System Analysis and Design Introduction

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Questions and Answers

What is Information Technology (IT)?

A combination of hardware and software products and services that companies use to manage, access, communicate, and share information.

Information is considered a vital asset that needs to be effectively managed, updated, connected, transmitted, analyzed, and used well.

True (A)

What is Systems Analysis and Design (SAD)?

The process people use to create information systems.

Systems Analysis: _____ understanding and specifying in detail what an information system should do.

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System Design: _____ specifying in detail how the parts of an information system should be implemented.

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Why is Systems Analysis and Design (SAD) important for businesses?

<p>The success of information systems depends on good SAD. It uses widely accepted, proven techniques and offers career growth opportunities in IT with interesting and well-paying jobs.</p>
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What is the role of Information Systems Analysis and Design?

<p>It is the step-by-step process whereby computer-based information systems are developed and maintained.</p>
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What is a Systems Analyst?

<p>A key person responsible for analyzing business functions and requirements, identifying improvement opportunities, solving problems, and designing information systems to implement solutions.</p>
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Many system failures occur because analysts deeply understand the organization before building complex systems.

<p>False (B)</p>
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Which of the following are common implementation options when developing information systems?

<p>All of the above (G)</p>
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Define an Information System (IS).

<p>An arrangement of people, data, processes, information presentation, and information technology that interact to support and improve day-to-day operations, problem-solving, and decision-making needs of management and users.</p>
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What is functional decomposition in the context of systems?

<p>Dividing a system into components based on subsystems, which can be further divided into smaller subsystems.</p>
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What is a system boundary?

<p>The separation between a system and its environment, defining where inputs enter and outputs leave the system.</p>
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What is an automation boundary?

<p>The separation between the automated part of a system and the manual part.</p>
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What are the five key components of an information system?

<p>Hardware, software, data, processes, and people.</p>
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What does the hardware component of an information system include?

<p>The physical layer, including workstations, servers, networks, telecommunication equipment, cables, input/output devices, etc.</p>
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What is software in an information system?

<p>The programs that control the hardware and produce the desired information and results. It consists of system software and application software.</p>
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What is system software, and what are some examples?

<p>Software that manages the hardware components. Examples include operating systems, security software, and utility programs (like data backup and disk management tools).</p>
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What is application software?

<p>Programs that support day-to-day business functions and provide/manage the information users need. Examples include enterprise applications.</p>
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What is the difference between horizontal and vertical application systems?

<p>A horizontal system (e.g., payroll) can be adapted for many types of companies. A vertical system is designed for the unique needs of a specific business or industry (e.g., medical practice software).</p>
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What is data in the context of an information system?

<p>The raw material that an information system transforms into useful information. It can be stored in structures like tables.</p>
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What are processes in an information system?

<p>Tasks and business functions performed by users, managers, and IT staff to achieve specific results. They are the building blocks of an IS and represent actual business operations.</p>
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Who are the 'people' component of an information system?

<p>Those who operate the system, provide inputs, consume outputs, and interact with the system, both inside (internal users) and outside (external users) the company.</p>
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Which type of company primarily manufactures and sells products like computers or furniture?

<p>Production-oriented (D)</p>
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Which type of company primarily offers services, such as information?

<p>Service-oriented (A)</p>
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Describe the role and information needs of top managers in relation to information systems.

<p>Top managers have a global view, develop long-range strategic plans, define overall mission and goals, provide project initiative, and focus on the overall business enterprise. They use IT to set company direction and need external information like economic forecasts, technology trends, and competitive threats.</p>
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What is the role of middle managers and knowledge workers regarding information systems?

<p>Middle managers provide direction, resources, and feedback to supervisors. They need more detailed information than top managers. Knowledge workers use various systems (business support, knowledge management, user productivity) to support the organization's basic functions.</p>
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What are the responsibilities and system needs of supervisors and team leaders?

<p>They manage operational users, oversee day-to-day functions, make necessary operational decisions, and are responsible for their team's performance. They need decision support information, knowledge management systems, and user productivity systems.</p>
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Describe operational employees and their interaction with information systems.

<p>These are clerical, operational, and administrative staff who typically have the most day-to-day contact with a new system. They rely on Transaction Processing (TP) systems to enter and receive data needed for their jobs and usually have a local view of the system's functions.</p>
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What is the Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC)?

<p>A common methodology or framework used in many organizations for system development. It features several phases that mark the progress of the systems analysis and design effort, involving a series of steps used to plan and manage the development process.</p>
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The SDLC must always be followed as a strictly sequential set of phases.

