SSADM follows the waterfall life cycle model starting from the feasibility study to the physical design stage of development. One of the main features of SSADM is the intensive user involvement in the requirements analysis stage. The users are made to sign off each stage as they are completed assuring that requirements are met. The users are provided with clear, easily understandable documentation consisting of various diagrammatic representations of the system. SSADM breaks up a development project into stages, modules, steps and tasks. The first and foremost model developed in SSADM is the data model. It is a part of requirements gathering and consists of well defined stages, steps and products. The techniques used in SSADM are logical data modeling, data flow modeling and entity behavior modeling.

• Logical Data Modeling: This involves the process of identifying, modeling and documenting data as a part of system requirements gathering. The data are classified further into entities and relationships.

• Data Flow Modeling: This involves tracking the data flow in an information system. It clearly analyzes the processes, data stores, external entities and data movement.

• Entity Behavior Modeling: This involves identifying and documenting the events influencing each entity and the sequence in which these events happen.

Some of the important characteristics of SSADM are:

• Dividing a project into small modules with well defined objectives
• Useful during requirements specification and system design stage
• Diagrammatic representation and other useful modeling techniques
• Simple and easily understood by clients and developers
• Performing activities in a sequence

The stages of SSADM include:

• Determining feasibility
• Investigating the current environment
• Determining business systems options
• Defining requirements
• Determining technical system options
• Creating the logical design
• Creating the physical design