SSADM (in common with other structured methodologies) adopts a prescriptive approach to information systems development in that it specifies in advance the modules, stages and tasks which have to be carried out, the deliverables to be produced and furthermore the techniques used to produce the deliverables. SSADM adopts the Waterfall model of systems development, where each phase has to be completed and signed off before subsequent phases can begin. SSADM is one example of a structured methodologies, a variety of others are widely used in ISE, including:
SSADM (kwa pamoja na mbinu nyingine muundo) antar mbinu masharti ya mifumo ya habari maendeleo kwa kuwa unasema mapema modules, hatua na kazi ambayo kuwa kufanyika, matokeo ya kuwa na uzalishaji na zaidi ya mbinu kutumika kuzalisha resultat . SSADM antar maporomoko ya maji mfano wa mifumo ya maendeleo, ambapo kila awamu ina kukamilika na saini mbali kabla awamu inayofuata inaweza kuanza. SSADM ni mfano mmoja wa mbinu muundo, aina ya watu wengine ni sana kutumika katika ISE, ikiwa ni pamoja: