Object-Oriented Methods

Graham (1994) discusses the various approaches to object-oriented analysis and design in terms of three dimensions: process, data, and dynamics or control. Methods fall into two basic types: ternary and unary. Ternary methods (such as Rumbaugh’s OMT and Martin and Odell’s Ptech) apply different techniques (frequently adaptations from the structured approaches) to each of these dimensions of information systems modelling. Unary methods (such as Coad and Yourdon and Wirfs-Brock) attempt to incorporate all three dimensions in one consistent O-O approach. Graham defines his own method, called SOMA, which he describes as a hybrid approach in that it attempts to utilise the strengths of various approaches.