system resource requirementscost/benefit analysisproject deliverable: the design review sessionprototyping fundamentalsadvantages and disadvantages of prototypingfor example: the political research corporationprototyping: step-by-stepprototyping with case toolsthe cornucopia caseportfolio project

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section IVDevelopment

Chapter Objectives

When you complete this chapter you will be able to:

• Develop the resource requirements for all six components of a computer information system

• Develop a cost/benefit analysis chart

• Prepare a design review document

• Identify the information system design elements that are good candidates for prototyping

• Develop a prototype for your project

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System Resource Requirements

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In addition to the obvious hardware and software requirements, there are requirements associated with data, procedures,personnel, and networking.

After itemizing the system resource requirements, the analyst may need to conduct a formal search for products and services to satisfy some of the items. There are two widely used approaches to this task:

•Request for bids

•Request for proposals

Figure 11-1: Potential Data, People, and ProcedureResource Needs

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Figure 11-2: System Resource Worksheet

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Cost/Benefit Analysis

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Cost/benefit analysis is an activity that plots costs and benefits over time to determine if, or when, the system becomes economically justifiable.

•Costs and benefits can be associated with each of the six components of the system.

•Costs and benefits can be tangible or intangible.

•Intangible costs and benefits can be difficult to quantify.

Figure 11-4: System Cost/Benefit Worksheet

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Project Deliverable: The Design Review Session

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The design review session occurs near the close of the design phase. It includes an overview of the new system design and resource requirements, as well as a description of how the new system meets the objectives set forth in the project contract.

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Figure 11-5: Contents of the Design Review Report

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Prototyping Fundamentals

Systems Analysis and Designfor the Small Enterprise

A prototype is a model of a product. During the later stages of design and early stages of development analysts often create prototypes of screen forms, reports, and simple processing sequences.

Prototypes provide a focal point for continued user/analyst dialog about the new system.

Figure 11-6: Prototyping Matrix for Small-Enterprise Projects

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Small-enterprise projects are likely to employ reusable, input/output and processing prototypes

Figure 11-7: Design Element Prototypingin Small-Enterprise Projects

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Data Collection for Transaction File Processing

Frequentlyprototyped

Figure 11-8: Prototyping Tool Kit

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Prototyping

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Reference Figure 11-9: Prototyping Advantages and Disadvantages

The Cornucopia Case

The analysts prepare cost projections based on the resource requirement specifications and future operating costs of the system. Benefit projections are based on the goals and objectives set forth in the project contract.

The analysts use the reusable prototype approach to design-development because of the project’s size and the straightforward nature of the system design.

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THE CORNUCOPIA CASE

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Figure 11-16a: Cornucopia Resource requirementSpecifications

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Figure 11-16b: Cornucopia Resource RequirementSpecifications

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Figure 11-17: Cornucopia System Resource Budget Surplus

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Figure 11-18: Cornucopia Cost/Benefit Projections

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“payoff” in 33 months

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Figure 11-19: Cornucopia Cost/Benefit Graph

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Chapter Summary

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• Prototyping spans both design and development• Cost and benefit projections are combined to

evaluate the project in economic terms• It is more difficult and costly to change the

system design from this point forward• The analyst now assumes more programming (or

at least 4GL programming) responsibilities

Systems Analysis and Designfor the Small Enterprise