<p>False (B)</p>
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What is the role of the 'end product' in the waterfall model of the SDLC?

<p>In the waterfall model, the result or 'end product' of each phase flows sequentially into the next phase.</p>
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What are the four main phases of a typical systems project, and what key question does each address?

<ol> <li>Planning (Why build the system?), 2. Analysis (What, when, where will the system be?), 3. Design (How will the system work?), 4. Implementation (System construction &amp; delivery).</li> </ol>
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Which SDLC phase involves identifying business value, analyzing feasibility, developing a work plan, and staffing the project?

<p>Planning (B)</p>
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Gathering information, process modeling, and data modeling typically occur in which SDLC phase?

<p>Analysis (B)</p>
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Determining the design strategy, architectural design, interface design, and database design happens during which SDLC phase?

<p>Design (D)</p>
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What is the difference between Logical Design and Physical Design?

<p>Logical Design concentrates on the business aspects of the system (what the system needs to do). Physical Design focuses on the technical specifications (how the system will be built).</p>
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What activities are part of the Implementation phase?

<p>Construction (programming, testing, validation) and Installation (including migration and change management).</p>
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Match the SDLC phase with its primary deliverable:

<p>Planning = Project Plan Analysis = System Proposal Design = System Specification Implementation = New System and Maintenance Plan</p>
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What is the purpose of system evaluation?

<p>To determine whether the system operates properly and if its costs and benefits are within expectations.</p>
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Flashcards

Organizations

Organizations are large arrangements composed of interrelated subsystems.

Information Technology

The combination of hardware and software products and services that companies use to manage, access, communicate, and share information.

Systems Analysis and Design (SAD)

The process people use to create information systems.

Systems Analysis

Understanding and specifying in detail what an information system should do.

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System Design

Specifying in detail how the parts of an information system should be implemented.

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Information Systems Analysis and Design

A step-by-step process whereby computer-based information systems are developed and maintained.

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Developing Information Systems

A company can either build in-house applications, purchase systems from outside vendors, or both.

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Information System (IS)

Arrangement of people, data, processes, information presentation and information technology that interact to support and improve day-to-day operations in a business as well as support the problem-solving and decision-making needs of management and users

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Functional Decomposition

Dividing a system into components based on subsystems (which are in turn further divided into subsystems).

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System boundary

The separation between a system and its environment (where inputs and outputs cross).

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Automation boundary

Separation between the automated part of system and the manual part.

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Five Key Components of Information Systems

Hardware, software, data, processes, and people

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Hardware

The physical layer of the information system; includes workstations, servers, networks, cables, input, and output devices.

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Software

Programs which control the hardware and produce the desired information and results.

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System software

Manages the hardware components. e.g., Operating systems.

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Application Software

The programs that support day-to-day business functions and provide process and manage the information user need.

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Horizontal System

A system that can be adapted for use in many different types of companies.

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Vertical system

A system is designed to meet the unique requirements of a specific business.

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Data

Raw material that an information system transforms into useful information.

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Processes

Define the tasks and business functions that users, managers, and IT staff members perform to achieve specific results.

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People

Those who operate the system, provide inputs, and consume its outputs; can be internal or external.

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Production-oriented companies

Companies who manufacture and sell products .

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Service-oriented companies

Companies who offer services like information.

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Importance of Understanding Organizational Model

A systems analyst must understand the company's organizational model in order to recognize who is responsible for specific processes and decisions, how processes will connect, what data and information the process needs, and to be aware of what information is required by whom.

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Role of Top Managers

Has a global view, develop a long range plans which define the company's overall mission and goals, Provides initiative for the project, and has a strategic concern.

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Role of Middle Managers and Knowledge Workers

Provide direction, necessary resources, and performance feedback to supervisors and also used business support systems, knowledge management systems, and user productivity systems.

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Role of Supervisors and Team Leaders

Usually manage a group of operational users and are responsible for their performance and who carry out day-to-day functions and they also need decision support information, knowledge management systems, and user productivity systems.

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Role of Operational Employees

Most likely to have the most day-to-day contact with the new system and rely on TP systems to enter and receive data they need to perform their jobs.

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Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC)

A common methodology for system development in many organizations to mark the progress of the systems analysis and design effort.

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What is SDLC?

Series of steps used to manage the phases of development for an information system, it used to plan and manage the systems development process.

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Iterative SDLC

SDLC phases are repeated as required until an acceptable system is found.

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Purpose of SDLC Phases

Each of the phases include a set of steps, which rely on techniques that produce specific document files that provide understanding about the project.

