System Analysis and Design
System Analysis
- Mr. Ahmad Al-Ghoul
Learning Objectives
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Explain the role of systems analyst
in the evaluation and selection of
the development options
Inventory and appraise current
and proposed hardware
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Role of the Systems Analyst
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The company must decide whether to use an
outsourcing option, develop software in-house,
acquire a software package, develop user
applications, or select some combination of these
solutions
The decision will affect the remaining SDLC phases
and your involvement as a systems analyst
Management usually makes a determination after
receiving written recommendation from the IT
staff
When selecting hardware and software, systems
analysts often work as an evaluation and selection
team
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Role of the Systems Analyst
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A team approach ensures that critical factors are not
overlooked and that a sound choice is made
A team must include users, who will participate in the
selection process and feel a sense of ownership in
the new system
The primary objective of the evaluation and selection
team is to eliminate system alternatives that will not
meet requirements, rank the system alternatives that
are feasible, and present the viable alternatives to
management for a final decision
at the end of the systems analysis phase of the
SDLC, you must apply financial analysis tools and
techniques to evaluate development strategies and
decide how the project will move forward
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Ascertaining Hardware needs
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To determine the hardware needs you
should estimate the present and future
workloads of a business, and the process
involved in evaluating the ability of
computer hardware to handle workloads
adequately
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Ascertaining Hardware needs
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Steps used to determine hardware needs
Inventory computer hardware currently available
 Estimate current and projected workload for the
system
 Evaluate the performance of hardware using some
predetermined criteria
 Purchasing, Leasing, or Renting Decision
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Ascertaining Hardware needs
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Hardware Inventory
Begin by inventorying what computer hardware is
already available in the organization, to know what is on
hand
When inventorying hardware check
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Type of equipment: model number, manufacturer
Status of equipment operation: on order, operating, in storage,
in need of repair
Estimated age of equipment
Projected life of equipment
Physical location of equipment
Department or person responsible for equipment
Financial arrangement for equipment: owned, leased, rented
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Ascertaining Hardware needs
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Estimating workloads
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System analyst formulate numbers that
represent both current and future workloads
for the system so that any hardware obtained
will possess the capability to handle current
and future workloads
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Ascertaining Hardware needs
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Evaluating Hardware
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Criteria for evaluating hardware
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Time required for average transactions: including time for
input and output
Total volume capacity of the system: how much can be
processed at the same time before problem arises
Idle time of the central processing unit
Size of memory provided
Some criteria can be simulated; others cant be
simulated and must be taken from manufacturer’s
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Ascertaining Hardware needs
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Purchasing, Leasing, or Renting Decision
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There are three options for obtaining
computer equipment:
Buying
 Leasing
 Renting
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Ascertaining Hardware needs
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Purchasing, Leasing, or Renting Decision
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There are advantages and disadvantages that should
be considered for each of the three previous decisions
Some of the more influential factors to consider in
deciding which option is best for a particular
installation include initial versus long term costs,
whether the business can afford to tie up capital in
computer equipment, and whether the business
desires full control and responsibility for the computer
equipment
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Ascertaining Hardware needs [2]
Buying
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Advantages
Disadvantages
Cheaper than leasing
or renting over the
long run
Ability to change
system
Provides tax
advantages of
accelerated
depreciation
Full control
Initial cost is high
Risk of obsolescence
Risk of being stuck if
choice is wrong
Full responsibility
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Ascertaining Hardware needs [2]
Leasing
Advantages
Disadvantages
No capital is tied up
Company doesn’t own
the system when lease
expires
Usually a heavy penalty
for terminating the
lease
Leases are more
expensive than buying
No financing is
required
Leases are lower than
rental payments
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Ascertaining Hardware needs [2]
Renting
Advantages
Disadvantages
No capital is tied up
Company doesn’t own
the computer
No financing is required
Easy to change systems Cost is very high
because vendor assumes
Maintenance and
the risk (most expensive
insurance are usually
option)
included
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Sequence Summary
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The systems analyst’s role in the software development
process depends on the specific development strategy
By inventorying equipment already on hand and on
order, systems analysts will be able to better determine
if new, modified, or current computer hardware is to be
recommended
Computer hardware can be acquired through purchase,
lease, or rental
factors to consider in deciding which option is best for a
particular installation include initial versus long term
costs, whether the business can afford to tie up capital
in computer equipment, and whether the business
desires full control and responsibility for the computer
equipment
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Sequence Summary
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In this Sequence we have
 Explained the role of systems analyst in the
evaluation and selection of the development
options
 Explained how to inventory and appraise
current and proposed hardware
 Explained how to compare between
Purchasing, Leasing, or Renting hardware
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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
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