generalization
    • Documentation Studies
    • Documentation Studies
    • Incremental Development
    • Interviews
    • Iteration
    • Joint Application Development (JAD)
    • Observation
    • Parallel Development
    • Prototyping
    • Questionnaires
    • Specialization
    • Storyboarding
    • Timeboxing
  • Design Techniques:
    • Access Analysis
    • Database Clustering
    • Database Fragmentation
    • Database Indexing
    • Database Normalization
    • Database Tuning
    • Data Mapping
    • Data Replication
  • Management Techniques:
    • Pareto Analysis
    • Payment Analysis
    • Value Chain Analysis
  • Risk Management Techniques:
    • Risk Acceptance
    • Risk Avoidance
    • Risk Mitigation
    • Risk Transfer
  • Quality Engineering Techniques:
    • Assessment
    • Auditing
    • Demonstration
    • Inspecting
    • Quality Metrics
    • Reviewing
    • Static Analysis (e.g., compiling, link checking, syntax checking)
    • Testing
    • Walkthroughs
  • Requirements Engineering Techniques:
    • Requirements Tracing
    • Storyboarding
    • Task Analysis
  • Testing Techniques:
    • Assertions and Exceptions
    • Equivalence Set Testing
    • Boundary Value Testing
    • Regression Testing
    • State Based Testing
    • Structured Testing
  • Training Techniques:
    • Apprenticing
    • Classroom Training
    • Computer-Based Training (CBT)
    • Lunch Seminars
    • Mentoring
    • On-the-Job Training (OJT)

Responsibilities

The typical responsibilities of tasks are to:

• Model the smallest unit of work done by producers.
• Provide a way of documenting a cohesive set of steps.

Guidelines

• In order to provide flexibility during instantiation and tailoring, producers may delegate the performance of their own tasks to techniques.
• Techniques are reified as objects using the Strategy Pattern.
• Tailor techniques by:
  • Adding, modifying, or deleting preconditions.
  • Adding, modifying, or deleting individual steps.
  • Adding, modifying, or deleting postconditions (i.e., completion criteria).