Information Technology: Systems Analysis and Design

• Information technology impacts companies positively.
• IT helps companies increase productivity,deliver quality products and services, maintain customer loyalty, and make sound decisions.
• The use of information technology is vital for organizational success.

Information Technology (IT) Defined

• Hardware and software products and services are used to manage, access, communicate, and share information.
• The nature of IT is dramatic and continuously changing.
• Advances in IT influence change in business organizations.

Systems Analysis and Design

• Step-by-step process for developing high-quality information systems.
• Information systems combine technology, people, and data to perform certain business functions.

Systems Analyst Role

• Systems analysts plan, develop, and maintain information systems.
• IT projects are managed, including tasks, resources, schedules, and costs.
• Systems analysts conduct meetings, deliver presentations, and write memos, reports, and documentation.

Systems Development Tools: Modeling

• Modeling uses graphical representations of a concept or process.
• Includes business, data, object, network and process models.

Prototyping

• Involves creating an early working version of an information system.
• Important decisions might be made before business or IT issues are thoroughly understood.
• Prototypes based on careful fact-finding and modeling techniques can be a valuable analysis tool.

Computer-Aided Systems Engineering (CASE) Tools

• Also known as computer-aided software engineering.
• CASE tools provide an overall framework for systems development
• Support design methodologies such as structured and object-oriented analysis.
• They generate program code and speed up implementation.

Systems Development Methods

• Structured analysis is time-tested and easy to understand.
• It uses the systems development life cycle (SDLC) and is based on a predictive approach.
• Structured analysis is also a process-centered technique that uses process models to graphically describe a system.
• SDLC describes activities and functions that all systems developers perform, regardless of which approach they use.

Steps in the SDLC Model

• Systems planning is initiated by a systems request. Its goal is to perform a preliminary investigation. A feasibility study reviews costs/benefits.
• Systems analysis is a step where the goal is to build a logical model of the new system.
• Requirements modeling involves the analyst investigating business processes and documenting the functions to be performed.
• Systems design aims to create a physical model that satisfies documented requirements.
• Outputs, inputs, and processes are identified.
• User interface is designed and application architecture is determined.
• Systems implementation involves constructing/testing the new system, writing programs and installing the system
• Systems support and security is the final step.
• IT staff maintains, enhances, and protects the system.
• It must be secure, reliable, maintainable, and scalable.

Object-Oriented Analysis

• Combines data and the processes that act on the data into objects
• Object: Member of a class, which possesses properties
• O-O methodology provides easy transition to O-O programming languages like Java

Agile Methods

• Agile methods involve building and constantly adjusting a series of prototypes to user requirements.
• A spiral model provides series of iterations based on user feedback.
• Feedback is incorporated in each incremental step.
• Agile methods allow developers to be more flexible and responsive, but can be riskier than traditional methods.
• Disadvantages include weak documentation and blurred lines of accountability.

Other Development Methods

• Joint application development (JAD) focuses on team-based fact-finding.
• Rapid application development (RAD) is a compressed version of the entire development process.

The Information Technology Department

• Application Development are systems developed by teams consisting of users, managers, and IT staff members.
• Systems Support and Security provides vital protection and maintenance services.
• User Support provides users with technical information, training, and productivity support.
• This is typically known as a help desk
• Database Administration involves data design, management, security, backup, and access systems.
• Network Administration includes hardware and software maintenance, support, and security.
• Web Support has specialists design and construct Web pages.
• They monitor traffic, manage hardware and software, and link Web-based applications information systems.
• A Quality Assurance (QA) team reviews and tests all applications and system changes. They also verify specifications and software quality standards.

The Systems Analyst Role

• Systems analyst investigates, analyzes, designs, develops, installs, evaluates, and maintains a company's information systems.

Necessary Skills For A Systems Analyst

• Works as a translator between managers and programmers.
• The ability to listen is the most valuable skill.
• The ability to seek feedback from users ensures that systems do not deviate from accomplishing set objectives.
• Technical knowledge, communication, business skills, and critical thinking skills are important.
• It is crucial to posses a college degree in information systems, science, or business with some IT experience
• Certifications help IT professionals learn new skills and gain recognition for their efforts.

Career Opportunities

• Companies will need systems analysts to apply new information technology.
• Explosion in e-commerce will fuel IT job growth.
• Important factors include: Job titles, Company organization and size, Salary, location and future Growth ,Corporate culture.

Chapter Summary

• IT involves a combination of hardware and software resources.
• IT is used by companies to manage, access, communicate, and share information.
• Successful companies offer are a mix of products, technical and financial services, consulting, and customer support.
• Systems analysts use modeling, prototyping, and computer-aided systems engineering (CASE) tools.
• Popular system development approaches include structured analysis, object-oriented analysis, and agile methods.
• In addition to technical knowledge, systems analysts must understand the business, think critically, and communicate effectively.