Systems Analysis and Design Introduction

Introduction to Systems Analysis and Design

• Companies use information strategically to boost productivity, deliver quality, ensure customer loyalty, and make informed decisions.
• Information technology is thus a critical differentiating factor.

Information Technology (IT)

• IT combines hardware, software, and services for managing, accessing, communicating, and sharing information.

The Evolving IT Landscape

• Key changes include globalization, technology integration for information access, and the growth of cloud computing.
• Trends are driven by the Internet's power, shifting businesses towards e-commerce, B2C, and B2B models.

Systems Analysis and Design

• It is a step-by-step process for creating high-quality information systems.
• A Systems Analyst is responsible for planning, developing, and maintaining information systems, also managing IT projects.
• Analyst tasks include managing tasks, resources, schedules, costs, conducting meetings, delivering presentations, and creating documentation.

Information System Components

• A system is a set of related components that produces specific results.
• Mission-critical systems are vital to operations.
• Information systems are made up of hardware, software, data, processes, and people.

Hardware

• It comprises the physical layer of an information system, governed by Moore's Law.

Software

• System software and Application software are both forms of software.
• Horizontal systems are versatile, while vertical systems are industry-specific.
• Legacy systems are older but still in use.

Data

• Tables store data for information systems.
• Linked tables work together to supply data.

Processes

• They describe the tasks and business functions performed by users, managers, and IT staff.

People

• The stakeholders and users/end-users are a key component of information systems.

Business in the 21st Century

• Three major trends are: increasing globalization, technology integration, and cloud-based computing.
• All trends are linked to the Internet.
• E-commerce/I-commerce and B2C (business-to-consumer) and B2B (business-to-business) are major forms of online commerce.
• EDI, supply chain management (SCM) and supplier relationship management (SRM) are integral to B2B.
• Current trends blend products, services, and support.

Internet Dependent Firms

• Primary business depends on the Internet rather than a traditional business channel

Brick-and-Mortar Firms

• Have physical stores where customers can see and touch the products.
• Businesses expand web-based marketing channels to increase sales and better customer service.
• Online shopping and the alternative of hands-on purchasing are combined.
• Lowe's, Costco, Target and Wal-Mart are examples of brick-and-mortar firms.
• The web based model has allowed smaller films to reach a global marketplace.

Business Profiles

• An overview of mission, functions, organization, products, services, customers, suppliers, competitors, constraints, and future direction.

Business process

• Has a specific set of transactions, events, and results.
• Business Process Model (BPM) graphically displays one or more business processes.

Business Information Systems

• Administrative staff used office systems, Operational people used operational systems in the old model.
• Middle managers used decision support systems, and Top managers used executive information systems.
• Current model: all employees use office productivity systems and operations users require decision support systems.
• Systems include enterprise computing, transaction processing, business support, knowledge management, and user productivity.
• Enterprise Computing: Wal-Mart, Boeing, and Hilton, use information systems to support operations.

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems

• They provide cost-effective support throughout companies.

Transaction processing (TP) systems

• They process data from day-to-day operations.
• Customer order processing, accounts receivable, and warranty claims all are types of transaction processing.

Transaction processing (TP) system actions

• TP systems verify customer data, check credit and stock, post to accounts receivable, adjust inventory, and update file.

Business Support provides

• Job-related information to users at all company levels.
• Can work together with TP systems.

Radio frequency identification (RFID)

• A new business support development
• Technology uses high-frequency radio waves for tracking.

Knowledge Management Systems

• Knowledge Management Systems use large knowledge base databases and use inference rules to identify data patterns and relationships.

User Productivity Systems

• Technology that improves productivity
• Groupware Systems

System Integragrations

• Transactions Processing, Business Support, and Knowledge Management are combined.

What Information Do Users Need

• The different organizational levels of a business require different levels of information, from Top Managers all the way to Operational Employees.
• Top Managers need plans, economic forecasts and trends.
• Middle Managers require direction, resources, and feedback.
• Supervisors/Team Leaders oversee and require system management tools.
• Operational Employees rely on Transaction Processing systems, needing info to handle tasks.

Systems Development Tools

• Modeling: Business, Requirements, Data, Object, Network, and Process models.
• Prototyping, an early working information system version speeds up development.
• Computer-Aided Systems Engineering (CASE) tools provide systems and structured and object oriented analysis via code generation.

Systems Development Methods

• Systems are traditionally analyzed using Structured Analysis and organized into phases.
• A more recent method is Object-Oriented Analysis.
• Agile/Adaptive Methods are the latest trend where the based effort is broken down into cycles.

Structured Analysis

• Is time tested and easy to understand for developing systems.
• Uses phases called the systems development life cycle (SDLC).
• And a predictive approach using models graphically to describe.

The SDLC model usually includes five steps

• Systems Planning which has request from the start, investigation, and a feasibility review.
• Systems Analysis which formulates facts, models, and systems requirement outputs.
• Systems Designs creates models, designs the interface, and has systems design specification deliverables.
• Systems Implementation which constructs, programs, installs a new functioning system.
• Systems Support and Security, well designed, maintained scalable protection for updates and years of operations.

Object-Oriented Analysis combines

• Data and process in objects, each a member of a class, all can change their object properties

Agile Methods

• Are a technique where systems are improved incrementally with prototypes to meet requirements.
• The agile method focuses on developer versions, iterative publishing, and the agile spiral model approach.
• Includes a process resulting in adaptive development techniques like Scrum and Extreme Programming(XP).
• Analyst should understand the pros and cons.

Other Development Methods include

• Teams of IT staff, users and managers
• Join application development, team focus with rapid application development.

Agile development requires

• A plan, flexible project management with user incorporation.

The Information Technology Department

• Most IT Departments are structured with these areas: Applications Development, Sys Support and Security, User Support, Database Admin, Net Admin, Web Support, and Quality Assurance.
• Application Development consist of team development, knowledge skills and education, and certifications.
• Sys Support ensures protection with maintenance.
• User Support offers technical information and productivity programs.
• Database Admin secures the architecture access.
• Net Admin includes maintenance via hardware and software.
• Web Support designs systems while QA is software control. Analyst must know their role with skill set
• Analysts possess the skill for diagram usage and listening.

In conclusion

• Job prospects range from Tech Knowledge, Communication and Business Skills, analysis, and education/certifications that apply to analyst roles depending on IT development.