Systems Analysis ITEC 3155 Evaluating Alternatives for

Systems Analysis – ITEC 3155 Evaluating Alternatives for Requirements, Environment, and Implementation 8

8 Learning Objectives u Prioritize the system requirements based on the desired scope and level of automation for the new system u Describe the strategic decisions that integrate the application deployment environment and the design approach for the new system u Determine alternative approaches for system implementation Systems Analysis and Design in a Changing World, 4 th Edition 2

8 Learning Objectives (continued) u Evaluate and select an implementation approach based on the needs and resources of the organization u Describe key elements of a request for proposal (RFP) and evaluate vendors’ proposals for outsourced alternatives u Develop a professional presentation of findings to management Systems Analysis and Design in a Changing World, 4 th Edition 3

8 Overview u Chapter explains last three activities of analysis l Prioritize systems requirements l Generate and evaluate alternatives l Review recommendation with management u Refocus project direction u Transition from discovery and analysis to solutions and design u Set direction for design and implementation of solution system Systems Analysis and Design in a Changing World, 4 th Edition 4

8 Project Management Perspective u Project manager and senior technical members of project team work together u Eight areas of project management l Scope l Human resources l Time l Procurement l Cost l Communications l Quality l Risk Systems Analysis and Design in a Changing World, 4 th Edition 5

8 Deciding on Scope and Level of Automation (pg. 290) u Scope determines which business functions will be included in system u Level of automation is how much computer support exists for functions included in scope u Scope l creep Requests for addition of system functions after requirements have been defined and decision has been made u Users typically request more business functions than budget allows Systems Analysis and Design in a Changing World, 4 th Edition 6

8 Determining the Level of Automation u Low l level Functions automated for simple computer record keeping u Medium l Midrange point that combines features from low and high alternatives u High l level System automates most processing of business functions Systems Analysis and Design in a Changing World, 4 th Edition 7

RMO Customer Support System Functions, Priority, and Three Levels of Automation (Partial Figure 8 -1) Systems Analysis and Design in a Changing World, 4 th Edition 8 8

8 Selecting Alternatives u Entire group of alternatives is evaluated together to provide “big picture” view of proposed system u Key criteria that are used (pg. 294) l Strategic plan l Economic feasibility l Schedule and resource feasibility l Technological feasibility l Operational, organizational, and cultural feasibility Systems Analysis and Design in a Changing World, 4 th Edition 9

Defining the Application Deployment Environment 8 (pg. 297) u Configuration of l Computer hardware l System software l Networks l Development tools u Existing environment generally considered and compared with proposed environment Systems Analysis and Design in a Changing World, 4 th Edition 10

8 Range of Application Types u Stand-alone applications on mini- and personal computers u Online interactive applications u Distributed applications u Web-based applications Systems Analysis and Design in a Changing World, 4 th Edition 11

8 Hardware, System Software, and Networks u Computers range from handheld to super computers u Operating systems range from Windows to Unix u Database management systems range from Oracle to SQL Server to IBM DB 2 u Software components and standards range from Java 2 Enterprise (J 2 EE) to Microsoft. NET u Web servers range from IIS to Apache Systems Analysis and Design in a Changing World, 4 th Edition 12

Deployment Environment Characteristics to Consider u Compatibility with system requirements u Compatibility 8 among hardware and system software u Required interfaces to external systems u Conformity with IT strategic plan and architecture plans u Cost and schedule Systems Analysis and Design in a Changing World, 4 th Edition 13

8 Development Tools u Development environment – programming languages, CASE tools, and other software used to develop application software u Java and Visual Studio. NET are examples u Application deployment environment decisions limit development tool choices l Operating system environment l Database management system (DBMS) l Distributed software standard Systems Analysis and Design in a Changing World, 4 th Edition 14

8 Choosing Implementation Alternatives (pg. 303) u Variations on obtaining system l Facilities management – outsource all IS support l Packaged software, turnkey system, ERP system l Custom-built software systems l In-house development u Selection dimensions l Buy vs. build l In-house vs. outsource Systems Analysis and Design in a Changing World, 4 th Edition 15

8 Selecting an Implementation Alternative u Identifying criteria for selection l Comparisons can be difficult l Different proposed systems have strengths in different areas u Three major areas to consider l General requirements l Technical requirements l Functional requirements Systems Analysis and Design in a Changing World, 4 th Edition 16

Partial Matrix of Technical Requirements, Weights, and Scores for Alternatives (Figure 8 -9) Systems Analysis and Design in a Changing World, 4 th Edition 8 17

8 Making the Selection (pg. 310) u First, rate each alternative with raw score u Weighted scores are then tabulated and compared to make a choice u RMO decided on in-house development for most CSS development to keep expertise within RMO u RMO wants to hire some new technical specialists u RMO feasibility review showed no serious problems – after specialists are added Systems Analysis and Design in a Changing World, 4 th Edition 18

8 Contracting with Vendors (pg. 311) u Generate request for proposal (RFP) l Formal document sent to vendors if in-house development is not selected l States requirements and solicits proposed solutions l Considered a competitive contract offer l Bid on supplying hardware, software, and/or support services Systems Analysis and Design in a Changing World, 4 th Edition 19

8 Benchmarking and Choosing a Vendor (pg. 312) u Observe in use or install trial version u Benchmark – evaluate the system against a standard u Visit another company using a particular system u Develop a contract l Fixed-dollar – risk is on vendor l Cost-plus-percentage – risk is on purchaser l Cost-plus-fixed-fee – risk is shared by both Systems Analysis and Design in a Changing World, 4 th Edition 20

8 Presenting Results and Making Decisions (pg. 313) u Compile and organize documentation u Present alternatives and critical issues in easy-tounderstand but complete manner u Final choice generally made by executive steering committee u Format of documentation and presentation style varies with organization Systems Analysis and Design in a Changing World, 4 th Edition 21

8 Summary u These activities are primarily project manager responsibilities with support from project team u Focus of project changes from discovering requirements to developing solution system u Prioritize requirements based on scope and level of automation l Scope of new system determines functions it will support l Level of automation is a measure of how automated the selected functions will be Systems Analysis and Design in a Changing World, 4 th Edition 22

8 Summary (continued) u Application deployment environment l Computer hardware, systems software, and networks in which new system will operate l Determines constraints imposed on system development alternatives u Analyst must define environment to match l Application requirements l Organization’s strategic application plans l Organization’s technology architecture plans Systems Analysis and Design in a Changing World, 4 th Edition 23

8 Summary (continued) u Determine what alternatives are possible for developing solution u Implementation alternatives include l Building system in-house l Buying packaged or turnkey solution l Contracting with developer to build system (outsource) u Develop recommendations and present to management to make funding decisions Systems Analysis and Design in a Changing World, 4 th Edition 24