UML - why wouldn't you?

UML has been around for a significant period of time. So why are so few organisations using it?

• We want to use a global standard for the work we do
• We want to use standard notations and be consistent in our deliverable
• We want the ability to use the same high standards anywhere in the world

As a consulting organisation with global aspirations there is no other choice, so why do organisations all around the world believe they can do it better by developing CASE tools and modeling tools that are not based on UML?

Additionally, don't organisations using non UML based tools realise that by doing so they limit themselves to continuing to use their customised standards limiting their ability to grow. Not only does the organisation need to develop custom training courses, frameworks and usage guidelines but from their employees point of view they are making them less marketable once they leave, while at the same time, ensuring any new employees must go through a period of up skill to have the ability to deliver outputs to the desired organisational standard. Cost of recruitment rises dramatically while still having little or no certainty as to whether the new staff member will be able to make the grade even after the period of training and up skill.

UML allows us to recruit in any market and know straight away the technical skill of the UML professional. You could argue that we don't even need to limit ourselves to English speaking countries since a picture tells and thousand words and a UML model allows us to do the same.

Model Driven Development can be achieved using UML Platform Independent Models (PIMs) speeding up the development cycle and allowing industry and situational patterns to be developed for reuse later on. There seems to be a large number of advantages of using UML while few or no disadvantages.

I'd be interested in your thoughts...

Bryce