Final answer:
Prototyping is a flexible, iterative approach that allows system designers to form and evolve a system model through repeated cycles of testing and feedback, thereby enhancing the design to better meet end users' needs.
Step-by-step explanation:
The prototyping approach in system design is an iterative process where an initial model of a system is created and then refined through repeated cycles of testing and modification. This approach permits formation of a model of the new system that can evolve as system analysts and designers gain a better understanding of end users' needs through direct feedback. Unlike the traditional sequential design process, which often progresses through stages without looping back, the prototyping model is more flexible. It provides a way to evaluate and improve the design, by creating multiple iterations that incorporate user requirements and feedback, leading to a more effective end result.
In prototyping, after generating ideas and brainstorming solutions, designers select the most promising options and create prototypes. They then evaluate these models, refine the design based on feedback and any constraints identified, and continue this cycle of prototyping, testing, and refinement until satisfactory results are achieved. This contrasts with the maintenance phase of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), which is concerned with the ongoing upkeep and improvement of a system after it has been fully deployed rather than its initial development.