MIS, Chapter 10: Building Successful Information Systems

What is the goal of a proof-of-concept prototype?

-A Proof of Concept (POC) is a small exercise to test the design idea or assumption. -The main purpose of developing a POC is to demonstrate the functionality and to verify a certain concept or theory that can be achieved in development.

What is Joint application design (JAD)?

-A collective activity involving users, top management, and IT professionals. -It centers on a structured workshop (called a JAD session) where users and system professionals come together to develop an application.

Feasibility study

-A feasibility study analyzes a proposed solution's feasibility and determines how best to present the solution to management. -It usually has five major dimensions: economic, technical, operational, scheduling, and legal.

Rapid application development (RAD)

-Concentrates on user involvement and continuous interaction between users and designers. -It combines the planning and analysis phases into one phase and develops a prototype of the system. -It uses an iterative process/incremental development that repeats the design, development, and testing steps as needed, based on feedback from users.

Explain the tasks involved in the planning phase.

-During this phase, the systems designer must understand and define the problem the organization faces. -After identifying the problem, an analyst or team of analysts assesses the current and future needs. -Feasibility is the measure of how beneficial or practical an information system will be to an organization. -The tool used for this purpose is a feasibility study, and it usually has five major dimensions: economic, technical, operational, schedule, and legal.

What is a data flow diagram (DFD) used for?

-Helps break down a complex process into simpler, more manageable, and more understandable subprocesses -Shows how data needed by each process flows between processes and what data is stored in the system -Also helps define the system's scope

Extreme programming (XP)

-Is a method for developing software applications and information system projects in which the project is divided into smaller functions and developers cannot go on to the next phase until the current phase is finished. -Each function of the overall project is developed in a step-by-step fashion.

Agile methodology

-Is similar to XP in focusing on an incremental development process and timely delivery of working software. -However, there is less emphasis on team coding and more emphasis on limiting the project's scope.

Self-sourcing

-Is when end users develop their own information systems, with little or no formal assistance from the information systems team. -These users might not know how to write programming code, but they are typically skilled enough to use off-the-shelf software, such as spreadsheet and database packages, to produce custom-built applications.

What is self-sourcing? What are three disadvantages of self-sourcing?

-Is when end users develop their own information systems, with little or no formal assistance from the information systems team. -These users might not know how to write programming code, but they are typically skilled enough to use off-the-shelf software, such as spreadsheet and database packages, to produce custom-built applications. -Disadvantages: Lack of access to crucial data Lack of training for prospective users Inadequate security for the applications and systems that end users develop.

Pair programming

-Is where two programmers participate in one development effort at one workstation. -Each programmer performs the action the other is not currently doing.

What are two advantages of crowdsourcing?

-Saving the cost of hiring additional staffs -Meeting the demand for the more timely development of information system projects.

pilot conversion

-The analyst introduces the system in only a limited area of the organization, such as a division or department. -If the system works correctly, it is implemented in the rest of the organization in stages or all at once.

Explain the tasks involved in the maintenance phase.

-The information system is operating, enhancements and modifications to the system have been developed and tested, and hardware and software components have been added or replaced. -The maintenance team assesses how the system is working and takes steps to keep the system up and running.

Computer-aided systems engineering (CASE)

-Tools automate parts of the application development process. -These tools are particularly helpful for investigation and analysis in large-scale projects because they automate parts of the design phase.

New trends in systems analysis and design

-service-oriented architecture -rapid application development -extreme programming -agile methodology.

What are three reasons that an information system may fail?

1. Missed deadline 2. Dissatisfied customers 3. Exceeding the budget

What are four types of conversion methods?

1. Parallel conversion 2. Phase-in-phase-out conversion 3. Plunge (direct cutover) conversion 4.Pilot conversion

What are five dimensions of a feasibility study?

1. economic 2. technical 3. operational 4. scheduling 5. legal.

