Systems Investigation and Analysis Chapter 12 Systems Investigation and Analysis

Participants in System Development Systems Analysts Specialize in analyzing & designing business systems. Stakeholders Benefit from the systems develop- ment effort Programmers Modify/develop programs to satisfy user requirements. Users Interact with the system regularly Chapter 12 IS for management

Typical Reasons for Initiating a Systems Development Project Chapter 12 IS for management

Information System Planning Information Systems Plan Translates strategic & organizational goals into systems development initiatives. Creative Analysis Investigates new approaches to existing problems. Critical Analysis Unbiased & careful questioning of whether system elements are related in the most effective/ efficient ways. Chapter 12 IS for management

Establishing Objectives for Systems Development Performance Quality or usefulness of output Quality or usefulness of output format Speed at which output is generated Cost Development costs Costs related to the uniqueness of the application Fixed investments in hardware & related equipment On-going operating costs Chapter 12 IS for management

Systems Development & the Internet Applications being moved to the Internet Sales Order placement Access to product information Building a static Web site (much easier than dynamic Web site) Tools to help with Internet systems development Chapter 12 IS for management

Systems Development Life Cycle Chapter 12 IS for management

Systems Development Life Cycle Systems Investigation ID problems & opportunities Systems Analysis Study existing systems & work processes Systems Design Lays out how the system will do what it will do Systems Implementation Assemble components & put new/ modified system into operation. Systems Maintenance and Review Ensures the system operates & is modified to keep up with business changes. Chapter 12 IS for management

Prototyping: The Iterative Life Cycle Operational Prototype Accesses real data files, edits input data, makes necessary computations & comparisons, & produces real output Non-operational Prototype A mockup or model that includes output & input specifications & formats Chapter 12 IS for management

General Prototyping Model Rapid Application Development (RAD) Employs tools, techniques, & methodologies designed to speed application development, automates source code generation, & facilitate user involvement in design & development activities Joint Application Development (JAD) Involves group meetings in which users, stakeholders, & IS professionals work together to analyze existing systems, propose solutions, & define requirements for a new or modified system Chapter 12 IS for management

Factors Affecting Systems Development Success Managing Change Requires the ability to recognize existing or potential problems & deal with them before they become a serious threat to the success of the new/ modified system Chapter 12 IS for management

Factors Affecting Systems Development Success Use of project management tools Schedule Milestone Deadline Critical path Program Evaluation Review Technique (PERT) Gantt chart Chapter 12 IS for management

Computer-Aided Software Engineering (CASE) Tools Tools that automate many systems development tasks Upper CASE tools focus on activities associated with the early stages of systems development Lower CASE tools focus on the later implementation stages of systems development Integrated (I-CASE) tools combine upper/lower CASE Chapter 12 IS for management

Systems Investigation Identifies potential problems & opportunities & considers them in light of the company’s goals SI report summarizes results of systems investigation & the process of feasibility analysis & recommends a course of action Chapter 12 IS for management

Feasibility Analysis Technical Feasibility: Can the hardware, software, & other system components be acquired or developed to solve the problem? Operational Feasibility: Can the project be put into action or operation? Schedule Feasibility: Can the project be completed in a reasonable time? Economic Feasibility: Does the project make financial sense? Chapter 12 IS for management

Internal & External Sources of Data Internal sources Users, stakeholders, & managers Organization charts Forms and documents Procedure manuals & policies Financial reports IS manuals Other manuals & business processes External Sources Customers Suppliers Stockholders Government agencies Competitors Outside groups Journals, media Consultants Chapter 12 IS for management

Data Collection Structured Interview Unstructured Interview Direct Observation Questionnaires Statistical Sampling Chapter 12 IS for management

Data Analysis Manipulating collected data so it is usable for development team members participating in systems analysis Data Modeling: A commonly accepted approach to modeling organizational objects & associations that employs both text & graphics Activity Modeling: A method to describe related objects, associations, & activities Data Flow Diagram: A diagram that models objects, associations, & activities by describing how data can flow between & around them Chapter 12 IS for management

Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD) Diagrams Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD) Data Flow Diagram (DFD) Chapter 12 IS for management

Application Flowcharts Charts that show relationships among applications or systems Chapter 12 IS for management

Grid Charts A table that shows relationships among the various aspects of a systems development effort Chapter 12 IS for management

Requirements Analysis An assessment used to determine user, stakeholder, & organizational needs Chapter 12 IS for management

The Systems Analysis Report Strength and weaknesses of existing system from a stakeholder’s perspective User/stakeholder requirements for the new system Organizational requirements Description of what new information systems should do to solve the problem Chapter 12 IS for management

Case study Case 1: FAA system development project, page 565 Chapter 12 IS for management