Solution Manual –
Systems Analysis and Design,
Author; Alan Dennis
8th Edition
1-1
,Chapter1: The Systems Analyst
And Information Systems
Development
Answer To Your Turn 1-1: Being An Analyst
Student Answers Will Vary, Depending On Their Preferences Regarding Being A: 1)
Systems Analyst, 2) Business Analyst, 3) Requirements Analyst, 4) Infrastructure
Analyst, Or 5) Change Management Analyst. Verify That The Student Has Correctly
Associated The Skills Needed With The Type Of Analyst For Which They Aspire And
That The Student Has Created A Plan To Acquire Those Skills. The Roles And The
Names Used To Describe Them May Vary From Organization To Organization.
Answer To Your Turn 1-2: Implementing A Satellite Data Network
While Answers May Vary, Answers Might Include The Following:
1. A Cost-Benefit Analysis, Along With Other Financial Processes (ROI, Etc.)
Would Certainly Reveal That A Just-In-Time (JIT) Inventory Can Reduce
Inventory Costs And Increase Revenue. A Standard Communication Line,
Encrypted Or Not, Would Not Be Able To Handle The High Bandwidth Needed
For Data, Voice And Video Transmissions.
2. A Competitor Would Be Able To Narrow The Gap By Adopting The JIT Type
Of Inventory Management. Voice And Video Are Not Necessary To Keep The
Inventory Up To Date On A Timely Basis, Data Transmissions Alone Would
Work Well.
1-2
, Answer To Your Turn 1-3: Too Much Paper, Part 1
System Request
Element Description
Sponsor Document Manager.
Business Need Increase Efficiency In Storing, Updating, And Retrieving
Information On Employee Injury Claims.
Business Requirements Automated System Which Allows For Electronic
Submission Of Reports Via A Secure Web Site.
Business Value Reduce Response Time For Employee Inquiries, Increase
Effectiveness Of Storing, Updating, And Retrieving
Employee Injury Claims. Reduce Storage Costs Of Paper
Files.
Special Issues Must Have Someone Who Understands How To Create
And Maintain A Secure Web Site. Must Have
Resources To Migrate Paper Files To Data Storage.
Must Work Within
HIPAA Guidelines To Ensure That Medical
Documents Are Treated According To Regulations.
Answer To Your Turn 1-4: Too Much Paper, Part 2
1. Issues Arising From Digital Signatures And Electronic Documents Typically
Focus On Establishing Validity For Signatures And Originators. As These Issues
Can Be Overcome Using Certificates And Encryption, They Don‘T Necessarily
Affect The Project Feasibility. However, They Do Need To Be Addressed.
2. Answers Will Vary. The Project Champion, Organizational Management, And
Perhaps Most Importantly A Subset Of The Stakeholders Must Believe In And
Show Support For The Project. One Solution Would Be To Plan And Provide
For Sufficient Training That Demonstrates How Their Jobs Might Be Easier To
Accomplish With The Automated System.
Answer To Concepts In Action 1-A: An Array Of IT Failures
Qantas Provides For An ―Ice-Breaker‖ Discussion Topic For The First Class. Perhaps
Group The Students And Have Them Discuss This Company And Then Provide For
Class Discussion About The Importance Of IT Project Success.
Answer To Concepts In Action 1-B: BPI On The Farm
Efficiency Gains Are Mentioned In This Concept In Action. What Are The Drawbacks
To This Scenario? Is It As Easy As It Seems? Issues Such As Wi-Fi Coverage On A
Farm, Perhaps Even Cellular Coverage Can Come Into Play As Can Weather, Dust, And
Other Issues Inherent With A Farming Enterprise.
1-3
, Answer to Concepts in Action 1-C: Interview with Don Hallacy, President,
Technology Services, Sprint Corporation
This Is An Opportune Time To Identify The Responsibilities Of The Differing Roles
That An Analyst Serves.
Answer To Concepts In Action 1-D: Intangible Value At Carlson Hospitality
Carlson Hospitality Can Use The Information From The Survey To Determine
Whether The One-Point Increase In Market Share Revenue ($20 Million Per Point)
Will Offset Costs Associated With Increasing The Level Of Services To High-Quality
Customers Which Would Result In A 10% Increase In Customer Satisfaction.
Answer To Concepts In Action 1-E: Return On Investment
1. One Method For Determining A Return On Investment Is To Complete A Cost-
Benefit Analysis Using The Present Value Method. Many Of The Costs For
Server Virtualization Are Associated With The Initial Construction: Physical
Manipulation Of The Servers And Software Licensing. The Ongoing Costs Of
Labor In Updating And Accessing Tables Would Be Relatively Small. Using
This Type Of Analysis Would Allow The Project Sponsors To Show How The
Benefits Of The Virtualization Would Be Realized On A Long Term Basis.
2. Implementing A Major Change To A System Should Certainly Include A
Systems Analyst. Systems Analysts Typically Have A Broad View Of The
System, And Would Be Able To Ascertain How Virtualizing The Servers Will
Affect The Whole System.
Answers To End Of Chapter Questions
1. List And Describe The Six General Skills All Project Team Members Should Have.
[1] Technical Skills (Knowledge Of How To Employ Technology In Development
System Solutions). [2] Business Skills (Knowledge Of How To Apply IT To
Business Problems To Achieve A Valuable Solution). [3] Analytical Skills (Ability
To Solve Complex Problems).
[4] Interpersonal Skills (Oral And Written Communication Skills With Both
Technical And Non-Technical Audiences). [5] Management Skills (Ability To
Manage Others And Cope With An Uncertain Environment). [6] Ethical Skills
(Ability To Deal With Others Honestly And Ethically).
