SYSTEM ANALYSIS AND DESIGN
Course Objective
The overriding objective of the course is to provide students exposure to the theory of
systems analysis and design. It describes fundamental concepts and trends that provide
the context of Systems Analysis and Design methods.
After successfully completing the course, students will have the following abilities to
describe the different major approaches to systems analysis and design and ability to
describe the tools used in systems analysis and design and the management of these
analysis and design projects.
Module 1
Unit 1 - Data and Information: Distinction between Data and Information, Types of
data, Types of Information, Characteristics of information, Attributes of information
quality.
Unit 2 - Systems Concepts: Definition, Characteristics of a system: organization,
Interaction, Interdependence, Integration, Central objective. Elements of systems: Inputs,
outputs, Processes, Control, Feedback, Environment, Boundaries and Interface, Types of
system: Physical or Abstract, Open or closed system.
Unit 3 - Information systems: What is an information system?, Trends in Information
system, Information system resources, Types of Information system: Operation support
and Management support.
Module 2
Unit 4 - System Development Life Cycle: What is system development, beginning of
system development, system development methodology. Steps in system development
life cycle: Preliminary Investigation, Requirements analysis or system analysis, Design of
System, Development of Software, System Testing, Implementation and Maintenance.
Unit 5 - Feasibility Analysis: Steps in feasibility Analysis, Types of feasibility studies,
Case Study on identifying and examining alternative solutions
Unit 6 – System Analyst: Who is a system analyst?, Roles of system analyst: Change
agent, Investigator & Monitor, Architect, Psychologist, Salesperson, Motivator,
Information system resources, System analyst skill sets: Technical, Managerial,
Communication and analytical.
Module 3
Unit 7 - Information Gathering Techniques 1: Sampling & Investigation,
Interviewing: Kinds of information sought, Interview plan, Interview conduction,
Interview report.
Unit 8 – Information Gathering Techniques 2: Questionnaires: Kinds of information
sought, Different Scales in Questionnaires, Using questionnaires, Onsite observation:
Observing the Organizations Environment
Unit 9 – Information Gathering Technique 3: Prototyping: Prototyping approaches,
Prototype development, Users Involvement in Prototyping. Advantages and
disadvantages of different information gathering techniques.
Module 4
Unit 10 – System Analysis Tools 1: Data Flow Diagrams: Data Flow diagrams, DFD
Symbols, Logical and physical DFDs, Leveling or decomposition of DFD, Guidelines for
drawing DFDs, Rules for stopping decomposition.
Unit 11 – System Analysis Tools 2: Case Studies on DFDs: Order Processing System,
Food ordering system, Travel Agency, Online university registration, A Real Estate Inc
(AREI).
Unit 12 – System Analysis Tools 3: Data Dictionary: Data repository, creating and
using data dictionaries, Making Structured Decisions: Structured English, Decision
tree, Decision tables.
Module 5
Unit 13 – Input Design: Data processing, Input implementation methods – A taxonomy,
Input design objectives & guidelines, Form design, Screen design, GUI controls,
Extending input design to web, Input controls, Tools for input design and prototyping.
Unit 14 – Output Design: Types of outputs: Internal, external and turnaround, Output
implementation methods – A taxonomy, Output design guidelines, Output Bias, Report
design, Screen output design, Extending output design to web.
Unit 15 – Database or file Design: Database design objectives, Conventional files and
databases, Data concepts, Database design guidelines.
Module 6
Unit 16 – System Design: System design, Logical and physical design, System design
elements, Structured design, System design approaches: Modern structured designStructure charts, JAD, RAD, Object oriented design, Information engineering.
Unit 17 – Project Management: What is project management?, Project management
functions, Project management tools and techniques: Gantt chart, Bar Chart, WBS and
PERT.
Unit 18 – Quality Assurance: Quality Assurance – Definition, Approaches to quality,
Total quality management, Testing, maintenance and auditing.