Systems Analysis and Design Chapter 1

Systems Analysis and Design 11th Edition - Chapter 1

• Information technology (IT) helps companies increase productivity, deliver quality products and services, maintain customer loyalty, and make sound decisions.
• IT is crucial for organizational success.
• Information Technology (IT) combines hardware, software, products, and services for managing, accessing, communicating, and sharing information.
• IT changes dramatically and continuously; advances influence organizational changes (example: punch card in 1953 vs. current technology).
• Information systems are combinations of technology, people, and data used for business functions.
• Systems Analysis and Design is a step-by-step process for creating high-quality information systems.
• Systems Analyst responsibilities include planning, developing, maintaining information systems, managing IT projects, scheduling, conducting meetings, taking notes, delivering presentations, and creating documentation.
• Information systems include Hardware, Software, Data, Processes and People.
• Hardware is the physical layer of the information system.
• Software controls hardware, system software, Application software, horizontal systems, vertical systems, and legacy systems. Server farms provide the power and speed for modern IT systems.
• Data is stored in tables.
• Processes describe tasks and business functions for achieving specific results.
• Stakeholders are interested parties in an information system.
• Business today is influenced by globalization, seamless information access by technology integration, the rapid growth of cloud-based computing and services, and internet-centric trends.
• E-commerce (electronic commerce) is a user interface that enables communication between a data-base management software and web-based servers; mobile devices use apps to interact with the system. Businesses use B2C (business-to-customer) and B2B (business-to-business) segments.
• A Business Profile is a comprehensive overview of a company's mission, functions, organization, products, services, customers, suppliers, competitors, constraints, and future direction.
• Business Processes consist of sets of transactions, events, and results. Business Process Model and Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN) are ways of describing, documenting, and mapping processes.
• A simple business model can consist of an event, three process, and one result
• Business Information Systems include Transaction Processing (TP), Business Support Services, Management Information Systems (MIS), Knowledge Management, and User Productivity Systems.
• Current methods use office productivity systems, decision support systems, defined by functions and features, and enterprise computing systems. ERP systems support operations, data, and management requirements.
• Transaction Processing (TP) processes data, examples are customer order processing, accounts receivable, and warranty claims.
• Management Information Systems (MIS) includes RFID, which uses high frequency radio waves to track physical objects; and knowledge bases are large data sources that use keywords to find data and offer inference rules to find patterns and relationships.
• User Productivity Systems improve productivity and data sharing and coordination.
• Systems Integration combines transaction processing, business support, knowledge management and user productivity features.
• Users at different organizational levels require different kinds of information. Top managers use IT for strategic planning with economic forecasts, technology trends, competitive threats, and governmental issues. Middle managers provide direction, resources, and performance feedback, relying on more detailed information than top managers. Knowledge workers provide support of organizational basic functions. Supervisors and team leaders oversee daily operations, requiring decision support, knowledge management, and productivity systems. Operational employees rely on TP systems for data entry and jobs; they handle tasks and make decisions.
• System Development Methods in include Structured analysis (Time-tested, easy to understand, uses SDLC model, based on predictive approach, process-centered, uses process models to graphically describe a system), Object-Oriented Analysis (Combines data and processes into objects, objects are members of a class, O-O methodology provides easy transition, use languages like Java), Agile Methods (Building and adjusting prototypes to user requirements, using a spiral model of iterations based on user feedback, incremental steps incorporated, flexible and responsive approach).
• Other Development Methods include Joint Application Development (JAD), which focuses on team-based fact-finding, and Rapid Application Development (RAD), which is a compressed version of the entire development process. Disadvantage of agile methods includes its riskier approach, weak documentation, and less emphasis on the business picture.
• The Information Technology (IT) department has different organizational units or teams, including Application Development, Systems Support and Security, User Support, Database Administration, Network Administration, Web Support and Quality Assurance.
• Systems analysts investigate, analyze, design, develop, install, evaluate, and maintain a company's information systems. Analysts must interact with users and managers within the organization. Roles of analyst include acting as translator between managers and programmers; a company's best defense during an IT disaster; possessing listening skills, seeking user feedback, ensuring systems match objectives. Knowledge, skills, and education are essential.
• Analysts need an education in information systems, science, or business, and experience. Certification is vital.
• Career opportunities and trends in IT include companies needing analysts to apply new information technology. Explosion in e-commerce fuels growth; relevant job titles, company size, salary, location, future growth, and corporate culture are key factors to consider. Technology evolves, so analysts must know current trends such as agile methods, cloud computing, mobile devices and apps, and businesses offering a variety of services. Social media is also a trend.
• Chapter summary for IT resources, essential components of an information system, successful companies, types of information systems, organization structure, using modeling, prototyping, CASE tools, and popular development (approaches), technical knowledge, understanding the business, thinking critically, and communicating effectively.