Information Systems Chapter 13

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Questions and Answers

What are the key components that should be addressed during the systems design phase?

Managerial, organizational, and technological components of the system solution must be addressed.

What role do end users play in the systems design process?

End users drive the design by specifying their information requirements and must have sufficient control over the design process.

What process should be followed to identify inefficiencies in existing business processes?

Identify and document existing processes to analyze and highlight inefficiencies.

Why is user involvement important in the systems design effort?

Insufficient user involvement can lead to system failure, as systems may not reflect users' priorities or needs. Signup and view all the answers

What does systems analysis focus on when solving a problem?

It focuses on defining the problem, identifying causes, specifying solutions, and determining information requirements. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of automating business rules in process improvement?

Automating business rules helps enforce consistent and efficient processes, minimizing errors and improving performance. Signup and view all the answers

How can existing systems be integrated to support process improvements?

By capturing and enforcing improved processes, ensuring that they work cohesively with current systems. Signup and view all the answers

What is a feasibility study in the context of systems analysis?

A feasibility study assesses the practicality and viability of proposed solutions to the identified problem. Signup and view all the answers

What are the four main strategies for converting from an old system to a new system?

The four main strategies are parallel strategy, direct cutover, pilot study, and phased approach. Signup and view all the answers

Why is user training necessary during the conversion process?

User training is essential to ensure that end-users can effectively operate the new system and understand its features. Signup and view all the answers

What are the primary activities included in the production and maintenance phase of system development?

The primary activities include operating the system, evaluating its performance, and modifying the system as needed. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of a data flow diagram (DFD) in structured methodologies?

A DFD represents a system's component processes and illustrates the flow of data between them. Signup and view all the answers

How does user involvement contribute to process improvement during systems analysis?

User involvement provides valuable insights into real-world requirements and challenges, leading to better solutions. Signup and view all the answers

What role does documentation play following the conversion of a system?

Documentation provides detailed insights into how the system works from both technical and end-user perspectives. Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of the maintenance work focuses on user enhancements and improving documentation?

Sixty percent of maintenance work is dedicated to user enhancements and improving documentation. Signup and view all the answers

What are the key activities involved in the systems design phase?

The key activities include creating design specifications based on the analysis of identified problems and solutions. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of a data dictionary in systems analysis?

It defines the contents of data flows and data stores. Signup and view all the answers

How does object-oriented modeling differ from traditional structured development?

Object-oriented modeling is more iterative and incremental, focusing on the interactions between systems and users to identify objects. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of process specifications in a data flow diagram?

They describe the transformation occurring within the lowest level of data flow diagrams. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the concept of classes in object-oriented development.

Classes are blueprints for objects that define their features and behaviors. Signup and view all the answers

What is a structure chart, and what does it illustrate?

A structure chart is a top-down representation of the design levels and their relationships within an overall system structure. Signup and view all the answers

In what way does user involvement improve system design?

User involvement leads to a better understanding of requirements and helps ensure the system meets user needs effectively. Signup and view all the answers

Why might reusing existing classes be beneficial in object-oriented development?

Reusing existing classes can reduce development time and costs by minimizing the need to create new classes from scratch. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of inheritance in object-oriented modeling?

Inheritance allows a class to inherit properties and behaviors from a more general ancestor class. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Chapter 13: Building Information Systems

