What is a JAD session? This term is referred to often in job postings and seems like some kind
of brainstorm you carry out with a client to define IT specification/requirements. What does it
stand for? And what does it mean?
JAD
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stands for Joint Application Development. It's one of those software engineering techniques
that some folks with lots of time on their hands sat around and dreamed up. You've
summed it up in your question. All the design methodologies like this are complicated replacements
for a huge dollop of common sense. Sit down with the client and design a paper UI that they can see
what the application will look like and behave like. Give the user a chance to work through common
scenarios and see if the application will work for them. Keep refining until the user feels the
application is doing what they want it to do. As you get functionality implemented, bring the user
in and have them work through those scenarios and see if it still works. If they want a change,
have a solid estimate of how long the change will add to the schedule and how much it will cost.
I've shipped plenty of very successful applications following these simple rules. I never bothered
with JAD or anything else, just treated the clients like I wanted to be treated and kept them
clearly in the decision loop.This was first published in April 2008
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