A Problem-Oriented Analysis Method Capable of Identify and Derive the Best-Suited Conceptual Model for the User Need

This paper proposes new analysis method, called POAM (Problem-Oriented Analysis Method). POAM has been developed to solve several shortcomings of existing conceptual models (solution orientation and dependence of concrete development approaches). Those shortcomings have adverse effects on software development, since practitioners are encouraged to think in terms of a solution before the problem is well understood, thus anticipating perhaps bad design decisions. POAM has several features that overpass those adverse characteristics of conceptual models. First, POAM uses a kind of conceptual model unbiased towards any development approach, thus supporting developers to understand the problem and its constraints before any solution is identified. Second, POAM is able to identify and derive the best classical conceptual model for a given situation, allowing developers to use in design those notations, as data flow diagrams or class diagrams, universally used for software development.