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Waterfall model

Result of each phase, which is called end product, flaws sequentially into the next phase.

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Purpose of Planning

To determine why the system needs to be built.

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Purpose of Analysis

To determine what, when, where the system will be.

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Purpose of Design

To determine how will the system work.

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Purpose of Implementation

To determine system construction and delivery.

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Tasks in Planning

Identifying business value, analyze feasibility, Develop work plan , Staff the project and control and direct project.

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Tasks in Analysis

Analysis (what do we want? Who will use the system?), Information gathering, Process modelling and Data modelling.

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Tasks in Design

Design strategy, Architectural design, Interface design (HCI), Database and file design and Program design .

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Purpose of system design specification

End product is system design specification.

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Study Notes

Introduction to System Analysis and Design

  • Course textbooks include works by Alan Dennis, Barbara Wixom, and David Tegarden, along with Roberta Roth.
  • The learning objectives include discussing the impact of information technology (IT) on business strategy, the meaning and importance of Systems Analysis and Design (SAD), and the broader impact of IT on business.
  • Organizations are large systems with interrelated subsystems.
  • IT influences productivity, quality, customer loyalty, and decision-making.
  • Understanding IT's impact on business strategy, system characteristics, and information system components is vital for determining information needs and designing effective systems.

The Impact of Information Technology

  • Information Technology = hardware and software products
  • IT is the services companies use to manage, access, communicate, and share information.
  • Information is a vital, dynamic asset requiring effective use, updates, connectivity, transmission, and analysis.
  • IT advancements have created a new economy, offering global benefits to businesses through hardware, software, and networks.
  • Globalization and increasing internet users prioritize IT budgets for market reach, distributed company management, and cost reduction.

Systems Analysis and Design (SAD)

  • SAD is the process people use to create information systems.
  • Systems Analysis understanding and detailing what an information system should do.
  • System Design specifying how the parts of an information system should be implemented
  • Importance of SAD includes the success of information systems depending on SAD, IT career growth, and the use of widely proven techniques
  • Information Systems Analysis and Design represents a step-by-step process for developing and maintaining computer-based information systems.
  • A Systems Analyst is key in business analysis, focusing on organizational needs, identifying improvements, and designing systems to implement ideas.
  • Neglecting organizational understanding can lead to system failures.
  • Before deciding to build in-house or purchase systems from outside vendors, organizations must define system objectives
  • Companies must outline business needs and explore IT solutions before considering implementation options
  • Implementation options include in-house applications, purchased systems, or a combination.
  • Implementation choices include internet-based application services, outsourcing, custom solutions, and enterprise-wide software strategies.

Definition of Information System (IS)

  • An Information System = structure of people, data, processes, presentation and Technology
  • IS is an arrangement of people, data, processes, information presentation and IT that improves operations in a business, management as well as user decision-making

Characteristics of Systems

  • Functional decomposition involves breaking down a system into components and further into subsystems.
  • Systems have functional and non-functional components.
  • A System boundary marks the separation between a system and its environment, where inputs and outputs cross.
  • An Automation boundary defines the separation between automated and manual parts of a system.

Information System Components

  • Five components include hardware, software, data, processes, and people.

Hardware

  • Is the physical layer of the information system
  • This includes workstations, servers, networks, telecommunication equipment, and various input/output devices.
  • Hardware advancements provide more opportunities for information systems and reduce costs due to increased power and affordability.

Software

  • Comprises the programs controlling hardware to produce desired information and results
  • There are system software and application software
  • System software manages hardware components, including workstations and global networks, for example operating systems
  • Security software to protect data, and utility programs for tasks like backup and disk management.
  • Application software supports daily business functions and manages information user needs, such as enterprise applications

Applications Software

  • Application software can be one or many users.
  • Company-wide applications are called Enterprise applications.
  • there are horizontal and vertical systems
  • Horizontal = inventory or payroll can be adapted for use in many types of companies
  • Vertical = designed to meet the requirements of a specific business, for example a medical practice

Data

  • Raw input and material is transformed by an information system into useful information.
  • Data can be stored in tables
  • A system can extract specific information by linking tables.
  • Processes define tasks performed by users, managers, and IT staff to achieve specific results
  • Processes are the building blocks of an information system.
  • Processes represent actual day-to-day business operations

People

  • They are people that operate the system providing its inputs and consume its outputs.
  • Users interact with an information system, both inside and outside the company.
  • Internal users include administrators, managers, technicians, sales staff, and corporate officers.
  • External users include customers who track their orders

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