Summary System Analysis and Design Chapter 1

Chapter 1


Software development
 Information system
 Set of interrelated components that collects, processes, stores, and provides as output the
information needed to complete business tasks
 Computer application
 Computer software program that executes on computing device to carry out specific functions
 Systems analysis
 Activities that enable a person to understand and specify what a system should accomplish
 Specifies what system must do to satisfy need or solve problem
 Systems design
 Activities that enable a person to define and describe in detail the system that solves the need
 Describes how the system will work
 System analysis and design provide you with the tools needed to complete the development process


 Development Process
1. Understand the need (business need)
2. Capture the vision
3. Define a solution
4. Communicate the vision and solution
5. Build the solution
6. Confirm that the solution meets the need
7. Launch the solution system


System Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
 Process consisting of all activities required to build, launch, and maintain an information system
 Six core processes are:

1. Identify the problem or need and obtain
approval
2. Plan and monitor the project (What to do? How? Who?)
3. Discover and understand the details of the (What is required?)
problem
4. Design the system components that solve the (How will it work?)
problem
5. Build, test, and integrate system components (Program)
6. Complete system tests and then deploy the (Need is satisfied)
solution


 Project – a planned undertaking that has a beginning and end and that produces some definite result
 Used to develop an information system
 Requires knowledge of systems analysis and systems design tools and techniques

,  System development process – guidelines for carrying out all activities of each core process SDLC
(methodology)

Iterative development
 Agile development - development process that emphasizes flexibility to adapt to new requirements
during development
 Fast on feet, responsive to change

 Iterative development – approach to system development where system is “grown” piece by piece
through multiple iterations, starting with core components and then adding additional ones.
 Involves repeating six core development processes per component
 Divides system components into manageable pieces
 Components chosen based on priority, most needed or riskiest first
 Iteration 1: Problem identification and planning
 Iteration 2: Emphasizes problem id and planning
 Iteration 3: Build/test is most effort-intensive process




 Benefits:
 Allows early deployment of core functions for basic user support
 Identifies and addresses difficult problems early in the project
 Reduces complexity of complex systems by focusing on a small portion
 Makes the development process more flexible, addressing new requirements and issues


Key documents used for planning projects
1. System vision document
 Identifies and describes problem
 Identifies system capabilities (functionalities)
 Identifies business benefits
2. Work breakdown structure (WBS)
 Estimates how long each task will take
 Each task that needs to be done is identified and organized
3. Work sequence draft
 Helps create tasks in order
 Elaborates work breakdown structure

Initial Activities – pre-project

 Identify the problem and document the objective of the system (core process 1)
 Preliminary (initial) investigation
 System Vision Document

 Obtain approval to start the project (core process 1)
 Meet with key stakeholders