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Questions and Answers
What is considered the primary measure of progress in Agile development?
What is considered the primary measure of progress in Agile development?
Which principle emphasizes the importance of face-to-face communication in Agile environments?
Which principle emphasizes the importance of face-to-face communication in Agile environments?
What should development teams regularly do to enhance their processes?
What should development teams regularly do to enhance their processes?
Which factor is NOT listed as a consideration when selecting an appropriate methodology?
Which factor is NOT listed as a consideration when selecting an appropriate methodology?
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What is a key requirement for a sustainable working pace within Agile teams?
What is a key requirement for a sustainable working pace within Agile teams?
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In the system development life cycle, which phase involves conducting a preliminary investigation?
In the system development life cycle, which phase involves conducting a preliminary investigation?
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Which phase of the system development life cycle includes acquiring necessary hardware and software?
Which phase of the system development life cycle includes acquiring necessary hardware and software?
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Which principle highlights the necessity of simplicity in Agile development?
Which principle highlights the necessity of simplicity in Agile development?
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What initiates the process of system development within an organization?
What initiates the process of system development within an organization?
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Which component focuses on assessing current systems for issues before developing new solutions?
Which component focuses on assessing current systems for issues before developing new solutions?
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Which of the following is NOT a reason managers may identify the need for system development?
Which of the following is NOT a reason managers may identify the need for system development?
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What is a fundamental aspect of the systems development life cycle?
What is a fundamental aspect of the systems development life cycle?
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What is the main purpose behind system analysis in the system development process?
What is the main purpose behind system analysis in the system development process?
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Which of the following best describes an information system?
Which of the following best describes an information system?
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In system development, what phase follows system analysis?
In system development, what phase follows system analysis?
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Which role is primarily responsible for analyzing current systems and directing the development process?
Which role is primarily responsible for analyzing current systems and directing the development process?
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Which of the following statements about the Waterfall Model is accurate?
Which of the following statements about the Waterfall Model is accurate?
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What is a characteristic of expendable (throw-away) prototyping?
What is a characteristic of expendable (throw-away) prototyping?
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What is a key difference between the Waterfall model and Agile development?
What is a key difference between the Waterfall model and Agile development?
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Which phase of the Systems Development Life Cycle comes immediately after Analysis?
Which phase of the Systems Development Life Cycle comes immediately after Analysis?
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What is one problem commonly associated with the Waterfall methodology?
What is one problem commonly associated with the Waterfall methodology?
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Which principle of Agile development emphasizes satisfaction through early delivery?
Which principle of Agile development emphasizes satisfaction through early delivery?
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In the context of prototyping, what is the purpose of evolutionary prototyping?
In the context of prototyping, what is the purpose of evolutionary prototyping?
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Which of the following best characterizes structured design?
Which of the following best characterizes structured design?
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What is the primary purpose of the design phase in the System Development Life Cycle?
What is the primary purpose of the design phase in the System Development Life Cycle?
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What is the primary role of a systems analyst?
What is the primary role of a systems analyst?
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Which of the following is NOT a step in the design phase?
Which of the following is NOT a step in the design phase?
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What does the planning phase of the system development life cycle determine?
What does the planning phase of the system development life cycle determine?
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What deliverable is produced at the end of the design phase?
What deliverable is produced at the end of the design phase?
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What does detailed design specifications include in the proposed solution?
What does detailed design specifications include in the proposed solution?
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Which tasks are part of the post-implementation activities?
Which tasks are part of the post-implementation activities?
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What is a mockup in the context of the design phase?
What is a mockup in the context of the design phase?
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Who forms the project team in the system development life cycle?
Who forms the project team in the system development life cycle?
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Which method can be used to identify hardware and software requirements?
Which method can be used to identify hardware and software requirements?
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What are the components evaluated during the project initiation phase?
What are the components evaluated during the project initiation phase?
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What is a deliverable of the planning phase in the system development life cycle?
What is a deliverable of the planning phase in the system development life cycle?
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Which of the following describes the purpose of a prototype?
Which of the following describes the purpose of a prototype?
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What is a key reason to involve users in the system development life cycle?
What is a key reason to involve users in the system development life cycle?
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What type of software meets the needs of many companies and is available for purchase?
What type of software meets the needs of many companies and is available for purchase?
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What does system performance monitoring involve after implementation?
What does system performance monitoring involve after implementation?
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What is the primary purpose of a preliminary investigation in the system development life cycle?
What is the primary purpose of a preliminary investigation in the system development life cycle?
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Which of the following is NOT a step involved in the detailed analysis phase?
Which of the following is NOT a step involved in the detailed analysis phase?
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What deliverable is produced at the end of the analysis phase?
What deliverable is produced at the end of the analysis phase?
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During the analysis phase, what is primarily investigated?
During the analysis phase, what is primarily investigated?
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Who decides how the system will be developed after reviewing the system proposal?
