System Analysis and Design
System Planning
(Preliminary Investigation Overview)
- Mr. Ahmad Al-Ghoul
Learning Objectives
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Describe the steps in a preliminary
investigation and the end product
of an investigation
Avicenna
System Analysis and Design
System Planning
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Preliminary Investigation Overview
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Step 3: Perform Fact-Finding
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Fact-finding involves various
techniques
Depending on what information is
needed to investigate the systems
request, fact-finding might consume
several hours, days, or weeks
Analyze Organization Charts
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Obtain organization charts to
understand how the department
functions
Organization charts show formal
reporting relationship but not the
informal alignment of a group
System Analysis and Design
System Planning
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Preliminary Investigation Overview
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Step 3: Perform Fact-Finding
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Conduct interviews
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Determine the people to interview.
Establish objectives for the interview.
Develop interview questions.
Prepare for the interview.
Conduct the interview.
Document the interview.
Evaluate the interview.
The purpose of the interview, is to uncover facts, not convince
others that the project is justified
In an interview ask effective questions
Include open ended questions
You should interview managers and supervisors who have a
broad knowledge of the system
You might talk to operational personal to learn how the system
functions on day-to-day basis
System Analysis and Design
System Planning
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Preliminary Investigation Overview
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Step 3: Perform Fact-Finding
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Review documentation
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Observe operations
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To see how workers carry out typical tasks
To follow the actual paths taken by input source documents
or output reports
Conduct a user survey
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To learn more about the current system
To get information from a larger group
Design a form that users complete
It is not flexible as interview
Less expensive, less time, and can involve a broad crosssection of people
System Analysis and Design
System Planning
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Preliminary Investigation Overview
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Step 4: Evaluate Feasibility
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Avicenna
Evaluate the project’s operational, technical,
economic, and schedule feasibility
System Analysis and Design
System Planning
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Preliminary Investigation Overview
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Step 5: Estimate Project
Development Time and Cost
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Avicenna
What information must you obtain, and how
will you gather and analyze the information?
What sources of information will you use, and
what difficulties will you encounter in
obtaining information?
System Analysis and Design
System Planning
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Preliminary Investigation Overview
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Step 5: Estimate Project Development
Time and Cost
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Avicenna
Will you conduct interviews? How many people will
you interview, and how much time will you need to
meet with the people and summarize their responses?
Will you conduct a survey? Who will be involved? How
much time will it take people to complete it? How
much time will it take to prepare it and tabulate the
results?
System Analysis and Design
System Planning
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Preliminary Investigation Overview
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Step 5: Estimate Project
Development Time and Cost
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Avicenna
How much will it cost to analyze the
information gathered and to prepare a report
with findings and recommendations?
You should provide an estimate for the overall
project, so managers can understand the full
cost impact and timetable
System Analysis and Design
System Planning
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Preliminary Investigation Overview
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Step 6: Present Results and
Recommendations to Management
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Avicenna
The final task in the preliminary investigation
is to prepare a report to management
The format of the preliminary investigation
report varies from one company to another
The report includes an evaluation of system
request, an estimate of costs and benefits,
and your recommendation
System Analysis and Design
System Planning
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Preliminary Investigation Overview
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Step 6: Present Results and
Recommendations to Management
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Introduction
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Systems request summary
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It contains the results of the preliminary investigation
Recommendations
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It describes the basis of the system request
Findings
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It contains a brief description of the system, the name of the
person or group who performed the investigation, and the
name of the person or group who initiated the investigation
Recommendations for further action, with specific reasons and
justification
System Analysis and Design
System Planning
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Preliminary Investigation Overview
Step 6: Present Results and
Recommendations to Management
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Project Roles
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Time & cost estimates
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Anticipated tangible and intangible benefits and a timetable
that shows when they are to occur
Appendix
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Avicenna
This section describes the cost of acquiring and installing the
system, and the total cost of ownership during the system’s
useful life
Expected benefits
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Lists the people who will participate in the project, and
describes each person’s role
It included in the report for supporting information
System Analysis and Design
System Planning
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Sequence Summary
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During the third step in preliminary
investigation, the analyst perform fact-finding
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Fact-finding involves various techniques such as
Analyze Organization Charts, interviews, Review
documentation, and Conduct a user survey
During the fourth step in preliminary
investigation, the analyst evaluate the project’s
operational, technical, economic, and schedule
feasibility
During the fifth and sixth steps, the analyst
estimate project development time and cost;
and present results and recommendations to
management
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System Analysis and Design
System Planning
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Sequence Summary
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In this Sequence we have
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Avicenna
Described the third step in preliminary investigation that
describe how to perform fact-finding
Described the interviews technique
Defined other fact finding techniques, document review, user
observation, and survey
Described the fourth step in preliminary investigation that
describe how to evaluate feasibility
Described the fifth step in preliminary investigation that describe
how to estimate project development time and cost
Described The final task in the preliminary investigation that
describe how to prepare a report to management
System Analysis and Design
System Planning
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Reference
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[1] System Analysis and Design, Sixth
Edition (Chapter 2 )
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Avicenna
Authors: Gary B. Shelly, Thomas J. Cashman
and Harry J. Rosenblatt ,
Publisher: SHELLY CASHMAN SEWIES.
System Analysis and Design
System Planning
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