Process automation in software application development

Over the years, the field of application development (AD) has evolved from that of an art form to being more of a science, hence the emergence of concepts such as information engineering. In engineering and scientific fields, the value of process definition and management has long been known. This paper discusses the requirements for managing the AD process and establishes the need for automated assistance for these management activities. Considerations for an automated system to manage the process are presented, and the benefits to be realized by such an implementation are then discussed.