BTS330Lecture 1: Project Initiation

Definition of a Project

A Project is a sequence of unique, complex, and connected activities having one goal or purpose and that must be completed by a specific time, within budget, and according to specification. ( p. 65)

Information Systems

Information systems are crucial to modern business

Key to success is thorough systems analysis and design

Systems analyst is a key individual in these activities

The Analyst

Business problem solver Practical knowledge▪ Computers▪ Computer programming

Understands business problems

Uses logical method for solving problems

Analyst’s Approach to Problem Solving

Research problem

Verify benefits outweigh costs

Develop solutions

Recommend best solution

Define solution

Implement solution

Monitor results

Systems that Solve Business Problems Information systems

Collection of interrelated components that collect, process, store, and provide as output the information needed to complete business tasks

Super systems Large systems that can be divided into sub

systems Example, system for the 2009 Canada

Games Functional decomposition

Dividing a system into components based on subsystems that in turn are further divided into subsystems (based on the Use Case Diagrams)

Types of Information Systems

Information Systems and Subsystems

System Boundary vs. Automation Boundary

Information Systems and Component Parts

Required Skills of the Systems Analyst

Technical knowledge and skills Computer hardware, software, databases,

and related devices Tools to help develop analysis or design

specifications Techniques for completing specific

development activities Business knowledge and skills

Organizational structure Functional work processes

Required Skills of the Systems Analyst

People knowledge and skills Communication Teams

Ethics and integrity

Environment Surrounding the Analyst

Information system configurations encountered will range from PC to large mainframe systems

Job titles of the systems analyst vary greatly

Places of employment vary from small businesses to large corporations

Strategic Systems Plan for Rocky Mountain Outfitters

Overview In 1978, began supplying winter sports clothes

in Park City, Utah Expansion into direct mail-order sales By late 1990s, RMO had become a large,

regional sports clothing distributor Today, over $100 million in annual sales Mail-order is key revenue at $70 million

RMO Organizational Structure

RMO Locations

RMO Information Systems Department

Headed by Mac Preston, an assistant vice president

50 employees in department Mac is in process of implementing

strategic IS plan Eventually, John Blankens will assume

leadership of IS Department if Mac’s plan succeeds

IS Department Staffing

RMO Technology Overview

Most IS staff and technology located in data center at Park City Mainframe-based system supports primary

business functions Central office functions, distribution centers,

and manufacturing centers supported with LANs

Dial-up capability to mainframe

Existing Systems at RMO

Retail store systems Point-of-sale and batch inventory update

Office systems LAN with office software and e-mail

Merchandising/Distribution Mainframe application with COBOL/CICS, IBM

DB2 and VSAM developed in-house

Existing Systems at RMO

Mail order COBOL application developed in-house

Phone order Access system developed in-house

Human resources Mainframe-based application developed in-

house

Existing Systems at RMO

Accounting/Finance Mainframe package from leading vendor

implemented 10 years earlier

IS Strategic Plan at RMO

Strategic thrust Build more direct customer contact Improve service

Expand beyond Western states Expand phone-order capability Add direct customer access via the Internet

RMO Application Architecture Plan

RMO Technology Architecture Plan

Move business applications to client-server architecture; use mainframe for database

Move toward conducting business on the Internet

Anticipate eventual move toward intranet solutions

RMO Application Architecture Plan

Accounting/Finance Purchase client-server package

Human resources Purchase intranet package to maximize

employee access to appropriate information Customer support system

Order-processing and fulfillment for phone, mail, and direct customer access

RMO Application Architecture Plan

Inventory management system Integrate with customer support

Retail store systems Integrate store management systems with

inventory systems

Application Architecture Time Frame

First: Customer support system Second: Inventory management system Third: Retail store systems with inventory

management Fourth: Human resources and

accounting/finance

Major Subsystems

Customer support system Order entry Customer service/catalog Order tracking Shipping Back orders Returns Sales analysis

Major Subsystems

Inventory management system Vendor management Manufacturing requirements planning Normal volume ordering and

reordering Emergency out-of-stock ordering Cost tracking Aging of inventory stock Turnover analysis Warehouse goods tracking

Project Initiation

Long-term information systems strategic plan (top-down)

Department managers or process managers (bottom-up)

Response to outside forces Legislative changes Market forces Competition

Project Initiation for RMO

Strategic thrust to build more direct customer contact

Customer support system development Barbara Halifax - project manager Steven Deerfield - systems analyst Support all types of customer services

▪ Ordering, returns, on-line catalog, et cetera

Assignment Each team is to decompose the super system

necessary to run the Canada Games 2009 into major systems based on category. For example, Volunteer System

Then you are to further decompose each of those systems into subsystems. For example, uniforms, Identification, staffing.

Note: The team that present the most complete decomposition will receive 2 bonus marks for the semester. This winner will be decided by the classes’ evaluation.