2. What Are The Major Roles On A Project Team?
1-4
Systems Analysis and Design,
Author; Alan Dennis
8th Edition
1-1
,Chapter1: The Systems Analyst
And Information Systems
Development
Answer To Your Turn 1-1: Being An Analyst
Student Answers Will Vary, Depending On Their Preferences Regarding Being A: 1)
Systems Analyst, 2) Business Analyst, 3) Requirements Analyst, 4) Infrastructure
Analyst, Or 5) Change Management Analyst. Verify That The Student Has Correctly
Associated The Skills Needed With The Type Of Analyst For Which They Aspire And
That The Student Has Created A Plan To Acquire Those Skills. The Roles And The
Names Used To Describe Them May Vary From Organization To Organization.
Answer To Your Turn 1-2: Implementing A Satellite Data Network
While Answers May Vary, Answers Might Include The Following:
1. A Cost-Benefit Analysis, Along With Other Financial Processes (ROI, Etc.)
Would Certainly Reveal That A Just-In-Time (JIT) Inventory Can Reduce
Inventory Costs And Increase Revenue. A Standard Communication Line,
Encrypted Or Not, Would Not Be Able To Handle The High Bandwidth Needed
For Data, Voice And Video Transmissions.
2. A Competitor Would Be Able To Narrow The Gap By Adopting The JIT Type
Of Inventory Management. Voice And Video Are Not Necessary To Keep The
Inventory Up To Date On A Timely Basis, Data Transmissions Alone Would
Work Well.
1-2
, Answer To Your Turn 1-3: Too Much Paper, Part 1
System Request
Element Description
Sponsor Document Manager.
Business Need Increase Efficiency In Storing, Updating, And Retrieving
Information On Employee Injury Claims.
Business Requirements Automated System Which Allows For Electronic
Submission Of Reports Via A Secure Web Site.
Business Value Reduce Response Time For Employee Inquiries, Increase
Effectiveness Of Storing, Updating, And Retrieving
Employee Injury Claims. Reduce Storage Costs Of Paper
Files.
Special Issues Must Have Someone Who Understands How To Create
And Maintain A Secure Web Site. Must Have
Resources To Migrate Paper Files To Data Storage.
Must Work Within
HIPAA Guidelines To Ensure That Medical
Documents Are Treated According To Regulations.
Answer To Your Turn 1-4: Too Much Paper, Part 2
1. Issues Arising From Digital Signatures And Electronic Documents Typically
Focus On Establishing Validity For Signatures And Originators. As These Issues
Can Be Overcome Using Certificates And Encryption, They Don‘T Necessarily
Affect The Project Feasibility. However, They Do Need To Be Addressed.
2. Answers Will Vary. The Project Champion, Organizational Management, And
Perhaps Most Importantly A Subset Of The Stakeholders Must Believe In And
Show Support For The Project. One Solution Would Be To Plan And Provide
For Sufficient Training That Demonstrates How Their Jobs Might Be Easier To
Accomplish With The Automated System.
Answer To Concepts In Action 1-A: An Array Of IT Failures
Qantas Provides For An ―Ice-Breaker‖ Discussion Topic For The First Class. Perhaps
Group The Students And Have Them Discuss This Company And Then Provide For
Class Discussion About The Importance Of IT Project Success.
Answer To Concepts In Action 1-B: BPI On The Farm
Efficiency Gains Are Mentioned In This Concept In Action. What Are The Drawbacks
To This Scenario? Is It As Easy As It Seems? Issues Such As Wi-Fi Coverage On A
Farm, Perhaps Even Cellular Coverage Can Come Into Play As Can Weather, Dust, And
Other Issues Inherent With A Farming Enterprise.
1-3
, Answer to Concepts in Action 1-C: Interview with Don Hallacy, President,
Technology Services, Sprint Corporation
This Is An Opportune Time To Identify The Responsibilities Of The Differing Roles
That An Analyst Serves.
Answer To Concepts In Action 1-D: Intangible Value At Carlson Hospitality
Carlson Hospitality Can Use The Information From The Survey To Determine
Whether The One-Point Increase In Market Share Revenue ($20 Million Per Point)
Will Offset Costs Associated With Increasing The Level Of Services To High-Quality
Customers Which Would Result In A 10% Increase In Customer Satisfaction.
Answer To Concepts In Action 1-E: Return On Investment
1. One Method For Determining A Return On Investment Is To Complete A Cost-
Benefit Analysis Using The Present Value Method. Many Of The Costs For
Server Virtualization Are Associated With The Initial Construction: Physical
Manipulation Of The Servers And Software Licensing. The Ongoing Costs Of
Labor In Updating And Accessing Tables Would Be Relatively Small. Using
This Type Of Analysis Would Allow The Project Sponsors To Show How The
Benefits Of The Virtualization Would Be Realized On A Long Term Basis.
2. Implementing A Major Change To A System Should Certainly Include A
Systems Analyst. Systems Analysts Typically Have A Broad View Of The
System, And Would Be Able To Ascertain How Virtualizing The Servers Will
Affect The Whole System.
Answers To End Of Chapter Questions
1. List And Describe The Six General Skills All Project Team Members Should Have.
[1] Technical Skills (Knowledge Of How To Employ Technology In Development
System Solutions). [2] Business Skills (Knowledge Of How To Apply IT To
Business Problems To Achieve A Valuable Solution). [3] Analytical Skills (Ability
To Solve Complex Problems).
[4] Interpersonal Skills (Oral And Written Communication Skills With Both
Technical And Non-Technical Audiences). [5] Management Skills (Ability To
Manage Others And Cope With An Uncertain Environment). [6] Ethical Skills
(Ability To Deal With Others Honestly And Ethically).
2. What Are The Major Roles On A Project Team?
1-4
