CIS300 System Analysis and Design Methods

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CIS300 System Analysis and Design Methods

• Week 1

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Chapter 1 -- Senario p. 3
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• The Systems Analyst - A Key Resource
• The systems analyst performs systems analysis and
  design.
• Systems analysis is the study of a business
  problem domain for the purpose of recommending
  improvements and specifying the business
  requirements for the solution.
• Systems design is the specification or
  construction of a technical, computer-based
  solution for the business requirements identified
  in a systems analysis. (Note Increasingly, the
  design takes the form of a working prototype.).

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The Systems Analyst As A Modern Business Problem
Solver

• Why do businesses need Systems Analysts?
• The system analyst bridges the communications gap
  between those who need the computer and those
  who understand the technology.

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The Systems Analyst As A Modern Business Problem
Solver

• What is a Systems Analyst?
• Systems analysts are people who understand both
  business and computing.
• Systems analysts study business problems and
  opportunities and then transform business and
  information requirements of the business into the
  computer-based information systems and computer
  applications that are implemented by various
  technical specialists including computer
  programmers.

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The Systems Analyst As A Modern Business Problem
Solver

• What is a Systems Analyst?A formal definition
• A systems analyst facilitates the study of the
  problems and needs of a business to determine how
  the business system and information technology
  can best solve the problem and accomplish
  improvements for the business. The product of
  this activity may be improved business processes,
  improved information systems, or new or improved
  computer applications frequently all three.

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What Does A System Analyst Do?
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• A system analyst is a system-oriented problem
  solver.
• System problem solving is the act of studying a
  problem environment in order to implement
  corrective solutions that take the form of new or
  improved systems.
• Use A systems development life cycle (SDLC) is a
  systematic and orderly approach to solving system
  problems.

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• The SDLC
• Planning - identify the scope and boundary of
  the problem, and plan the development strategy
  and goals.
• Analysis - study and analyze the problems,
  causes, and effects. Then, identify and analyze
  the requirements that must be fulfilled by any
  successful solution.

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SDLC

• Design - if necessary, design the solution not
  all solutions require design.
• Implementation - implement the solution.
• Support - analyze the implemented solution,
  refine the design, and implement improvements to
  the solution. Different support situations can
  thread back into the previous steps.

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Time Out for Video
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In house--traditional or cross functional
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• Outsourcing is the act of contracting a service
  or function to an external third party.
• Typically, the business must retain enough of a
  central Information Services unit to monitor and
  manage the outsourcing agreement.
• Some mission critical information services
  functions and projects may not be outsourced.

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• Customers Users and Management
• A user is a person, or group of persons, for whom
  the systems analyst builds and maintains business
  information systems and computer applications. A
  common system is client.
• System users
• System owners provide sponsorship

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Total Quality Management (TQM)
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• One of the majors business trends of the 1990s is
  Total Quality Management.
• Total Quality Management or TQM is a
  comprehensive approach to facilitating quality
  improvements and management within a business.
• TQM commitments require every business function,
  including information services, identify quality
  indicators, measure quality, and make appropriate
  changes to improve quality.

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• Business Process Redesign (BPR)
• Total quality management has forced many
  businesses to radically rethink and redesign
  their fundamental business processes.
• Business process redesign is the study, analysis,
  and redesign of fundamental business processes to
  reduce costs and improve value added to the
  business.

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• A BPR project begins with identification of a
  value chain, a combination of processes that
  should result in some value to the business.
• The business processes are documented and
  analyzed in excruciating detail.
• The business processes are subsequently
  streamlined for maximum efficiency.
• The new business processes are analyzed for
  opportunities for further improvement through
  information technology.

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• Systems analysts figure prominently in BPR
  because
• Systems analysts are often included in BPR
  projects because their system perspective is
  valued.
• The skill competencies for BPR and systems
  analysis and design are somewhat similar.
• A typical BPR project identifies several
  opportunities for new and revised computer
  applications (which systems analysts facilitate).
  

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• Continuous Process Improvement (CPI)
• Another TQM related trend is continuous process
  improvement.
• Continuous process improvement is the continuous
  monitoring of business processes to affect small
  but measurable improvements to cost reduction and
  value added.
• In a sense, CPI is the opposite of BPR.
• BPR is intended to implement dramatic change.
• CPI implements a continuous series of smaller
  changes.

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• Continuous Process Improvement (CPI)
• Continuous improvement contributes to both cost
  reductions, improved efficiencies, and increased
  value and profit.
• Systems analysts may be called upon to
  participate in continuous process improvement
  initiatives for any business process, including
  the design and implementation of improvements to
  associated computer applications.

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Preparing for a Career
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• Working Knowledge of Information Technology
• The systems analyst is an agent of change.
• The systems analyst is responsible for showing
  end-users and management how new technologies can
  benefit their business and its operations.
• The systems analyst must be aware of both
  existing and emerging information technologies
  and techniques.

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• Computer Programming Experience and Expertise
• General Business Knowledge
• Problem-Solving Skills
• Interpersonal Communications Skills
• Interpersonal Relations Skills
• Flexibility and Adaptability
• Character and Ethics

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• Systems Analysis and Design Skills
• All systems analysts need thorough and ongoing
  training in systems analysis and design.
• Systems analysis and design skills can be
  conveniently factored into three subsets
• concepts and principles
• tools
• Techniques
• (End of chapter one)

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Exercise and Group Work
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• Exercise 6 and 9 (page 28)
• Either MiniCase 1 or 2 (29-30)
• Extra Credit Project 1, 2, 3, or 4

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Chapter 2Senario p. 33
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Chapter 2
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• What is the difference between Data and
  Information?
• Data are raw facts about the organization and its
  business transactions. Most data items have
  little meaning and use by themselves.
• Information is data that has been refined and
  organized by processing and purposeful
  intelligence.

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Types of Information Systems

• Transaction Processing Systems
• Management Information Systems
• Decision Support Systems
• Decision Support Systems
• Expert Systems

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• System Owners
• System Users

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• System Designers
• System designers translate users' business
  requirements and constraints into technical
  solutions. They design the computer files,
  databases, inputs, outputs, screens, networks,
  and programs that will meet the system users'
  requirements. They also integrate the technical
  solution back into the day-to-day business
  environment
• System Builders

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Exercise 11, 12, 13 (page 68) MiniCase 2 or
3 Group Time to choose Project
End of Chapter Two