Systems Investigation and Analysis How Do We Do

Systems Investigation and Analysis How Do We Do Systems Development?

Dilbert – 3/21/03

The Systems Analyst’s View

Project Leadership

Where Do Projects Come From?

Strategic Alignment Model Business Strategy I/T Strategy Organizational Processes IT Infrastructure & Processes External Strategic Fit Internal Functional Integration Henderson, J. C. & Venkatraman, N. (1999) Strategic Alignment: Leveraging information technology for transforming organizations. IBM Systems Journal Vol. 32, No. 1, P. 476

Trends in Systems Development & ERP Make or Buy Decision • ERP vendor as one-stop provider • Applications to integrate with ERP systems • External consulting

Project Scheduling

Systems Development Life Cycles

Cost of Making Changes

Traditional SDLC Define the project Study existing work processes Define system requirements Technical specifications, Hardware, software, database, telecomm…. Creating, developing the system Testing the system Putting system into operations Ensure system will continue to meet the needs of the business

Typical Room Layout for JAD Retrieved 3/5/03, http: //www. cob. sjsu. edu/sadhwa_a/BUS%2093/JADlecture. ppt

JAD and Determining Requirements • Joint Application Design (JAD) – Brings together key users, managers and systems analysts – Purpose: collect system requirements simultaneously from key people – Conducted off-site • Prototyping – – Repetitive process Rudimentary version of system is built Replaces or augments SDLC Goal: to develop concrete specifications for ultimate system Retrieved 3/5/03, http: //www. cob. sjsu. edu/sadhwa_a/BUS%2093/JADlecture. ppt

Factors Affecting Systems Development Success

Changing Requirements

Issue Management

Project Management • Planning • Scheduling – Project milestone – Project deadline – Critical path • Directing • Controlling

Project Management – Gantt Chart

Analysis Team

Requirements Analysis To determine user, stakeholder and organizational needs: • • Critical success factors (CSFs) Asking directly The IS plan Screen & report layout

Feasibility Analysis Can this project be done here & now? • Technical feasibility • Operational feasibility • Schedule feasibility • Economic feasibility • Legal feasibility • Cost – Net Present Value • Benefits – ROI Are any of these show stoppers?

Systems Analysis

Data Collection Process • • Methods Structured Interview Unstructured Interview Direct Observation Questionnaires

Sources of Data

Data Analysis • • • Data modeling Activity modeling Application flowcharts Grid charts CASE tools

Systems Design How the information system will function to meet its requirements • • • System outputs Interfaces Hardware Software Databases Telecommunication Personnel Policies & procedures

System Design Considerations • Interactive dialog – Clarity – Response Time – Consistency – Format – Avoid Jargon – Respect

Emergency Alternate Procedures & Disaster Recovery Causes of System Errors

Emergency Alternate Procedures & Disaster Recovery • • Hardware backup Software & database backup Telecommunications backup Personnel backup You need ALL of these!

System Controls • • Deterrence controls Input controls Processing controls Output controls Database controls Telecommunications controls Personnel controls

Make vs Buy Request for Proposal

Stages of Evaluation Meets Requirements Cost Performance Delivery Flexibility Support

Systems Implementation

Implementation Steps

Programming Life Cycle

Additional Implementation Activities Testing & Installation

Start Up

Start Up

Systems Maintenance

Maintenance Costs

Factors to Consider During Systems Review • • Mission Goals Hardware/ software Database Telecommunications IS personnel Control • • Training Costs Complexity Reliability Efficiency Response time Documentation