Principles of Information Systems - Chapter 12

Principles of Information Systems, Sixth Edition

Systems Investigation and Analysis

Chapter 12


Principles and Learning Objectives• Effective systems development requires a team effort

of stakeholders, users, managers, systems development specialists, and various support personnel, and it starts with careful planning.

– Identify the key participants in the systems development process and discuss their roles.

– Define the term information systems planning and list several reasons for initiating a systems project.

– Identify important system performance requirements for applications that run on the Internet or a corporate intranet or extranet.

– Discuss three trends that illustrate the impact of enterprise resource planning software packages on systems development.


Principles and Learning Objectives

• Systems development often uses tools to select, implement, and monitor projects, including net present value (NPV), prototyping, rapid application development, CASE tools, and object-oriented development.

– Discuss the key features, advantages, and disadvantages of the traditional, prototyping, rapid application development, and end-user systems development life cycles.

– Identify several factors that influence the success or failure of a systems development project.

– Discuss the use of CASE tools and the object-oriented approach to systems development.


Principles and Learning Objectives

• Systems development starts with investigation and analysis of existing systems.

– State the purpose of systems investigation.

– Discuss the importance of performance and cost objectives.

– State the purpose of systems analysis and discuss some of the tools and techniques used in this phase of systems development.


An Overview of Systems Development


Participants in Systems Development


Initiating Systems Development


Information Systems Planning


Aligning Corporate and IS Goals


Developing a Competitive Advantage

• Creative analysis

• Critical analysis– Going beyond automating manual systems– Question assumptions– Identify and resolve conflicting objectives


Establishing Objectives for Systems Development

• Performance objectives– Output quality or usefulness– Output format quality or usefulness– Speed at which output is produced

• Cost objectives– Development costs– Fixed investments– Ongoing operating costs– Uniqueness costs


Systems Development and E-Commerce

• Internet technology - enables companies to extend their information systems beyond their boundaries to reach their customers, suppliers, and partners.

• Dynamic Core Business Application that

runs over the Web - must be reliable and fault tolerant, providing continuous availability while processing all transactions accurately.


Trends in Systems Development and ERP

• ERP vendor as one-stop provider• Applications to integrate with ERP systems• External consulting


Systems Development Life Cycles


Systems Development Life Cycles


The Traditional Systems DevelopmentLife Cycle


Advantages and Disadvantages of Traditional SDLC


Prototyping


Prototyping


Advantages and Disadvantages of Prototyping


Rapid Application Development (RAD)


Reasons for Outsourcing


Factors Affecting Systems Development Success

• Degree of Change– Continuous Improvement versus Reengineering– Managing change


Factors Affecting SystemsDevelopment Success


Quality and Standards


The Capability Maturity Model (CMM)


Project Management

• Project schedule• Project milestone• Project deadline• Critical path


Use of Project Management Tools


Use of Project Management Tools


Computer-Aided Software Engineering (CASE) Tools

Automate many of the tasks required in a systems development effort and enforce adherence to the SDLC, thus instilling a high degree of rigor and standardization to the entire systems development process

• Upper-CASE tools - CASE packages that focus on activities associated with the early stages of systems development.

• Lower-CASE tools - focus on the later stages of systems development and are capable of automatically generating structured program code.

• Integrated-CASE tools - provide links between upper- and lower-CASE packages.


CASE Tools


Object-Oriented Systems Development

Object-oriented systems development typically involves: • Identifying potential problems and opportunities within the

organization that would be appropriate for the OO approach

• Defining the kind of system users require

• Designing the system

• Programming or modifying modules

• Evaluation by users

• Periodic review and modification


Systems Investigation

In general, systems investigation attempts to uncover answers to the following questions:

– What primary problems might a new or enhanced system solve?– What opportunities might a new or enhanced system provide?– What new hardware, software, databases, telecommunications,

personnel, or procedures will improve an existing system or are required in a new system?

– What are the potential costs (variable and fixed)?– What are the associated risks?


Participants in Systems Investigation


Feasibility Analysis


Sample Net Present Value Calculation


Object-Oriented Systems Investigation


The Systems Investigation Report


Systems Analysis


Identifying Sources of Data


Collecting Data


Data Analysis

• Data modeling• Activity modeling• Application flowcharts• Grid charts• CASE tools


Data and Activity Modeling


Application Flowcharts


Grid Charts


Requirements Analysis

• Asking directly• Critical success factors (CSFs)• The IS plan• Screen and report layout


The IS Plan


Screen and Report Layout


Object-Oriented Systems Analysis


The Systems Analysis Report


Summary

• Systems development team - of stakeholders, users, managers, systems development specialists, and various support personnel

• Five phases of the traditional SDLC - investigation, analysis, design, implementation, and maintenance and review

• Systems investigation participants - stakeholders, users, managers, employees, analysts, and programmers

Education

Principles of Information Systems - Chapter 12