Factors affecting perceptions of CASE effectiveness

CASE (Computer Aided Software/Systems Engineering) tools are claimed to increase the productivity of systems development and the quality of developed systems. Existing empirical research on CASE effectiveness is entirely based on subjective, perceptual data. In order to interpret the existing evidence, it is useful to understand factors affecting these perceptions. This paper studies the impact of demographic variables such as education and experience, CASE adoption process variables such as training and participation, and CASE production variables such as perceived trialability, perceived complexity, perceived demonstrability and perceived compatibility on CASE effectiveness perceptions such as relative advantage, quality and productivity of systems development and work unit effects. Results based on a survey of 105 individual CASE users show that these effectiveness criteria are highly intercorrelated and that CASE experience, participation in CASE selection and implementation, perceived quality and quantity of training, and especially perceived complexity affect CASE perceptions.