Information Systems Development Overview

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Questions and Answers

What is a key characteristic of the waterfall model in system development?

It allows for ongoing changes throughout development.

It focuses on legal risk assessment.

It prioritizes user feedback continuously.

It provides a fixed outcome. (correct)

Which of the following best describes the scope definition phase of project management?

Evaluating alternative solutions based on cost.

Determining the project's technical and cultural feasibility.

Building and testing the final design.

Creating a problem statement and project charter. (correct)

In the system development lifecycle, what occurs during the problem analysis phase?

Creating prototypes to visualize the system.

Identifying and sorting project tasks.

Understanding and analyzing the causes of the problem. (correct)

Designing user interface specifications.

Which of the following factors is NOT considered during the decision analysis phase?

Personal preferences of team members. Signup and view all the answers

When can a project be considered successful?

The client is fully satisfied with the finished product. Signup and view all the answers

What is a common reason for project failure?

Incomplete or changing requirements. Signup and view all the answers

What do the letters in 'SPESO DCC' represent in project management?

Scoping, Planning, Estimating, Scheduling, Organizing, Directing, Controlling, Communicating. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately defines requirements analysis?

Identifying and prioritizing functional and non-functional requirements. Signup and view all the answers

What are the components of a system that work together to achieve a common goal?

Interacting components Signup and view all the answers

What type of requirements are considered mandatory in a system?

Functional requirements Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following information systems specifically provides results based on transaction processing?

Management Information System Signup and view all the answers

Which method involves observing individuals to gather information about a system?

Observation Signup and view all the answers

What role does a system analyst primarily fulfill in the development of an information system?

Analyzing business problems Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of a problem statement in project development?

To inform problem analysis Signup and view all the answers

What does 'METE OCD' stand for in the context of types of information systems?

Management, Executive, Transaction, Expert, Office, Decision Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes functional requirements?

They detail what actions the product must perform. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes the role of system designers?

Translating business requirements into technical solutions Signup and view all the answers

What does the 6M’s template help to do in the problem analysis phase?

Categorize possible causes Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a role of external service providers (ESP)?

Building applications Signup and view all the answers

What type of information system primarily supports office activities such as word processing?

Office Automation System Signup and view all the answers

Which type of requirements primarily focuses on system performance rather than functionality?

Non-functional requirements Signup and view all the answers

What is one example of sensitive information that fact-finding methods might uncover?

Employee salaries Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes a development methodology in system development?

A process providing guidelines for development phases Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following techniques is NOT one of the seven fact-finding methods?

Competitor analysis Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of a PERT chart in project management?

To show dependencies between tasks Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about estimating task duration is correct?

Expected Duration is determined using a weighted average method. Signup and view all the answers

How is the Estimated Time calculated when considering e ciency and interruptions?

20 HOURS / 0.8 = 25 HOURS and then 25 HOURS / 0.75 = 33.33 HOURS Signup and view all the answers

What does the Finish to Start dependency indicate?

One task must finish before the next can start. Signup and view all the answers

What is slack time in project management?

The time that can be tolerated for a single task without delaying the project. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a technique for resource leveling?

Task reallocating Signup and view all the answers

What is the objective of problem analysis in project management?

To clarify system improvement objectives by understanding current problems Signup and view all the answers

Which option correctly describes the role of a 'request for system services' document?

It serves as input into the 'Scope' phase of the project. Signup and view all the answers

What are the two main types of questionnaires referenced?

Free-format and fixed-format questionnaires Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes a structured interview?

A type of interview focused on collecting facts with guided questions Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of prototyping in system development?

To create a working model that helps discover or verify system requirements Signup and view all the answers

What does Joint Application Development (JAD) entail?

A workshop method for collective requirement gathering in group meetings Signup and view all the answers

In use case modeling, what is the role of an actor?

To represent a person or object that interacts with the system Signup and view all the answers

Which event type is triggered by time in use case modeling?

Temporal event Signup and view all the answers

What is the first step in the use-case modeling process?

Identify business actors Signup and view all the answers

What is an abstract use case in the context of use case modeling?

A scenario that combines steps common to multiple use cases into one Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Information Systems Development

A system is a set of interacting components working together to achieve a common goal.
Systems have a defined boundary, structure, and behavior (process).
Systems can be natural or human-made.
An information system is a combination of data, people, processes, and information technology working together to fulfill needs.
Information technology is a combination of hardware and software.
Information systems can be categorized as Transaction processing, Management Information, Decision Support, Expert System, Office Automation, Communication and Collaboration, and Executive Information.

Stakeholders

Stakeholders are people who have an interest in an information system.
System owners allocate funds for the operation and maintenance of the system.
System users interact with the system regularly.
Internal users include employees, staff, and managers.
External users include customers, suppliers, and partners.
System designers translate business requirements into technical solutions.
Examples of system designers include database designers and network architects.
System builders construct information systems based on designs by system designers.
Examples of system builders include application, system, and database programmers.
System analysts analyze business problems and produce logical models.
Key skills for system analysts include programming and problem-solving.
External Service Providers (ESP) sell expertise and experience to businesses.

System Development Methodology

A system Development Methodology provides guidelines for completing the phases of systems development.
The methodology includes techniques for completing system phases such as data modeling.
Models are representations of complex systems that improve communication.
Diagrams are parts of a model used for communication, idea generation, and testing.
Tools aid in model creation, such as project management applications.

