Systems Analysis and Design in a
Changing World, Fourth Edition
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Overview
 Keys
to successful system development

Thorough systems analysis and design

Understanding what business requires
analysis – process of understanding in
detail what a system should accomplish
 Systems
design – process of specifying in detail
how components of an information system
should be physically implemented
 Systems
analyst – uses analysis and design
techniques to solve business problems using
information technology
 Systems
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The Analyst as a Business Problem Solver
 Has
computer technology knowledge and
programming expertise
 Understands
 Uses
 Has
business problems
logical methods for solving problems
fundamental curiosity
 Wants
to make things better
 Is
more of a business problem solver than a
technical programmer
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Analyst’s Approach to Problem Solving
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Research and understand the problem
Verify benefits of solving problem outweigh the costs
Define the requirements for solving the problem
Develop a set of possible solutions (alternatives)
Decide which solution is best and recommend
Define the details of the chosen solution
Implement the solution
Monitor to ensure desired results
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Types of Information Systems
 Transaction

processing systems (TPS)
Capture and record information about organization’s
transactions
 Management
information systems (MIS)

Take information captured by TPS

Produce reports for planning and control
 Decision
support / knowledge-based systems
(DSS/KBS)

Explore impact of available options or decisions (what-if
scenarios)

Automate routine decision making
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Types of Information Systems (continued)
 Enterprise
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applications

Highly integrated systems that support company-wide
operations and data

Often combine aspects of TPS, MIS, DSS/KBS
Enterprise
Application
Architecture
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Technical Knowledge and Skills
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 An
analyst should have fundamental
technology knowledge of Computers /
peripheral devices (hardware)
 Communication
 Database
networks and connectivity
and database management systems
(DBMS)
 Programming
languages (for example, VB.NET
or Java)
 Operating
systems and utilities
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Technical Knowledge and Skills (continued)


Analyst uses tools

Software productivity packages

Integrated development environments (IDEs) for
programming languages

CASE tools, testing, documentation support, reverse
engineering, configuration management
Analyst understands SDLC techniques

Project planning, systems analysis

Systems design, database design, network design

Construction, implementation, systems support
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Business Knowledge and Skills


Analyst must understand

Business functions performed by organization

Strategies, plans, traditions, and values of the organization

Organizational structure

Organization management techniques

Functional work processes
Systems analysts typically study business
administration/management in college with a major in
CIS or MIS
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People Knowledge and Skills
 Systems
analysts need to understand how
people

Think

Learn

React to change

Communicate

Work (in a variety of jobs and levels)
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People Knowledge and Skills (continued)
 Interpersonal
and communication skills are
crucial to

Obtaining information

Motivating people

Getting cooperation

Understanding the complexity and workings of an
organization in order to provide necessary support
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The Analyst’s Role in Strategic Planning
 Special

projects affecting executives
Business process reengineering – radical
improvements to existing processes
 Strategic
planning process
 Information
systems strategic planning

Application architecture plan (business focus)

Technology architecture plan (infrastructure focus)
 Enterprise
resource planning (ERP)
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Components of an information systems
strategic plan
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Summary
 A systems
analyst solves business problems
using information systems technology
 Problem
solving means looking into business
problem in great detail, completely
understanding problem, and choosing best
solution
 Information
system development is much more
than writing programs
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Summary (continued)
 Systems
analyst has broad knowledge and
variety of skills, including technical, business,
and people
 Integrity
and ethical behavior are crucial to
success for the analyst
 Systems
analyst encounters a variety of rapidly
changing technologies
 Systems
analyst works on strategic plans and
then system development projects
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