Systems Analysis and Design - Chapter 1

A set of interrelation components that collect, process, store, and provide as output the information needed to complete business tasks.

Information System

What is the purpose of a System Vision Document?

The System Vision Document is a brief statement which describes the overall objective of the new system. Its purpose is to provide basic information about the need and solution approach to assist the client in deciding whether to approve a development project.

What are the six core processes of the SDLC?

1. Identify the problem. 2. Plan and monitor the project. 3. Discover and understand the requirements. 4. Design the system components. 5. Build, test, and integrate the system components. 6. Finalize testing and deploy the solution.

What information is provided by a domain class diagram?

A class diagram identifies all of the "things" that must be remembered and tracked by the new system. In essence the class diagram will be used to design and build the database for the new system.

What new information is provided in a design class diagram (more than a domain class diagram)?

A design class diagram is an extension of a class diagram and it shows how the attributes become data fields with type information. It also identifies the methods of a class. It also shows which classes have visibility to other classes to access their methods.

What is a project?

A project is a planned undertaking that has a beginning and an end and which usually produces some predefined result. It is often managed with a schedule or list of required activities.

What is the difference between a system and a subsystem?

A system usually consists of a complete solution that functions by itself. A subsystem is an identifiable and partitioned portion of the system. A subsystem usually is not an independent entity but functions within the context of the entire system.

An information system development process that emphasized flexibility and rapid response to anticipate new and changing requirements during development.

Agile Development

What is meant by Agile development and iterative development?

Agile development is a philosophy of systems development that emphasizes flexibility to handle changing requirements during the development project. Iterative development is when a system is grown piece by piece.

What is an activity diagram? What does it show?

An activity diagram is also a "workflow" diagram. It shows the flow of steps that a user, working with a system, follows to complete a business process or use case.

How does an activity diagram help in user-interface design?

An activity diagram shows the interactions between a user and the system. Those interactions must be supported by the user interface.

What is the purpose of software component design?

Architectural design is used to design the overall structure of the new system. It defines the major components of the new system and how they relate to each other.

A computer software program that executes on a computing device to carry out a specific function or set of related functions.

Computer Application (App)

What are the components of a work breakdown structure (WBS)? What does it show?

It usually contains a list of all the tasks that must be done, along with an estimate of how much work each task will require. It provides a comprehensive list of the work to be done. It is the basis for building a project schedule.

An approach to system development in which the system is "grown" piece by piece through multiple mini-projects called iterations.

Iterative Development

A planned undertaking that has a beginning and an end and produces some end result.

Project

Why is it a good practice to divide a project into separate iterations?

Separate iterations allow the project to be partitioned into smaller chunks of work that can be managed and controlled better. It also provides intermediate deliverables so that both the project team and the users can ascertain if the new system is going to solve the business problems.

An identifiable and fully functional part of a complete system.

Subsystem

A framework that identifies all the activities required to research, build, deploy, and often maintain an information system.

System Development Life Cycle (SDLC)

A set of comprehensive guidelines for carrying out all of the activities of each core process of the SDLC.

System Development Process (Methodology)

What are the steps of system testing?

System testing consists of 1. Create the test data, 2. Conduct the tests, 3. Identify and document the errors, 4. Fix the errors. This process repeats until the number of errors is minimal or acceptable.

Those system development activities that enable a person to understand and specify what the new system should accomplish.

Systems Analysis

Those system development activities that enable a person to describe in detail how the resulting information system will actually be implemented.

Systems Design

What is the difference between systems analysis and systems design?

Systems analysis is to determine the "what" the new system should do. It is discovery and understanding. Systems design is to determine "how" the new system should be built. It is structure and architecture.

What is the primary objective of each iteration?

The objective of an iteration should be to produce a portion of the solution system. Usually this means that some working piece of the system is design, coded, and tested. Sometimes it also allows portions of the final solution to be deployed early.

What is the purpose of a work breakdown structure (WBS)?

The purpose of a Work Breakdown Structure is to identify all the tasks, e.g. the work, that must be accomplished for a project.

What is the purpose of systems analysis? Why is it important?

The purpose of systems analysis is to enable the system developer to understand the user's requirements. Without a good analysis of the user's needs and requirements the new system will be inadequate in its solution or erroneous in its implementation.

How do a use case diagram and a domain class diagram drive the system development process?

The use case diagram defines the processes (e.g. functions) of the new system and the class diagram defines the data of the new system. Each system consists of processes and information, so these two diagrams define what must be done.

What is the purpose of the system development life cycle (SDLC)?

To provide a framework that identifies all the activities required to research, build, deploy, and maintain an information system.

What information is provided by use cases and a use case diagram?

Use cases, either in a list format or a diagram format, show all of the user functions that the new system must support.

What is the purpose of user acceptance testing?

User acceptance testing is to allow the users to verify that the system performs in a manner that does in fact solve the business problem. The system should not only provide correct answers, but it should provide answers for all the issues identified during analysis.

What is the difference between an information system and a computer application?

Usually a computer application is a single computer program that may or may not be connected to a database. An information system is normally multiple computer programs that are connected to a database and thus provide as output various types and quantities of information.