SYSTEMS ANALYSIS

AND

DESIGN

INTRODUCTION1

Systems Analysis and Design is the process people use to create (automated) information systems

SystemsAnalysis& Design

InformationSystem

2

Information Systems Engineering!Software Engineering!

Information Systems Development!Systems Engineering!

Systems Analysis and Design!

Other names...!

Whichone?

Is there an “official” name?

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A title given to a person who studies the

problems and needs of an organization

looking for improvement opportunities.

Systems AnalystSystems Analyst

Other names:

• Software Engineer• Systems Engineer• Software Developer• Programmer/Analyst• Nerd or Hacker! (joking!)

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An idea Analysis Design andImplementation

CompletedInformation

System

SYSTEMS ANALYSIS AND DESIGN: A Condensed (Informal) Perspective

Time5

SYSTEMS ANALYSIS AND DESIGN: A Complete (Formal)

Perspective

• Systems Planning

• Systems Analysis

• Systems Design

• Systems Implementation

• Systems Evolution

Planning

Evolution

Implementation Design

Analysis

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System

Natural Fabricated

InformationSystems

Others

AutomatedInformation

Systems

Others

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• Name & Address Book• CD Collection• Course Registration• Reservations• Student Grades• Payroll• ATM machine & Banking in General• Check-Out Counters at Retail Stores• Order Fulfillment - Mail or Web Ordering• Manufacturing• Securities Portfolio Management• Space Shuttle Flight• Election Results• Video Games (Arcade and Home)

Business “problems” come in all sizes and shapes!Business “problems” come in all sizes and shapes!

Examples:

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A SYSTEM is a set of:

interrelated

components

working together

for a common purpose

System

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SYSTEM

boundary

inputs

outputs

processing

controls

feedback

A Generic System A Generic System ModelModel

(with Six (with Six Components)Components)

Examples:• Automobile• Student Registration System• Others...

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System Model HierarchySystem Model Hierarchy

Water Vehicles

Cruise Ship

Staterooms

Suprasystem

System

Subsystem

“bigger”

“smaller”

Template Example

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An INFORMATION SYSTEM is:

• a type of fabricated system

• used by one or more persons

• to help them accomplish some task or

assignment they have

people

procedures

data

An Information System:• supports policies & procedures• has three components - data,

people, procedures - in addition to

the six general system components

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(input, output, processing, control, feedback and boundary)

An AUTOMATED INFORMATION SYSTEM IS:

a type of fabricated system

used by one or more persons

to help them accomplish some task or assignment they have

utilizes hardware and softwarepeople

procedures

data

software

hardware13

• DATA - input, output, or already stored electronically

• FUNCTIONS - transformations or actions taken

• BEHAVIOR - the observable effects from interaction

DATA FUNCTIONS

BEHAVIOR

An An AUTOMATED INFORMATION AUTOMATED INFORMATION SYSTEMSYSTEM has three basic has three basic characteristics to consider:characteristics to consider:

(Plus the six system components: input, output, processing, control, feedback and boundary)14

• Systems Analysis and Design is the process people use to create (automated) information systems

people

procedures

data

software

hardware

SA&D

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The people who do SYSTEMS ANALYSIS and DESIGN produce

information systems that are:

used internally within the organization

sold commercially via mail/web order or retail store

imbedded in products

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Initially, problem domains (areas) tend to have poorly defined BOUNDARIES

Problem domain SOLUTIONS are artificial

Problem domains are DYNAMIC

Problem domain solutions usually require INTERDISCIPLINARY knowledge and skills

Systems Analyst’s KNOWLEDGEBASE is continually expanding

Systems Analysis and Design is a highly COGNITIVE activity

Working with PEOPLE

What makes Systems Analysis What makes Systems Analysis and Design a difficult activity?and Design a difficult activity?

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Systems Analyst’s interactions with people during Systems Analysis & Design

SYSTEMSANALYST

Users*SteeringCommittee*

Vendors

Programmers& Tech. Staff

DatabaseAdministrators

Managers*

* = Stakeholders

Systems Analystmay be acting asa Project Managerfor some of theseinteractions.

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Studies the problems and needs of an organization

looking for improvement opportunities for:

– increasing revenue/profit

– decreasing costs

– improving quality of service

What does a Systems Analyst do?What does a Systems Analyst do?

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Effective and efficient:

– CAPTURE of input data

– PROCESSING & STORAGE of data

– DELIVERY of timely and accurate information

What is a Systems Analyst responsible for?What is a Systems Analyst responsible for?

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Concepts & Principles

Environments/Tools

ProblemSolving &PeopleSkills

Methods & Techniques

Methodologies

Skills and Competencies of a Systems Analyst

• Functional Business Knowledge• Verbal & written communication

skills• Systems Analysis and Design

work experience

PLUS:

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Requirements Specification(3)

General Model of Information Systems Development (“Partnership”)

Stakeholder

InformationTechnology

Staff

AnalysisDesign

andImplementation

Requirements(1) Continued

Involvement(5)

InformationSystem (6)

ProblemDefinitionSkills (2)

ProblemSolutionSkills (4)

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Systems Analysis and Design Activities and Deliverables

ANALYSIS

Activities:

• Systems Planning• Feasibility Study (optional)• Requirements Determination• User Acceptance• Prototyping (optional)

Deliverables:

• Requirements Specification• Prototype (optional)

DESIGN

Activities:

Deliverable:

• Physical Design• Prototyping (optional)• Software Construction/Purchase• User Documentation - “Deliverable”• Testing• Training• User Acceptance• Conversion• Implementing the system

• Information System

• Project Management • Project Documentation - “Scaffolding”

Two (2) additional on-going activities:

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• Labor intensive

• Smallest team = you

• Next smallest team = you and one other (user)

• Average team = several systems analysts and users

• Articulation of the business problem is difficult

• Users and systems analysts come in all sizes and shapes

Systems Analysis and Design Project ObservationsSystems Analysis and Design Project Observations

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• Problems - “something needs to be fixed”

• Opportunities - “good deals”

• Directives - “do it…or else…”

Where Do Systems Analysis Where Do Systems Analysis and Design Projects Come and Design Projects Come

From?From?

... and are bounded by Constraintsand are bounded by Constraints

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• Planning• Feasibility Study (optional)• Requirements Determination• Conceptual Design• Physical Design • Construction and/or Purchase (prototype)• Conversion - old to new• Training• Implementation• Evolution - maintenance & enhancements

SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT LIFE CYCLE (SDLC)SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT LIFE CYCLE (SDLC)A

naly

sis

Desig

n

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Sequential or Traditional SDLC1. Planning for an information system2. Feasibility Study (optional)3. Requirements Determination (gathering)4. Conceptual design5. Physical design and/or purchase and/or prototyping6. Conversion from current system to new/changed system7. Training8. Implementation9. Evolution for enhancements and maintenance

Waterfall or Staircase SDLCPlanning

Feasibility Study

Requirements DeterminationConceptual Design

Physical DesignConversion

TrainingImplementation

Evolution

“Begin”

“End”

“Begin”

“End”

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Planning

Feasibility Study

Requirements Determination

Conceptual Design

Physical Design

Conversion

Training

Implementation

Evolution

Iterative SDLC

Risk Analysis

Spiral SDLC

SDLC Activities

Verification/Test

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• The system is for the user

• A Work Breakdown Structure should be used (ie., SDLC)

• Systems analysis and design is iterative and overlapping

• Information systems are capital investments for the business

• Project manager may have the authority to cancel a project

• Project documentation is important all along the way

• Senior management approval/support is very important

Principles to Guide Systems Analysis & Design

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