Systems Investigation and Analysis

How Do We Do Systems Development?

Dilbert – 3/21/03

The Systems Analyst’s View

Project Leadership

Where Do Projects Come From?

Strategic Alignment Model

External

Internal

Strategic Fit

Functional Integration

BusinessStrategy

I/T Strategy

OrganizationalProcesses

IT Infrastructure& Processes

Henderson, J. C. & Venkatraman, N. (1999) Strategic Alignment: Leveraging information technology for transforming organizations. IBM Systems Journal Vol. 32, No. 1, P. 476

Trends in Systems Development & ERP

Make or Buy Decision• ERP vendor as one-stop

provider• Applications to integrate with

ERP systems• External consulting

Project Scheduling

Systems Development Life Cycles

Cost of Making Changes

Traditional SDLC

Define the project

Study existing work processesDefine system requirements

Technical specifications, Hardware,software, database, telecomm….

Creating, developing the systemTesting the systemPutting system into operations

Ensure system will continue to meetthe needs of the business

Typical Room Layout for JAD

Retrieved 3/5/03, http://www.cob.sjsu.edu/sadhwa_a/BUS%2093/JADlecture.ppt

JAD and Determining Requirements

• Joint Application Design (JAD)– Brings together key users, managers and

systems analysts– Purpose: collect system requirements

simultaneously from key people– Conducted off-site

• Prototyping– Repetitive process– Rudimentary version of system is built– Replaces or augments SDLC– Goal: to develop concrete specifications

for ultimate systemRetrieved 3/5/03, http://www.cob.sjsu.edu/sadhwa_a/BUS%2093/JADlecture.ppt

Factors Affecting Systems Development Success

Changing Requirements

Issue Management

Project Management

• Planning• Scheduling

– Project milestone– Project deadline– Critical path

• Directing• Controlling

Project Management – Gantt Chart

Analysis Team

Requirements Analysis

To determine user, stakeholder and organizational needs:

• Critical success factors (CSFs)• Asking directly• The IS plan• Screen & report layout

Feasibility AnalysisCan this project be done here &

now?• Technical feasibility• Operational feasibility• Schedule feasibility• Economic feasibility• Legal feasibility• Cost – Net Present Value• Benefits – ROIAre any of these show stoppers?

Systems Analysis

Data Collection Process

Methods• Structured Interview• Unstructured Interview• Direct Observation• Questionnaires

Sources of Data

Data Analysis

• Data modeling• Activity modeling• Application flowcharts• Grid charts• CASE tools

Systems Design

• System outputs• Inputs• Interfaces• Hardware• Software• Databases• Telecommunication• Personnel• Policies & procedures

How the information system will functionto meet its requirements

System Design Considerations

• Interactive dialog– Clarity– Response Time– Consistency– Format– Avoid Jargon– Respect

Emergency Alternate Procedures & Disaster

Recovery

Causes of System Errors

Emergency Alternate Procedures & Disaster

Recovery

• Hardware backup• Software & database backup• Telecommunications backup• Personnel backup

You need ALL of these!

System Controls

• Deterrence controls• Input controls• Processing controls• Output controls• Database controls• Telecommunications controls• Personnel controls

Make vs BuyRequest for Proposal

Stages of Evaluation

Meets RequirementsCostPerformanceDeliveryFlexibilitySupport

Systems Implementation

Implementation Steps

Programming Life Cycle

Additional Implementation Activities

Testing & Installation

Start Up

Start Up

Systems Maintenance

Maintenance Costs

Factors to Consider During Systems Review

• Mission• Goals• Hardware/

software• Database• Telecommunicati

ons• IS personnel• Control

• Training• Costs• Complexity• Reliability• Efficiency• Response time• Documentation