Methods for software development with CASE-avoiding mind-set traps

Some problems of system modelling and CASE technology are examined. In particular, the paper examines our tendency for us to continue to think in the same way (conceptual inertia), even when new approaches are called for. This can cause us to behave inappropriately, because we are not aware of the required change (a `mind-set trap´). In particular, the underlying paradigm used in system development must be changed for full advantage to be taken of CASE. CASE tools should provide a generic framework to support integration of different paradigms and knowledge domains. Finally, the very idea of process maturity is examined to see if it contains implicit assumptions about the way systems will be provided