INF112 Chapter 11: Systems Analysis

Chapter 11: Systems Analysis

• INF112 course
• Focuses on systems analysis
• Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, University of Pretoria
• Effective system development is a team effort from stakeholders, users, managers, systems development specialists and support personnel.
• System development starts with thorough planning
• Systems development commonly uses tools such as prototyping, rapid application development, CASE tools and object-oriented development.
• Investigation and analysis of existing systems are crucial initial steps in system development

Principles

• Effective system development requires collaborative teamwork
• Stakeholders, users, managers, and specialists participate
• System development begins with thoughtful strategic planning
• Tools used include prototyping, rapid application development, CASE tools, and object-oriented approaches.
• System investigation and analysis of existing systems is essential.

Class Discussion

• Mr. Peggy, owner of a shoe repair business, requires a system to manage client details, repair statuses, SMS notifications, and payment processes.
• Client details are captured, then an SMS is sent to the technician for the repair.
• When repaired, the system updates the status, and the client receives an SMS for pickup.
• Payments are required before pickup.
• Data about daily repairs, outstanding repairs, and payment details is needed by Peggy.
• A development team is required to program a solution

Questions

• Stakeholders: Identify all parties involved in the shoe repair business.
• Processes: Detail the core processes in the shoe repair business (e.g., client intake, technician completion).
• Problems: What problems are identified in the case study?
• Opportunities: Suggest improvements to the system in the shoe repair business.
• System Improvements: How do systems improve the shoe repair business?
• Additional Processes: What additional processes could improve the shoe repair business (beyond the core services)?

Overview of Systems Development

• Systems development involves problems analysis and the design of information systems
• Managers, employees, and all functional areas work together to develop business information systems
• Cost calculation for IT projects is complex
• High-profile errors are often found in the public sector

Participants in Systems Development

• Development team: determines system objectives and delivers the system.
• Stakeholders: individuals who benefit from the project
• Users: People who utilize the system.
• Managers: oversee the systems development process.
• Systems development specialists: analysts, programmers, and support personnel.
• Vendors and suppliers: provide products and services to support development.

Reasons to Initiate Systems Development Project

• Problems with existing system: inefficiencies in current operations
• Exploit new opportunities: adopting new technologies or services
• Increasing competition: responsive competition to market demands
• Effective use of information: improve the use of information and data
• Organizational growth: systems support scalability in business operations
• Merger or acquisition: integrating systems from merging entities
• Environmental changes: new laws, regulations, or situations

Project Success Quick Reference Card

• 50% of projects are challenged, 19% failed, and 31% successful.
• Good sponsor, good team, and a good place are essential for project success.
• Success in a business is linked to the people who support the team.
• The skill and effort of the sponsor are also key to success.

Why is the Success Rate of IT Projects Low?

• Chaos report 2020 found 50% of projects challenged, 19% failed, and only 31% on-time/on-budget.
• Reasons for low success rate need to be considered

Information Systems Planning & Aligning Corporate Goals

• Systems planning translates strategic goals into systems development
• Planning requires alignment of business goals and information system objectives
• Long-range view is crucial
• IS plan guides development, impacting resources like funds, personnel, and project scheduling.

Establishing Objectives for Systems Development

• Overall goal of system development is to meet business objectives, not just technical ones.
• Delivering the right information to the right person at the right time.
• Critical success factors (CSFs) are defined for an organizational success.
• Factors considered include: system investigation, system analysis, data collection and analysis, and requirements analysis.
• Performance objectives: output quality/usefulness, accuracy, format, speed, scalability, and risk.
• Cost objectives: development costs, system application costs, hardware costs, and ongoing operating costs

The Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC)

• Software development involves a planned process.
• Common approaches include traditional, prototyping, RAD methodology, XP methodology, and SCRUM
• The cycle is iterative and involves phases like planning, analysis, design, development, testing, implementation, and maintenance.

Traditional SDLC Detailed

• Planning phase: high-level project plan and goals
• Analysis phase: analyze business requirements, define functions and operations
• Design phase: describes desired features, layouts, business rules, process diagrams
• Development phase: transforms design documents into the actual system
• Testing phase: eliminates errors and verifies the system meets requirements
• Implementation phase: installs the system and allows users to use it
• Maintenance phase: upgrades, corrects, and improves the system

Prototyping

• Iterative approach using functioning prototypes
• Accesses real data, makes calculations, and produces outputs
• Creating mock-ups and models can be part of the prototyping process

Rapid Application Development (RAD)

• Emphasizes user involvement and rapid construction of working prototypes.
• Prototyping is an essential aspect of analysis in RAD
• Stages in RAD include business modeling, data modeling, process modeling, building, refining, demonstrating, and testing.

Extreme Programming (XP)

• Project is divided into phases, with each phase needing completion before moving to the next.
• Phases include exploration, iteration planning, iteration with pair programming, development, testing, and continuous integration.

SCRUM

• Uses small teams to create small software pieces (sprints).
• Includes 30-day time periods to achieve predetermined objectives.
• Daily stand-up meetings are part of the process.

Where Do System Development Projects Come From?

• Problems are undesirable situations preventing achieving goals.
• Opportunities are chances to improve even without problems.
• Directives are new requirements imposed by management, etc.

Summary

• Information systems planning translates goals into development initiatives
• Aligning business and IS goals is key to systems success
• Common life cycles include traditional, prototyping, RAD, XP, and Scrum
• Understanding systems investigation, analysis, and how to identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities within a business is vital.

Explore the key concepts of systems analysis as outlined in Chapter 11 of the INF112 course at the University of Pretoria. This quiz covers collaborative team efforts, the importance of planning, and various tools used in effective system development, including prototyping and CASE tools.