Modern Structured Analysis

Ed Yourdon's Modern Structured Analysis is a classic, but the principles it covers are still valid today. Yourdon's treatment of the analysis techniques of ER Modeling, Data Dictionaries, State-Transition diagrams and Data Flow Diagrams is still relevant. The discussion of systems thinking and the players in systems development still rings true. Understanding Structured English and Decision Tables can only enable an analysis effort. Critics seem not to grasp that this is not a book about technology or designing or implementing systems; instead, this is a book about Systems Analysis. The product of Systems Analysis is a requirements document of some sort, which serves as a launching point for systems design or acquisition. This book makes that point well, if only those critics would pay attention. No, this book is not perfect. I find the typeface displeasing and some of the notations used are out of date (e.g., no one I know uses Chen notation for ER modeling, and I prefer Gane-Sarson notation over Yourdon's for DFDs). And the treatment of systems analysis in the SDLC and of JAD could be more complete. But no where else have I seen the treatment of these basic techniques and approaches covered as exhaustively as in this book. It will always have an honored place on my bookshelf.

All product managers should memorize this book and expect your requirements group and systems analysts to at least follow these procedures. It IS the standard, period.

Do not let the published date this book fool you. The principles are sound and hold true for today. This is a structured analysis book, not a programming book. This book goes way beyond flow charts. In addition, take you into the realm of entity-relationship diagrams, tools of structured analysis, state-transition diagrams, and behavioral models, automated tools, and various charts such as Gant. This book is just the beginning and has references for further applications. Object-Oriented Design (Yourdon Press Series)

When I was at university, this book was my introduction to structured analysis. I found it fun and easy to read (I believe I finished in two weeks). Every aspect of analysis is explained in a very clear way. It might be true that some of the techniques are outdated, indeed. But beginners need some place to start, and I think this book is great as a first book for someone who tries to get a grip on structured analysis by self-study. By the way some university professors don't even teach such 'recent' developments (I can give some examples). Besides, about the 'outdated' comment, if you buy a IT-book that was written 8 years ago, you're quite foolish to expect it to have the latest trends and techniques explained!

Is very easy to learn Structured Analysis with this boo