Systems Analysis and Design in a Changing World, Tuesday, Feb 6

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Today’s Schedule

System Requirements Overview of Chapters 1 through 4

Test #1, Thursday, February 8 Practice Quizzes, posted on calendar

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#4 Observe users in their jobs

It is always difficult to observe users in their jobs. It frequently makes both you and them uncomfortable. What things could you do to ensure that user behavior is not changing because of your visit? How could you make observation more natural?

Participate in the business process by doing some of the tasks.

Ask them to pretend you are a new employee that needs to be trained.

First, try to establish a rapport with them, maybe by going on a coffee break together.

Do not use a video camera or tape recorder.

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#5 Conflicting answers

What would you do if you got conflicting answers for the same procedure from two different people you interviewed? What would you do if one was a clerical person and the other was the department manager?

Take the opinion of the department manager as the correct answer. However, it is not uncommon for the department manager to be behind on some of the latest details of business procedures.

Best solution is to get the two people together and let them discuss the differences until they both agree on the correct procedure.

The systems analyst should not make the decision as to which answer is correct, nor should he or she try to resolve the difference. It is the users’ responsibility to do so.

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#9 Set up an interview with Jason Nadold in the shipping department.

Sample closed-ended questions:– What is the volume of shipments on an average

day?– How does the volume vary across time?– How many employees are there in shipping?

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Sample open-ended questions

What is the procedure for getting an order ready for shipment? What forms are used? How is the system updated when a shipment is sent? How are back-orders handled? How are returns handled? What information is updated when a shipment is sent? What reports does the system produce? How are employee responsibilities divided among the various

procedures?

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Sample exception condition questions

What happens when items are not in stock for an order?

How do you handle errors in the inventory system and physical counts?

What happens when shipments are returned due to a bad address?

What do you do about lost shipments? How are you notified?

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Systems Analyst (Ch 1-3)

Information Systems Analyst– Problem solver– System, super-, sub-, boundary, types

System Development– SDLC phases and activities of each– Approaches: adaptive vs. predictive– Methodologies, Models, tools, techniques

Project Manager– Project and responsibilities– Determine scope with Context diagram– Benefits/cost analysis, Tangible/intangibles, feasibility

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Ch 4 - System Requirements

Analysis phase activities Business process re-engineering Functional vs. non-functional requirements Stakeholders

– users, client, staff Information Gathering methods Structured walkthroughs validate

requirements

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For Thursday, February 8

Install Visual Paradigm, Community Edition Test #1, Thursday, February 8

Covering Chapters 1 through 4– Use homeworks and quiz to study– Use on-site practice tests

(Helpful Resources)– Use practice quiz posted on calendar