System Development Lifecycle Techniques

The Waterfall Model is a predictive model with a fixed outcome.
The Spiral Model is more adaptive and allows for changes in the outcome.

System Development Projects

System development projects are initiated by problems, opportunities, or directives.
A problem prevents the organization from achieving a goal.
An opportunity presents a chance for improvement.
A directive imposes new requirements, often from government bodies.

Project Phases

The classic project phases are scope definition, problem analysis, requirements analysis, logical design, decision analysis, physical design and integration, construction and testing, installation and delivery, and system operation and maintenance.

Project Management

A project is a set of activities with a single goal that must be completed within a specific time, budget, and set of specifications.
A successful project delivers results that satisfy the customer's needs and is completed on time within the budget.
A failed project may have incomplete or changing requirements, lack of executive or technical support, or poor project planning.

Project Management Functions

Project management functions include scoping, planning, estimating, scheduling, organizing, directing, controlling, and closing.

Project Management Tools

PERT chart: A model used to present dependencies between tasks.
Gantt chart: A bar chart used to present tasks against a calendar.

Estimating Task Duration

Efficiency: Consider that most people do not perform at 100% efficiency, typically working between 75-85%.
Interruptions: Calls, visitors, and other interruptions consume time, usually between 10-50%.
To estimate task duration, consider optimistic duration (OD), pessimistic duration (PD), and expected duration (ED).
The most likely duration (D) can be calculated with the formula: D= (1 * OD) + (4 * ED) + (1 * PD)/6

Task Dependencies

Four types of task dependencies exist: Finish to Start (FS), Start to Start (SS), Finish to Finish (FF), and Start to Finish (SF).

Resource Leveling

Resource leveling addresses resource over-allocation and involves two techniques: task delaying and task splitting.
Slack time is the amount of delay tolerated for a task without delaying the project.
The critical path is the series of dependent tasks that determine the earliest possible project completion date.
Critical tasks cannot be delayed without delaying the overall project.

Problem Analysis

The goal of problem analysis is to determine system improvement objectives by understanding problems.

Request for System Services

A Request for System Services is a document that serves as input to the ‘Scope’ phase.
It originates from business teams requesting a project.

Problem Statement

A problem statement is another document, originating from the ‘Scope’ phase, that serves as input to problem analysis.

Cause and Effect Analysis

Cause and effect analysis is a technique used to study system problems and understand their causes and effects.

Ishikawa Diagram

The Ishikawa diagram is a tool used for problem analysis to identify, analyze, and document issues.

6M’s Template

The 6M’s template is used to categorize causes of problems.

Information Gathering

Information gathering is used to address identified problems and requirements.

System Requirements

System requirements are properties that the information system must possess.
Functional requirements define system functions.
Non-functional requirements define the system's performance.

Functional Requirements

Easy to define.
Describe what the product does.
Focus on user requirements.
Help verify software functionality.

Non-Functional Requirements

More difficult to define.
Describe how the product works.
Focus on user expectations and experience.
Help verify software performance.

Fact-Finding

Fact-finding provides system analysts with sensitive information, such as company plans and employee salaries.

Fact-Finding Methods

Seven methods can be used for fact-finding: sampling, research and site visits, observation, questionnaires, interviews, prototyping, and Joint Application Development (JAD).

Sampling

Sampling involves collecting samples of documents, forms, and records.

Research and Site Visits

This method involves conducting research and visiting the site to gather information firsthand.

Observation

Observation involves watching people perform their activities to learn more about the system.
Guidelines for observation include determining the purpose, taking notes, and obtaining permission.

Questionnaires

Questionnaires collect information and opinions from respondents.
They can be either free-format or fixed-format.

Interviews

Interviews are face-to-face meetings to collect facts.
They can be structured or unstructured.

Prototyping

Prototyping involves building a working model of system requirements to discover or verify those requirements.

Joint Application Development (JAD)

JAD is a technique used to expedite the discovery of system requirements in group meetings.
Participants in JAD sessions can include sponsors, IT staff, and managers.
Brainstorming is a crucial aspect of JAD sessions.

Use-Case Modeling

Use-case modeling models business processes in terms of events, triggers, and responses.
It has roots in object-oriented modeling but is also widely accepted in non-object-oriented modeling.
Use-case modeling allows for collecting and analyzing requirements without implementation details.

Benefits of Use-Case Modeling

Use-case modeling can be used for functional requirements.
It decomposes system scope into manageable parts.
It helps estimate project scope, tasks, and schedule.

Use-Case Diagram

A use-case diagram graphically depicts interactions and functionality between the system and its actors, defining the system's boundaries.
Actors are people or objects that interact with the system to exchange information.
A use-case is a behavior of the system describing a business task from an actor's perspective.

Types of Events

External events occur outside the system, such as a customer placing an order.
Temporal events are triggered by time, such as a monthly payroll report.
State events occur within the system, such as a stock item level falling below the reorder point.

Use-Case Modeling Steps

Identify business actors and create an actor glossary.
Identify business use cases and create a use case glossary.
Construct a use-case model diagram.
Produce use case narratives.

Abstract Use Case

Common steps in two or more use cases are extracted and grouped into a new abstract use case.

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Description

Explore the fundamentals of information systems in this quiz. You'll learn about the components that make up a system, the role of stakeholders, and the different categories of information systems. Test your understanding of how these systems operate within organizations.