German users' survey: CASE is overrated

Electronic News, March 23, 1992

MUNICH, Germany -- A recent users' survey in this country concluded that computer-aided software engineering is over-rated.

The majority of the 75 organizations and enterprises surveyed are disappointed in CASE and found it difficult to justify most of the money spent on CASE tools, according to Butler Cox GmbH, Munich, a CSC Index subsidiary, which conducted the study.

The inquiry sought to find out how much CASE tools affect costs, the pace of application development, software quality, maintenance and adaptation to specific user requirements.

The findings of the survey, entitled "Advantages of CASE -- Myth and Reality," clearly demonstrated that CASE does not live up to users' expectations, Butler Cox said. More than 80 percent of the respondents declared that the advantages they had anticipated by employing CASE tools have not come to pass.

An analysis of 800 software development projects confirmed CASE's poor showing, the firm said, adding that some tools even had a detrimental effect on productivity and software quality.

Butler Cox' Klaus Heinrich said that some companies were mistaken in following competitors' trend-setting software development. Often, companies have been using the latest, state-of-the-art technology when they would have done better using cost-effective, simpler solutions, he added.

While it has been relatively easy for information technology managers to determine the best approach and methodology for implementing software, more often than not it turned out sophisticated tools were too difficult to implement. The critical users believe vendors of sophisticated integrated CASE environments developed their products without regard for their customers' needs.

Mr. Heinrich said about 95 percent of all the companies questioned are unable to make effective use of all the advantages CASE is said to offer. Millions are being spent to employ a technology that is as yet not developed enough to serve as a solid foundation for the automation of software development processes. Only a few companies have been successful in automating software development processes, he added.

Butler Cox cautioned companies determined to overcome the problems inherent in introducing CASE technology that they face investment expenditures which may amount to the equivalent of $2.4 million to $3 million. Even then, the outcome of such investments will -- as a rule -- not be apparent in the first three years, the research firm said. Given the level of capital outlays, most companies expect a quicker return on their investment, it added.