Chapter 4
The Systems Development Life
Cycle and HRIS Needs Analysis
SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT LIFE
CYCLE (SDLC)
Continuous and
iterative nature
of planning and
analysis!
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SAGE Publications, 2018.
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SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT LIFE
CYCLE (SDLC)
1. Planning: The planning phase of the SDLC includes both longrange or strategic planning and short-range operational
planning.
2. Analysis: It is in the analysis phase that an organization’s
current capabilities are documented, new needs are
identified, and the scope of an HRIS is determined.
3. Design: In the design phase, the “blueprint” for the system is
finalized. (This topic is covered in detail in the next chapter.)
4. Implementation: During the implementation, the HRIS
system is built, tested, and readied for actual rollout or the
“go live” stage—the point in the SDLC where the old system
is turned off and the new system is put into operation.
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SAGE Publications, 2018.
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SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT LIFE
CYCLE (SDLC)
5. Maintenance: The SDLC does not end once the “go live” date
arrives. The maintenance phase, sometimes referred to as
the “forgotten phase” (Smith, 2001), is that phase in the life
of an HRIS where the primary objective is to prolong the
useful life of the HRIS, and it begins once the new system is
put into operation.
In addition, maintenance serves four main purposes:
– corrective maintenance
– adaptive maintenance
– perfective maintenance
– preventative maintenance
Kavanagh, Human Resource Information Systems 4e.
SAGE Publications, 2018.
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Needs Analysis
• Purpose: to collect and document information related to
making changes connected to the following:
– Current system performance issues
– The introduction of a new system, application, task, or technology
– Any opportunities perceived to benefit the organization.
• An effective needs analysis consists of five main stages, each
of which has activities that will be discussed in detail
–
–
–
–
–
NEEDS ANALYSIS PLANNING
OBSERVATION
EXPLORATION
EVALUATION
REPORTING
Kavanagh, Human Resource Information Systems 4e.
SAGE Publications, 2018.
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Needs Analysis Planning
•
•
•
•
Determine tools and techniques to be used
Determine management’s role
Define the goals
Organize the needs analysis team
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SAGE Publications, 2018.
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Observation
•
•
•
•
•
•
Review with management
Define the needs
Identify performance gaps
Classify the data
Determine the priorities
Analyze the current situation
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SAGE Publications, 2018.
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Exploration
•
•
•
•
Interviews
Questionnaires
Observation
Focus groups
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SAGE Publications, 2018.
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Evaluation
• Several activities occur during the evaluation stage of needs
analysis.
• Once the data have been collected, they must be reviewed and
assessed to create a clear picture of the current and desired
processes, data sources, and issues.
• Next, the data should be arranged in a format useful for the next
phase of the SDLC: design.
• Third, the data should be reviewed by the project team to gain
additional perspective and encourage suggestions, noting any
duplications or omissions.
• When this information is organized, it can then be prioritized
according to the immediacy of need and the level of importance of
the functionality the data represent.
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SAGE Publications, 2018.
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Evaluation, Continued
• Priority Description Codes
1. Must be present at implementation
2. Must be present within 6 months of
implementation
3. Nice to have but not essential
4. Not need in the near future but may be
needed due to environmental changes
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SAGE Publications, 2018.
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Evaluation, Continued
• Importance Level/ Description
1. Mandatory
2. Strongly desired
3. Nice to have
Later in the vendor evaluation process, each piece or
item of functionality can have a calculated level, such as
importance x immediacy. The resultant number can then
be multiplied by a specific consensus score of any
vendor’s capability to meet that need.
Kavanagh, Human Resource Information Systems 4e.
SAGE Publications, 2018.
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Reporting
• The final stage of the needs analysis process, reporting,
involves preparing a report that summarizes the findings and
presents recommendations for the design phase. The final
report should include an overview of the current systems and
processes, along with a description of how a new system
could address the issues and weaknesses with which the
function deals.
• This report should contain the formalized requirements
definition, the document that lists each of the prioritized
requirements for the new system.
Kavanagh, Human Resource Information Systems 4e.
SAGE Publications, 2018.
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Reporting
• The requirement definition can include specifications geared
toward solving problems identified in the analysis, as well as
any that focus on new functionality that HR requires in the
new system. These requirements should be written in such a
way that when the new system is tested, each requirement
can be verified as being met.
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SAGE Publications, 2018.
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Reporting
1. Executive Summary
2. Project Background
2.1. Project Initiation
2.2. Project Charter
2.3. Project Scope
2.4. Project Team
2.5. Steering Committee
2.6. Project Schedule
3. Current Systems
3.1. Description
3.2. Components and
Functions
3.3. Interfaces
3.4. Strengths and
Weaknesses
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SAGE Publications, 2018.
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Reporting
4. General Operational
Requirements
5. Functional Requirements
5.1. Function 1
5.1.1. Function 1 Description
5.1.2. Function 1
Requirements
5.2. Function 2
5.2.1. Function 2 Description
5.2.2. Function 2
Requirements
5.3. Etc.
6. Information Technology
Requirements
7. Support Requirements
8. Next Steps
9. Appendices
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SAGE Publications, 2018.
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