Analyzing the Business Case

Objectives
Explain the concept of a business case and how a business case affects an IT project
Describe the strategic planning process and why it is important to the IT team
Conduct a SWOT analysis and describe the four factors involved
Explain the purpose of a mission statement
Explain how the SDLC serves as a framework for systems development
List reasons for systems projects and factors that affect such projects
Describe systems requests and the role of the systems review committee
Define operational, technical, economic, and schedule feasibility
Describe the steps and the end product of a preliminary investigation

What is the first phase in the SDLC?

Planning and Selection
-Identify need-study feasibility-investigate system/determine system's scope
What is the 2nd phase of the SDLC?
Systems analysis
-Analyze current procedures-determine requirements-compare alternatives (cost, labor, and technology)
What is the 3rd phase of the SDLC?
Systems Design
-recommended solution turned into logical then physical system specifications-all aspects of systems
designed
What is the 4th phase of the SDLC?
Systems implementation and Operation
-Specifications turned into working system (coding, testing, and installation)-Programmers make changes
users ask for
System
An interrelated set of business procedures used within one business unit, working together for some
purpose. Consists of components: interrelated components, boundary, purpose, environment, interfaces,
constraints, input, and output.
System Environment
everything external to a system that interacts with the system
System Components
irreducible part/aggregation of parts that makes up a system. AKA subsystem.
System Interfaces
point of contact where a system meets its environment or where subsystems meet each other
System Boundary
the line that marks the inside and outside of a system and that sets off the system from its environment
Systems Analysis And Design
method used by companies to create/maintain information systems that perform basic business functions.
Transaction Processing System (TPS)
Automates handling of data in a manual process, handles day-to-day activities
Management Information System (MIS)
Takes raw TPS data as input and coverts into meaningful info for management
Decision Support System (DSS)
designed for decision-makers (not necessarily managers) to help make decisions, are usually interactive
in nature.
Prototyping
small system version developed and run by users to test drive and gather feedback to improve system &
covert to operational system. Designing and Building a scaled-down working version of the system with
any computer language or development tools (CASE).
Joint Application Design (JAD)
System requirements developed in one big meeting and a facilitator helps everyone come to a consensus
on prioritizing requirements.
Rapid Application Design (RAD)
Focus is on user interface and speed of development. Sacrifices efficiency when time is critical.
Decomposition
Breaking down system into smaller components, results in smaller and less complex pieces
Modularity
the direct result of decomposition. Refers to dividing a system up into chunks or modules of a relatively
uniform size.
Coupling
means that subsystems are dependent on each other. Subsystems should be as independent as
possible. extent to which the subsystems depend on each other.
Cohesion
The extent to which a subsystem performs a single function
Participatory Design
emphasizes role of userusers supervise system analysts and feel they are control so things dont
change radically (unions)
Agile Methodologies
focus on adaptive, not predictive methodologies. Focus on people (and their talents), not roles
Outsourcing
used to reduce costs, solve problems in IT units, focus on issues more core to your own business, and to
follow best practice
IT Services Firms
offer custom software (IBM, EDS, Computer Sciences Corp)
Open-Source Software
Free software, MySql/Firefox/etc
In House Development
Open source/in house development of software solution
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
integrated applications (A/P, A/R) SAP, Oracle
Ad Hoc
Reuse approach: Individuals find/share on own, low cost, reused rarely
What are criteria for selecting a software package?
Vendor Support
Vendor Viability
Functionality Cost
Critical Path
the shortest time in which a project can be completed
Slack Time
the amount of time an activity can be delayed without delaying the project
Project Manager
Systems analyst with a diverse set of skills (management, leadership, technical, customer relationship)
Project Initiation
Assess size, scope, and complexity of project & est. procedures to support subsequent activities
Project Planning
Define clear, discrete activities and work needed to complete each activity within a single project.
Project Execution
puts the baseline project plan into action. Occurs during analysis, design, and implementation phases.
Project Closedown
final phase of the project management process, focuses on brining a project to an end.
Project Workbook
repository for all project correspondence, inputs, outputs, deliverables, and standards established by the
project team.
COCOMO (Constructive cost model)
predicts human resource requirements for basic, intermediate, and complex systems.
Disruptive Technologies
technologies that enable the breaking of long-held business rules that inhibit organizations from making
radical business changes.
Formal System
The official way a system works as described in organization documentation.
Hawthorne effect
Change in participant behavior during observation
Process-Oriented approach that shows how and when data are moved and transformed.
SDLC traditional methodology used to develop, maintain and replace information
system.
Application Independence separation of data and the definition of data from applications that use
these data.
Cohesion extent to which a system or a subsystem performs a single function
Processing Logic steps in transformation of data and events that start these steps.
Data-Oriented approach that shows ideal organization of data and not where and how data are
used.
Modularity dividing a system into modules of relatively uniform size.
Object an entity that has a well-defined role in the application domain.
The following responsibilities of team of system development
Programmers
-Convert specifications into instructions that computer understands
Internal Auditors
-Ensures that required controls are built into the system
System Analyst
-Performs analysis and design of a system
Human Factors Specialists
-Involved in training users and writing documentation
IS manager
-Allocates resources to and oversees system development projects
The following activities of the phases of SDLC
Analysis
- Study of current procedures and information system.
Project Initiation and Planning
- Determine the scope of the proposed system
Implementation
Information system is coded, tested, installed and supported
Maintenance
- System is modified to suit the changing business conditions
Design
Convert the description into logical and then physical system specification
The following skills of the system analyst
Analytical Skills
- Problem identification, analyzing, and solving
Management Skills
- Decomposing project into independent tasks and determining relationships between tasks
Technical skills
- Requires continuous learning and keeping skills up-to-date
Interpersonal skills
- Working alone and with a team and facilitating groups
Communication skills
-Interviewing, Listening, Written and Oral presentations
Information System Analysis and Design.
-A method used by companies to create and maintain systems that perform basic business functions.
List different types of Information systems.
- Transaction Processing Systems (TPS)
- Management Information Systems (MIS)
- Decision Support Systems (DSS)
List the phases of Systems development life cycle (SDLC).
-Systems Planning and Selection.
-Systems Analysis.
-System Design.
-System Implementation and Operation.
Who is a System Analyst and list any three skills of a System Analyst.
Key individuals in the systems development process.
Analytical
Technical
Management
Prepared by: Mr. Sonny C. Roque
CCS -faculty