System Analysis and Design
System Design
- Mr. Ahmad Al-Ghoul
Learning Objectives



Understand the objectives for
effective output design.
Discuss output design issues and
various types of output
Discuss factors that must be
considered when choosing an
output type
Avicenna
System Analysis and Design
System Design
2
Introduction
 Output is information delivered to users
through the information system
 Output can take many forms: the
traditional hard copy of printed reports,
and soft copy such as computer screens
 Useful output is essential to ensuring the
use and acceptance of information system
Avicenna
System Analysis and Design
System Design
3
Output design objectives

Output should be designed to

Serve the intended purpose



Designing output to fit the user



With a large information system serving many users for many
different purposes, it is difficult to personalize output
During fact-finding, it will be possible to determine which
output users need and prefer
Deliver the right quantity of output


Avicenna
It is not enough to make a report, screen, or web page
available to users, you must find out and specify what
purposes must be served
Output designed based on those purposes
More is not better
The system must provide what each person needs to complete
his or her work
System Analysis and Design
System Design
4
Output design objectives

Output should be designed to

Make sure the output is where it is needed




Provide output on time



Time play a large part in how useful output will be to decision makes
Many reports are required on a daily basis, some only monthly, others
yearly, and others only by exceptions
Choose the right output method




Avicenna
Output is often produced at one location, and then distributed to the
user
To be used and useful, output must be presented to the right user
No matter how well designed reports are, if they are not seen by the
suitable user, they have no value
Output can take many forms
You need to recognize the trade-offs involved in choosing an output
method
Output methods affect, flexibility, durability, distribution, storage and
retrieval possibilities
The choice of output methods is not trivial
System Analysis and Design
System Design
5
Output Design




Before designing output, ask yourself several questions:
 What is the purpose of the output?
 Who wants the information, why it is it needed, and how
will it be used?
 What specific information will be included?
 Will the output be printed, viewed on-screen, or both?
 When will the information be provided, and how often
must it be updated?
 Do security or confidentiality issues exist?
Your answers will affect your output design strategies
Some of the information needed to answer the questions was
gathered during the system analysis phase
To complete your answers, you should meet with users to
find out exactly what kind of output is needed
Avicenna
System Analysis and Design
System Design
6
Output Design

Types of Output


Most system output is printed in reports or
displayed on screens
New technologies has had an enormous
impact on how people communicate and
obtain information

Avicenna
In the systems design phase, you must design the
actual reports, screen forms, and other output
delivery methods
System Analysis and Design
System Design
7
Output Design

Types of Output

Internet-based information delivery




E-mail: E-mail has become an essential means of internal and external
business communication



Companies use e-mail to send new product information to customers, and
financial services use e-mail messages to confirm online stock trades
Employees use e-mail to exchange documents, data, and schedules and to
share business-related information they need to perform their jobs
Audio

Avicenna
Web designers must provide user friendly screen interfaces that display
output and accept input from customers
Customers visiting the company site can see outputs like list of items, prices,
and product availability
Anther example of Web-based output is a system that provides customized
responses to product or technical questions
Firms use automated systems to handle voice transactions and provide
information to customers
System Analysis and Design
System Design
8
Output Design

Types of Output

Automated facsimile systems

Firms use automated facsimile, or called Faxback systems, to allow
a customer to request a fax using e-mail, via the company web site,
or by telephone


Computer output microfilm (COM): records the images on a roll
of film, microfiche records images using small sheet of film



Microfilm, microfiche, capture an image of document and produce
film output
Users can retrieve, view, and print the images
Computer output to laser disk (COLD): anther way to store
images of paper documents

Avicenna
Requesting might be technical updates, information on new device
drivers, or product assistance
Paper is scanned, and the digital image is stored on a high-density
laser disk medium
System Analysis and Design
System Design
9
Output Design Issues

Specialized Forms of Output

An incredibly diverse marketplace requires a variety
of specialized output

Examples:





Avicenna
Automatic teller machine (ATM) that process bank transactions
Special-purpose printers that produce labels, photos, and
lottery tickets
Plotters that produce high-quality images such as maps
Output from one system often becomes input into
another system
Although digital technology has opened new horizons
in business communications, printed output still is the
most common type of output
System Analysis and Design
System Design
10
Output Design

Types of Output

Types of output differ in their
Speed
 Cost
 Portability
 Flexibility
 Storage and retrieval possibilities

Avicenna
System Analysis and Design
System Design
11
Output Design

Factors that must be considered when choosing an
output type are

Who will use the output?


How many people need the output?




If the output is intended to be a report created to attract
shareholders to the business , printed output is desirable
What is the speed with which output is needed?

Avicenna
Information that will remain close to its point of origin that will be
used by few users, can be printed
An abundance of information that must be transmitted to users at
great distance may be better distributed electronically
What is the purpose of the output?


If many people need the output Web-based documents are suitable
If one user need the output, screen, or audio may be more suitable
Where is the output needed?


Job requirements help dictate what output method is appropriate
Operations management need output rapidly so that they can
quickly adjust to events, online screen output may be suitable here
System Analysis and Design
System Design
12
Output Design

Factors that must be considered when choosing an
output type are

How frequently will the output be accessed?


How long will the output be stored?



Printed or paper output influence by time
Microfilms is not influence by environmental effects such as light,
humidity, and human handling
Under what special regulations is the output produced, stored,
and distributed?


Infrequently accessed output that is needed by only a few users is
well suited to microfilms
The appropriate format for some output is regulated by the
government
What are the initial and ongoing costs of maintenance and
supplies?

Avicenna
The initial costs of purchasing or leasing equipment must be
considered as yet anther factor that enters into the choice of output
type
System Analysis and Design
System Design
13
Sequence Summary





Output is any useful information or data delivered by the
information system or decision support system to the user
Output can take virtually any form, including print, display,
Internet-based information delivery, e-mail, audio, automated
facsimile systems, Computer output to laser disk, and
microfilms
The systems analyst has six major objectives in designing
output. They are to design output to serve the intended
purpose, to fit the user, to deliver the right quantity of output,
to deliver it to the right place, to provide output on time, and
to choose the right output method
Output technologies also differ in their speed, cost,
portability, flexibility, and storage and retrieval possibilities
All the pervious factors must be considered when deciding
among print, display, audio, electronic, or Internet based
output, or a combination of these
Avicenna
System Analysis and Design
System Design
14
Sequence Summary

In this Sequence we have




Avicenna
Defined the term system output
Explained the six major objectives for
effective output design.
Described and distinguished between the
various types of output
Explained the factors that must be considered
when choosing an output type are.
System Analysis and Design
System Design
15
Reference
[1] System Analysis and Design, Sixth Edition
Authors: Gary B. Shelly, Thomas J. Cashman
and Harry J. Rosenblatt ,
Publisher: SHELLY CASHMAN SEWIES.
[2] system analysis and design, sixth edition
Authors: Kenneth E. Kendall and Julie E.
Kendall
Publisher: Prentice Hall
Avicenna
System Analysis and Design
System Design
16