Who decides how the system will be developed after reviewing the system proposal?
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What is included in a feasibility report following the preliminary investigation?
What is included in a feasibility report following the preliminary investigation?
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What is the first step in the detailed analysis phase?
What is the first step in the detailed analysis phase?
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Which term is used interchangeably with detailed analysis in system design?
Which term is used interchangeably with detailed analysis in system design?
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Study Notes
Topic 1: Introduction to Systems Analysis and Design
- Course presented by Ts. Elmy Nahida Othman, Senior Lecturer, Informatics and Analytics Section, UniKL MIIT
- Topic Learning Outcomes (TLO):
- Explain fundamental systems development life cycle and its four phases
- Describe the evolution of systems development methodologies
- Review different roles played by and skills of a systems analyst
System vs Information System
- What, who, when, why, where, how?
What is System Development?
- Process of examining a business situation to improve it using better procedures and methods
- Two major components:
- System Analysis: Analyzing current system for problems, demerits, and additional requirements for a new system
- System Design: Planning a new system to replace the old one
Beginning of a System Development
- System development usually begins when a problem or opportunity is identified by managers
- Reasons include:
- New design idea to smoothen process
- Evolving environmental changes (such as competition)
- Adding new business or product line to present business
- Present system does not satisfy user information needs
- System no longer efficiently meets organizational goals
- Excessive time spent in correcting errors
- Current reports/outputs not meeting user decision-making skills
- Escalating customer complaints
What is an Information System (IS)?
- Hardware, software, data, people, and procedures that work together to produce quality information
- System: Set of components interacting to achieve a common goal
- Businesses use many different types of systems
Tools
- Software support for creating models or other project components, ranging from simple drawing programs to complex CASE tools
Some Tools
- Project management applications
- Drawing/graphics applications
- Word processing/text editor
- Computer-aided system engineering (CASE) tools
- Integrated development environment (IDE)
- Database management applications
- Reverse-engineering tool
- Code generators
Techniques
- Collection of guidelines to help analysts complete system development activity or task
- Step-by-step instructions
- Strategic planning
- Project management
- User interviewing
- Data-modeling
- Relational database design
Methodology
- Defined as manner, ways, routine
- Guideline to follow for completing every activity in the SDLC
- Writing code without a thorough system request may work for small programs but rarely for large ones
System Development Methodologies
- Approach to implement SDLC
- Methodologies can be based on business process or data
Structured Design
- Projects move methodically from one step to the next
- Generally, a step is finished before the next step begins
Structured – Waterfall Approach
- Project planning phase
- Planning specifications are frozen
- Analysis phase
- Analysis specifications are frozen
- Design phase
- Design specifications are frozen
- Implementation phase
- Finished system delivered exactly as specified
Systems Development Life Cycle (Waterfall Model)
- Project Initiation and Planning
- Analysis
- Design
- Implementation
- Maintenance
Waterfall Model
- Problems:
- Dependent on documents (particularly completing requirements and design phases)
- Tendency to hide poorly understood requirements with elaborate specifications
Pros and Cons of the Waterfall Method
- Pros: Identifies system requirements long before programming begins
- Cons: Design must be specified on paper before programming begins; long time between system proposal and delivery of new system
Prototyping
- Principle: a user can tell you better what they DON'T want than what they DO want
- Types:
- Expendable (throw-away) prototyping: discarded after use, supports analysis and design phases
- Evolutionary prototyping: prototype evolves into final system
Agile Development
- Focus on developer working conditions, working software, customer, and addressing changing requirements
- Fewer rules and practices, easy to follow
- Principles:
- Software delivered frequently and continuously, satisfying customer
- Changing requirements embraced regardless of when they occur
- Working software delivered frequently to the customer
- Collaboration between customers and developers to solve the business problem
- Motivated individuals with provided tools and environment
- Face-to-face communication within development team is most effective for requirement gathering
How to Select Appropriate Methodology?
- Clarity of user requirements
- Familiarity with the technology
- System complexity
- System reliability
- Short time schedule
- Schedule visibility
The System Development Life Cycle
- Planning: Review project requests, prioritize project requests, allocate resources, identify project development team, conduct preliminary investigation, perform detailed analysis, study current systems, determine user requirements, recommend solutions
- Analysis: Conduct preliminary investigation, also called feasibility study, perform detailed analysis
- Steps involved (Analysis): Analysis strategy, Requirement gathering, System proposal
- Design: Acquire hardware and software, develop all details of new or modified information system
- Steps involved (Design): Design strategy, Basic design architecture, Database, File Structure and Specifications, Program Design
- Implementation: Develop programs (if necessary), install and test new system, train users, convert to new system
- Support: Conduct post-implementation system review, identifying errors and enhancements, monitor system performance
What are the Guidelines for System Development?
