CH 1 - Review Questions
WHen would you use Agile Methodologies vs an engineering based approach to development?
You would use an Agile methodology vs an engineering based approach to development if - - Project involves unpredictable or dynamic requirements - - Project has responsible and motivated developers - - Project involves customers who understand the process and will get involved. - - Small products or projects - - Dynamism - Simple design and continuous refactoring - - Culture - people that thrive on chaos - -
List and explain some of the problems with the traditional waterfall SDLC
1. Expensive to make changes once the system was made and developed - - this locked users into requirements that had been previously determined, even though those requirements might have changed. 1. The role of the system users and customers is narrowly defined - - this model led to requirements being locked in too early even after business conditions had changed 2. Focus on milestone deadlines and completion before deadlines that ignored obtaining and interpreting feedback from the development process - - this caused systems that do not match users' needs and that require extensive maintenance
List and explain the different phases in the SDLC
1. Planning :: Phase 1 in which an organization *identifies* a need for a new or enhanced information system and those needs are analyzed, prioritized and arranged 2. Analysis :: Phase 2 in which analysts study the organization's current procedure and IS used to perfomr organizational tasks. Output is alternative solution recommended by the analysis team. 3. Design - Phase 3 in which the description of the recommended alternative solution is converted into lofical and then physical system specifications. Physical design (features of system chosen) Logical design (details from which construction can be done) 4. Implementation :: Phase 4 in which information system is coded, tested, installed and supported in the organization. 5. Maintenance :: Phase 5 in which an IS is repaired and improved and this can include training, documentation and support to keep the system running and useful.
How has systems analysis and design changed over the past four decades?
1950's development focused on the processes the software performed and efficiency of processing was the main goal. 1960's & 1970's organizations started to realize how expensive it was to develop customized information systems for every applications - shift from process first to data first. 1980's CASE tools were developed to make systems developers work easier and more consistent, and systems developer job went through a transition from builder to integrator 1990's Focused on systems integration with client/server platforms, more and more systems development efforts focused on the Internet, specifically the web. Today - continued focus on developing systems for te internet and for firms intranets and extranets, usually not developed in house.
WHat is object-oriented analysis and design?
A systems development methodologies and techniques based on objects rather than data or processes. Objects usually correspond to the real things an information system deals with, such as customers, suppliers, contracts, and rental agreements. The goal of OOAD is to make systems elements more reusable, thus improving system quality and productivity of systems analysis and design.
Explain what is meant by Agile Methodologies
Agile methodologies focus on people rather than on the roles that people perform. - - Individuals and iterations over processes and tools - - Working software over comprehensive documentation - - Customer collaboration over contract negotiation - - Responding to change over following a plan - - Welcome changin environment - - Deliver working software frequently - - Business people and developers work together daily throughout project - - Simplicity is essential - maximizing amoutn of work done They promote a self-adaptive software development process through a development team Best for projects that are - - Unpredicatble or dynamic - - Responsible and motivated developers - - Customer who understand and process and will get involved
What is eXtreme Programming?
An approach to software development by Beck & Andres - - Distinguished by short cycles, incremental planning approach, focus on automated tests written by programmers. - - Key emphasis of eXtreme programming include its use of two-person programming teams (Pair programming), described later, and having a customer on-site during the development process - - Coding and testing are intimately related parts of the same process, programmers who write the code also develop the tests.
what are CASE tools?
CASE tools are software tools that provide automated support for some portion of the systems development process. They support a wide variety of SDLC activities. EX: Diagramming tools, computer display and report generators, analysis tools that check for incomplete or inconsistent diagrams, forms,reports. Documentation generators. Code Generators.
Describe how CASE is used to support each phase of the SDLC
Project Identifiaction and selection - SDLC Phase - - CASE tool = Diagramming and matrix tools to create and structure information Project initiation and planning - SDLC Phase - - CASE tool = Repository and documentation generators to develop project plans. Analysis - SDLC Phase - - CASE tool = Diagramming to create process, logic, and data models Logical and physical design - SDLC phase - - CASE tool = Form and report generators to prototype designs, analysis and documentation generators to define specifications Implementation - SDLC Phase - - CASE tool = Code generators and alaysis, form and report generators to develope system, documentation generators to develop system and user documentation. Maintenance - SDLC Phase - - CASE tool = All tools are used (repeat life cyle)
What is information systems analysis and design?
The complex, challenging, and stimulating organizational process whereby computer-based information systems are developed and maintained - used by a team of business and systems professionals.
