Patent ID: 7035786

Claim:
A computer implemented method for developing an information system through multiple development phases, the information system including system architecture, one or more software applications, system hardware and networking components, the method comprising: at one or more design phases, validating a design of a proposed information system by comparing performance metrics calculated from a predictive model of the design against a set of predefined performance requirements, ensuring that the design satisfies the set of performance requirements at each design phase; and proceeding to a further construction phase if the design is validated; at one or more construction phases, validating a prototype of at least a portion of the proposed information system described in a validated design by: a) comparing performance metrics calculated from a predictive model of the validated design against actual performance metrics obtained from the prototype; b) if the performance metrics calculated from the predictive model of the validated design do not conform to the actual performance metrics obtained from the prototype, varying a workload type and volume selected to be applied to both the predictive model and the prototype; c) repeating steps a) and b) until the performance metrics calculated from the predictive model of the validated design conform to the actual performance metrics obtained from the prototype.