- Arrange tasks into phases (groups of activities)
- Involve users (anyone for whom the system is built)
- Establish clearly defined standards (procedures company expects to follow)
Who participates in the system development life cycle?
- List of various participant roles involved in the process
What is a systems analyst?
- Responsible for designing and developing information systems
- Acts as a liaison between users and IT professionals
What is the project team?
- Formed to work on a project from beginning to end
- Consists of users, systems analysts, and other IT professionals
- Includes a project leader who manages budget and schedule
Planning
- Planning phase - WHY Information System should be built?
- How project team going to build? 2 steps involved:
- Project Initiation
- Technical feasibility
- Economic feasibility
- Organizational feasibility
- Once approved, project management
- Deliverable: Project plan
Analysis
- Team investigates, identifies improvements and develops a new concept
- Analyze - WHO will use the system?
- WHAT the system will do?
- WHERE and WHEN it will be used?
Analysis
- Involved 3 Steps:
- Analysis Strategy
- Requirement gathering
- System proposal
- Deliverable: System proposal
The Preliminary Investigation
- Determine exact nature of problem or improvement and whether it is worth pursuing
- Findings presented in feasibility report (also known as feasibility study)
What is detailed analysis?
- Study how current system works
- Determine user's wants, needs, and requirements
- Recommend solution (sometimes called logical design)
What is the System Proposal?
- Assesses feasibility of each alternative solution
- Recommends the most feasible solution for the project
- Presented to steering committee
What are possible solutions?
- Buy packaged software (prewritten software)
- Write own custom software
- Outsource (outside source develops software)
- Horizontal market software (meets needs of many companies)
- Vertical market software (designed for particular industry)
What is the design phase?
- Acquire hardware and software
- Develop details of new or modified information system
Design
- Decides HOW the system will operate
- Determine hardware, software, network infrastructure, interface, database, reports, etc.
Design
- Design phase steps:
- Design strategy
- Basic design architecture
- Database, file structure, and specifications
- Program design
- Deliverable: System specification
What is needed to acquire new hardware and software?
- Identify all hardware and software requirements of new or modified system
- Talk with other systems analysts
- Visit vendors' stores
- Surf Web
- Read print and online trade journals, newspapers, and magazines
What is detailed design?
- Detailed design specifications for components in proposed solution
- Includes activities (database design, input and output design, program design)
What is a mockup?
- Sample of input or output that contains actual data
What is a prototype?
- Working model of proposed system
- Beginning a prototype too early may lead to problems
What is computer-aided software engineering (CASE)?
- Software tools designed to support activities of system development cycle
What is the implementation phase?
- Purpose is to construct or build new or modified system and then deliver it to users
- Convert to new system
- Train users
- Install and test new system
- Develop programs
Implementation
- Final phase where system is built and used
- 3 steps involved:
- System construction (built and test)
- Installation (conversion and training)
- Establish support plan (review, identify major/minor changes)
What is training?
- Showing users exactly how they will use new hardware and software in the system
What is the support phase?
- Provides ongoing assistance after system implementation
- Conduct post-implementation system review
- Identify errors
- Identify enhancements
- Monitor system performance
Project Team Roles
- List of roles and their responsibilities
Knowledge and Skills Required of a Systems Analyst
- Technical knowledge
- Technical skills
- Business knowledge
- Business skills
- People knowledge
- People skills
Technical Knowledge and Skills
- Analysts should grasp many types of technology, including how computers work, computer peripherals, network technology, protocols, DBMS, OOPL, and class libraries, OS, and utilities
- Analysts should be knowledgeable about tools (software products used to develop analysis and design specifications and system components) and techniques for completing specific system development activities
- Common software tools include IDEs and CASE tools
- Common techniques include project planning, cost-benefit analysis, architectural analysis, information gathering, requirement modeling, database design, network configuration, and interface design
Business Knowledge and Skills
- Analysts should understand business functions, organizational structure, management, business nature (finance, marketing, manufacturing, customer service, retailing, etc.)
- A deeper understanding of a specific industry allows analysts to solve complex problems for companies within that industry
- Best practice: ensure understanding of the organization, culture, mission, and objectives before jumping to conclusions about system solutions
People Knowledge and Skills
- Crucial for system analysts to understand how people think, learn, react to change, communicate, and work
- Utilize people knowledge to adapt systems to users
- Most critical skill: ability to listen empathetically
Analyst Personal Integrity and Ethics
- Sense of personal integrity and ethics is essential
- Analysts often encounter personal information (salary, health, job performance, students' results)
- Analysts encounter confidential proprietary information (strategic plans, top-secret information, company security processes)
- Keep confidential and sensitive information private
- Improprieties can ruin an analyst's career
Why do so many projects fail?
- Characteristics of failed projects include inaccurate understanding of end-user needs, inability to deal with changing environments, late discovery of serious project flaws, poor software quality, modules that do not fit together, unacceptable software performance
- These are symptoms of deeper underlying problems
Thank You
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