Chapter 12
Systems
Investigation
and Analysis
Participants in System Development
Systems Analysts
Specialize in analyzing
& designing business
systems.
Stakeholders
Benefit from the
systems development effort
Programmers
Modify/develop
programs to satisfy
user requirements.
Users
Interact with the
system regularly
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Typical Reasons for Initiating a
Systems Development Project
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Information System Planning
Information Systems Plan
Translates strategic & organizational
goals into systems development
initiatives.
Creative Analysis
Investigates new approaches to
existing problems.
Critical Analysis
Unbiased & careful questioning
of whether system elements are
related in the most effective/
efficient ways.
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Establishing Objectives for Systems
Development
Performance
– Quality or usefulness of output
– Quality or usefulness of output format
– Speed at which output is generated
Cost
–
–
–
–
Development costs
Costs related to the uniqueness of the application
Fixed investments in hardware & related equipment
On-going operating costs
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Systems Development & the Internet
 Applications being moved to the Internet
– Sales
– Order placement
– Access to product information
 Building a static Web site (much easier than
dynamic Web site)
 Tools to help with Internet systems development
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Systems Development Life Cycle
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Systems Development Life Cycle
Systems Investigation
ID problems & opportunities
Systems Analysis
Study existing systems & work processes
Systems Design
Lays out how the system will do what
it will do
Systems Implementation
Assemble components & put new/
modified system into operation.
Systems Maintenance and Review
Ensures the system operates & is modified
to keep up with business changes.
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Prototyping: The Iterative Life Cycle
Operational Prototype
Accesses real data files, edits
input data, makes necessary
computations & comparisons, &
produces real output
Non-operational Prototype
A mockup or model that
includes output & input
specifications & formats
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General Prototyping Model
Rapid Application Development
(RAD)
Employs tools, techniques, &
methodologies designed to speed
application development, automates
source code generation, &
facilitate user involvement in design
& development activities
Joint Application Development
(JAD)
Involves group meetings in which
users, stakeholders, & IS
professionals work together to
analyze existing systems, propose
solutions, & define requirements for
a new or modified system
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Factors Affecting Systems
Development Success
Managing Change
Requires the ability to
recognize existing or
potential problems &
deal with them before
they become a serious
threat to the success
of the new/ modified
system
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Factors Affecting Systems
Development Success
Use of project management tools
–
–
–
–
–
–
Schedule
Milestone
Deadline
Critical path
Program Evaluation Review Technique (PERT)
Gantt chart
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Computer-Aided Software
Engineering (CASE) Tools
Tools that automate many systems development
tasks
– Upper CASE tools focus on activities associated with
the early stages of systems development
– Lower CASE tools focus on the later implementation
stages of systems development
– Integrated (I-CASE) tools combine upper/lower CASE
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Systems Investigation
Identifies potential
problems & opportunities
& considers them in light
of the company’s goals
SI report summarizes
results of systems
investigation & the
process of feasibility
analysis & recommends
a course of action
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Feasibility Analysis
 Technical Feasibility: Can the hardware, software,
& other system components be acquired or
developed to solve the problem?
 Operational Feasibility: Can the project be put
into action or operation?
 Schedule Feasibility: Can the project be
completed in a reasonable time?
 Economic Feasibility: Does the project make
financial sense?
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Internal & External Sources of Data







Internal sources
Users, stakeholders, &
managers
Organization charts
Forms and documents
Procedure manuals & policies
Financial reports
IS manuals
Other manuals & business
processes
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







External Sources
Customers
Suppliers
Stockholders
Government
agencies
Competitors
Outside groups
Journals, media
Consultants
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Data Collection
 Structured Interview
 Unstructured
Interview
 Direct Observation
 Questionnaires
 Statistical Sampling
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Data Analysis
Manipulating collected data so it is usable for
development team members participating in
systems analysis
Data Modeling: A commonly accepted approach to
modeling organizational objects & associations that
employs both text & graphics
Activity Modeling: A method to describe related objects,
associations, & activities
Data Flow Diagram: A diagram that models objects,
associations, & activities by describing how data can flow
between & around them
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Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD)
Diagrams
Data Flow
Diagram (DFD)
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Application Flowcharts
Charts that show relationships among applications or
systems
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Grid Charts
A table that shows relationships among the various aspects of
a systems development effort
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Requirements Analysis
An assessment used to determine user, stakeholder,
& organizational needs
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The Systems Analysis Report
 Strength and weaknesses of existing system from
a stakeholder’s perspective
 User/stakeholder requirements for the new system
 Organizational requirements
 Description of what new information systems
should do to solve the problem
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Case study
Case 1: FAA system development project, page 565
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