All of the following activities take place during the implementation phase except: -Acquiring new equipment -Training employees -Coding -Defining the systems requirements

Defining the system requirements

CASE tools are usually used during: -Planning phase -Requirements gathering and analysis phase -Design phase -Implementation phase

Design Phase

Design phase

During the design phase, analysts choose the solution that is the most realistic and offers the highest payoff for the organization. The details of the proposed solution are outlined, and the output of this phase is a document with exact specifications for implementing the system, including: -files and databases -forms and reports -documentation -procedures -hardware and software -networking components -general system specifications.

Internal users

Employees who will use the system regularly, and they can offer important feedback on the system's strengths and weaknesses.

The first phase of the SDLC approach is implementation. True or False?

False

Insourcing

Happens when an organization's team develops the system internally.

Explain the tasks involved in the requirements-gathering and analysis phase.

In this phase, analysts define the problem and generate alternatives for solving it.

Explain the tasks involved in the implementation phase.

In this phase, the solution is transferred from paper to action, and the team configures the systems and procures components for it.

IT project management

Includes activities required to plan, manage and control the creation and delivery of an information system.

Service-oriented architecture (SOA)

Is a philosophy and a software and system development methodology that focuses on the development, use, and reuse of small, self-contained blocks of codes (called services) to meet the software needs of an organization.

Legal feasibility

Is concerned with legal issues, including political repercussions and meeting the requirements of the Information Privacy Act.

Technical feasibility

Is concerned with the technology to be used in the system. The team needs to assess whether the technology to support the new system is available or feasible to implement.

Scheduling feasibility

Is concerned with whether the new system can be completed on time.

Operational feasibility

Is the measure of how well the proposed solution will work in the organization and how internal and external customers will react to it.

Crowdsourcing

Is the process of outsourcing tasks that are traditionally performed by employees or contractors to a large group of people (a crowd) through an open call.

External users

Not employees but use the system; they include customers, contractors, suppliers, and other business partners. They are not normally the part of the task forces but their inputs are essential.

Planning Phase

One of the most crucial phases of the SDLC model, the systems designer must define the problem the organization faces, taking care not to define symptoms rather than the underlying problem.

All of the following is a dimension of feasibility study except: -Economic -Social -Schedule -Technical

Social

Describe the systems development life cycle (SDLC) as a method for developing information systems.

Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC)/"waterfall model" is a series of well-defined phases performed in sequence that serves as a framework for developing a system or project. In this model, each phase's output becomes the input for the next phase. The 5 phases of SDLC -Phase 1: Planning -Phase 2: Requirements gathering and analysis -Phase 3: Design -Phase 4: Implementation -Phase 5: Maintenance

Parallel conversion

The old and new systems run simultaneously for a short time to ensure the new system works correctly.

Plunge (direct cutover) conversion

The old system is stopped and the new system is implemented.

A request for proposal (RFP) is a written document with detailed specifications that is used to request bids for equipment, supplies, or services from vendors. True or False?

True

RAD is also known as low-code or no-code systems development approach. True or False?

True

outsourcing

With the outsourcing approach, an organization hires an external vendor or consultant who specializes in providing development services.

In Prototyping

a small-scale version of the system is developed, but one that is large enough to illustrate the system's benefits and allow users to offer feedback.

Economic feasibility

assesses a system's costs and benefits.

A request for information (RFI)

is a screening document for gathering vendor information and narrowing the list of potential vendors. It can help manage the selection of vendors by focusing on the project requirements that are crucial to selecting vendors.

A request for proposal (RFP)

is a written document with detailed specifications that used to request bids for equipment, supplies, or services from vendors.

A selling prototype

is used to sell a proposed system to users or management by showing some of its features.

A proof-of-concept prototype

shows users how a particular task that was not technically feasible can be done.

Phased-in-phased-out conversion

As each module of the new system is converted, the corresponding part of the old system is retired. This process continues until the entire system is operational.