Essentials of Systems Analysis and Design

Agile Methodologies

A family of development methodologies characterized by short iterative cycles and extensive testing; active involvement of users for establishing, prioritising, and verifying requrements; and a focus on small teams of talented, experienced programmers.

System

A group of interrelated procedures used for a business function, with an identifiable boundary, working together for some purpose.

Constraint

A limit to what a system can accomplish

Methodologies

A sequence of step-by-step approaches that help develop your final product: the information system.

Systems Development Methodology

A standard process followed in an organization to conduct all the steps necessary to analyze, design, ,implement, and maintain information systems.

Joint Application Design

A structured process in which users, managers, and analysts work together for several days in a series of intensive meetings to specify or review system requirements.

Participatory Design

A systems development approach that originated in northern Europe, in which users and the improvement of their work lives are the central focus.

Component

An irreducible part or aggregation of parts that makes up a system; also called a subsystem.

Prototyping

Building a scaled-down version of the desired information system.

Repository

Centralized database that contains all diagrams, forms and report definitions, data structure, data definitions, process flows and logic, and definitions of other organization and system components; set of mechanisms and structures to achieve seamless data to tool and data to data integration.

Tools

Computer Programs that make it easy to use specific techniques.

Feasibility Study

Conducted before the second phase of the SDLC to determine the economic and organizational impact of the system.

interrelated

Dependence of one part of the system on one or more other parts of the system.

Modularity

Dividing a system up into chunks or modules of a relatively uniform size.

Environment

Everything external to a system that interacts with the system

Systems Implementation and Operation

Final phase of SDLC, in which the information system is coded, tested, and installed in the organization, and in which the informaiton system is systematically repaired and improved.

Systems Analysis

Phase of the SDLC in which the current system is studied and alternative replacement systems are proposed.

Systems Design

Phase of the SDLC in which the system chosen for development in systems analysis is first described independently of any computer platform and is then transformed into technology-specific details from which all programming and system construction can be accomplished.

Interface

Point of contact where a system meets its environment or where subsystems meet each other.

Techniques

Processes that you, as an analyst, will follow to help ensure that your work is well thought out, complete, and comprehensible to others on your project team.

Application Software

Software designed to process data and support users in an organization. Ex: Spreadsheets, word processors, and DBMS.

Rapid application Development

Systems develoment methodology created to radically decrease the time needed to design and implement information systems.

Cohesion

The extent to which a system or subsystem performs a single function

Coupling

The extent to which subsystems depend on each other.

Systems planning and selection

The first phase of the SDLC, in which an organization's total information system needs are analyzed and arranged, and in which a potential information systems project is identified and an arguement for continuing or not continuing with the project is presented.

Boundary

The line that marks the inside and outside of a system and that sets off the system from its environment.

Systems Analyst

The organizational role most responsible for the analysis and design of information systems.

Purpose

The overall goal or function of a system.

Decomposition

The process of breaking the description of a system down into small components; also known as functional decomposition

Information Systems ANalysis and Design

The process of developing and maintaining an information system.

Computer-aided software engineering

refers to automated softwawre tools used by systems analysts to develop information systems