This chapter focuses on building information systems.
Learning objectives explore how system building impacts organizations, core system development activities, modeling and design methodologies, alternative system-building methods, and new approaches in the digital firm era.
IT-enabled organizational change includes automation, replacing manual tasks, increasing efficiency, streamlining standard operating procedures.
Rationalization of procedures is often part of programs for ongoing quality improvement, including Total Quality Management (TQM) and Six Sigma.
Business process redesign involves analysis, simplification, and redesign of business processes, along with reorganizing workflows and removing repetitive steps.
Paradigm shifts involve rethinking business nature, defining new business models, and changing the organization's nature.
Organizational change carries various risks, with paradigm shifts holding higher risk compared to automation.
Business Process Management (BPM) employs diverse tools and methodologies for analyzing, designing, and optimizing processes; utilized by firms for managing business process redesign.
BPM steps encompass identifying processes needing change, analyzing existing processes, designing new processes, implementing new processes, and continuous measurement.
Figure 13.2 illustrates an "as-is" business process for purchasing a book in a physical bookstore.
Figure 13.3 presents a redesigned process for purchasing a book online.
Tools for business process management involve identifying and documenting existing processes and inefficiencies, creating improved process models, capturing and enforcing business rules, integrating existing systems to support improvements, verifying new process efficacy, and measuring impact on key business performance indicators (KPIs).
System development activities include systems analysis, systems design, programming, testing, conversion, and production and maintenance.
Figure 13.4 depicts the cyclical nature of the systems development process.
Systems analysis involves problem definition, identifying root causes, specifying solutions, and determining information requirements.
Faulty requirements analysis frequently leads to system failure and high development costs.
Systems design outlines system specifications for delivering identified functions, addressing managerial, organizational, and technological components of system solutions.
Users need sufficient control over the design process for accurate reflection of business priorities and information needs, and insufficient user involvement often causes failures.
Table 13.1 details system design specifications, including categories like output, input, user interface, database design, processing, manual procedures, and control specifications.
Completing the systems development process entails programming(translates design specs to code), testing (ensures system functions correctly), conversion (changing from old to new systems), and production and maintenance (reviewing and updating systems post-implementation).
Figure 13.5 shows a sample test plan for record changes in an address and maintenance system.
Conversion strategies include parallel, direct cutover, pilot study, and phased approaches.
Production and maintenance activities assess the need for revisions, enabling post-implementation audits, and adjusting hardware, software, documentation, and procedures to correct errors or enhance efficiency.
Table 13.2 lists core system development activities and their corresponding core activity descriptions.
Structured methodologies, including data flow diagrams (DFDs) and data dictionaries, are described in figures 13.6 and 13.7.
Object-oriented development combines data and processes into objects, based on concepts like class and inheritance, and involves iterative and incremental development.
Figure 13.8 illustrates classes and inheritance in an Employee system.
Computer-aided software engineering (CASE) tools automate development tasks, including graphics, screen report generators, analysis and checking, and code/documentation generators.
Traditional systems life cycle follows a phased approach, dividing development into formal stages (waterfall approach).
Prototyping involves building experimental systems rapidly and inexpensively for evaluating end-user needs and feedback.
Figure 13.10 illustrates the prototyping process.
Prototyping advantages include usefulness for uncertain requirements, interface design, and end-user needs.
Prototyping disadvantages include oversimplifiying essential steps, not accounting for large data/user quantities, and lacking full testing/documentation.
End-user development empowers users to create simple systems with minimal technical assistance, using tools like friendly query languages and PC software tools.
Application Software Packages and Cloud Software Services offer time-saving and cost-effective solutions, with user-friendly functions and customizable options.
Evaluation criteria include functions, flexibility, user friendliness, resources, database, installation, maintenance, vendor quality, and cost.
Outsourcing, including cloud and SaaS providers and external vendors, offers flexibility but can also hide costs.
Outsourcing advantages include adaptability in IT needs.
Outsourcing disadvantages include hidden costs connected to vendor selection and transition processes.
Figure 13.11 illustrates the total cost of offshore outsourcing.
Rapid Application Development (RAD), Agile, and DevOps emphasize swift and adaptable development processes.
Component-based development involves combining pre-built components to create larger systems.
Mobile application development caters to various mobile devices and platforms.
Responsive Web designs dynamically adjust to the layout according to user devices.

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Description

Explore Chapter 13 on Building Information Systems, which discusses the crucial elements of system development and its influence on organizational change. This chapter covers methodologies, business process redesign, and the impact of digital transformation on workflow efficiency and quality improvement. Delve into the risks associated with paradigm shifts and the evolving nature of businesses in today's digital world.