Systems Analysis and Design | Chapter 1

Two main E commerce sectors

1. B2C (business to consumer) 2. B2B (business to business)

Business today shaped by 3 trends

1. Rapidly increasing globalization 2. Technology integration for seamless info access 3. Rapid growth of cloud computing and software services

Five key components of information system

1. hardware 2. software 3. data 4. processes 5. people

SDLC model Five Steps

1. systems planning 2. systems analysis 3. systems design 4.systems implementation 5. systems support and security

help desk

A centralized resource staffed by IT professionals that provides users with the support they need to do their jobs. A help desk has three main objectives: to show people how to use system resources more effectively, to provide answers to technical or operational questions, and to make users more productive by teaching them how to meet their own information needs. Also called service desk or information center.

service oriented firm

A company that primarily offers information or services, or sells goods produced by others.

Certification

A credential an individual earns by demonstrating a certain level of knowledge and skill on a standardized test.

Corporate culture

A set of beliefs, rules, traditions, values, and attitudes that define a company and influence its way of doing business.

Bring your own device (BYOD)

An equipment management model where employees are in charge of their devices (e.g., computers, tablets, smartphones) at work, not the IT department. This includes device selection and setup, program installation and updating, and network connectivity (including security).

Product oriented firm

Companies that manufacture computers, routers, or microchips.

Data base administration

Database administration involves data design, management, security, backup, and access

System design specification

Deliverable for the systems design phase presented to mgmt and users for review and approval

E commerce (electronic commerce)

Internet based commerce Usually web pages that provide user interface which communicates with database mgmt software and web based data server

Stakeholders

People who have interest in information systems

Moore's Law

Prediction that number of transistors on an integrated circuit chip would double about every 24 months- has remained valid for over 50 years

knowledge workers

Provide support for the organization's basic functions includes system analysts, programmers, accountants, researchers, trainers, human resource specialists

Business process

Specific set of transactions, events and results that can be described and documented.

Application development

The IT application development group typically provides leadership and overall guidance, but teams consisting of users, managers, and IT staff members develop the systems themselves.

critical thinking skills

The ability to compare, classify, evaluate, recognize patterns, analyze cause and effect, and apply logic. Such skills are valued in the IT industry.

Business process modeling notation (BPMN)

Used for complex business process models. May use shapes and symbols to model events, processes, workflows and mroe

User support

User support provides users with technical information, training, and productivity support.

Class

a term used in object-oriented modeling to indicate a collection of similar objects

Advantages of agile methods

allow developers to be more flexible and responsive

Iterative

an adaptive method typically uses a spiral development model, which builds on a series of iterations

Requirements modeling

analyst investigates business processes and documents what the new system must do to satisfy users

Agile methods

attempt to develop a system incrementally by building a series of prototypes and constantly adjusting them to user requirements

data

basic facts that are the system's raw material

Disadvantages of agile methods

can be riskier than more traditional methods weak documentation blurred lines of accountability too little emphasis of bigger business picture unless properly implemented long series of iterations may actually add to project cost

Information Technology(IT)

combination of hardware, software, and services that people use to manage, communicate and share information.

Information System

combines technology, people, and data to provide support for business functions. Some handle day to day tasks and others encompass larger more complicated managerial decisions.

Maintenance

correct errors and adapt to changes in the environment, such as new tax rates

Electronic data interchange (EDI)

data sharing arrangement between companies began as computer-to-computer data transfer over private telecommunications lines

Information

data that has been transformed into output that is valuable to users

System requirements document

deliverable for the systems analysis phase describes management and user requirements, costs and benefits, and outlines alternative development strategies

Waterfall model

deliverables flow to next phase of process

Processes

describe tasks and business functions that users, managers, and IT staff members perform to achieve specific results

business model

describes the information that a system must provide

Web support

design and construct webpages, monitor traffic, manage hardware and software, and link web-based applications to the company's information systems.

scalable

design can expand to meet new business requirements and volumes

Vertical system

designed to meet the unique requirements of a specific business or industry

Top managers

determine goals of company

Strategic plans

developed by top managers to define company's overall mission and goals

Spiral model

development model with a series of iterations, or revisions, based on user feedback

IT budgets get a high priority

during growth: can not lag behind the IT curve during slow down: IT often used to reduce operating costs and improve efficiency

Systems support and security phase

during this phase IT staff maintains, enhances and protects the system Objective during this phase is maximize return on IT investment

Systems implementation

during this phase the new system in constructed programs are written, tested and documented and system is installed

Management Information Systems (MIS)

earliest business computer systems that replaced manual tasks like pay roll processin

Prototype

early working version of an information system

Benefits of TP systems

efficient: process set of transaction related commands as group rather than individually Data integrity protected by transaction not being processed if any one element of transaction fails.

Preliminary investigation

evaluate an IT related business opportunity or problem

Hardware

everything in the physical layer of the information system

Systems request

formal request to IT department, begins systems planning phase describes problems or desired changes

Empowerment

gives employees more responsibility and accountability

Business process model (BPM)

graphically displays one or more business processes, such as handling a reservation or filling a product order

Computer-Aided Systems Engineering (CASE) Tools aka Computer-aided software engineering

helps analysts develop and maintain information systems

Business rules

how input data is converted to output

properties

in object oriented (O-O) analysis, characteristics that objects inherit from their class or posses on their own

Objects

in object oriented analysis or programming, an object represents a real person, place, event or transaction

Network administration

includes hardware and software maintenance, support, and security. In addition to controlling user access, network administrators install, configure, manage, monitor, and maintain network applications.

Enterprise computing

information systems that support company-wide operations and data management requirements

Main objective of enterprise computing

integrate a company's primary functions (i.e. production, sales, services, inventory control, and accounting) to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and help managers make key decisions Also improves data security and reliability by imposing company wide framework for data access and storage

Knowledge base

knowledge management systems use these large databases that allow users to find information by keyword or phrases

Server farm

large concentration of servers working together

User productivity system

levels of technology that improve productivity (ex. email, voicemail, video and web conferencing etc.)

System software

manages hardware components which can include a single computer or global network with thousands of clients

Enterprise resource planning

many large companies use these applications to provide cost-effective support for users and managers

Systems analyst

member of IT dept. team helps plan, develop and maintain information systems

app

mobile device software that user interacts with which accesses same back end services

Legacy systems

older systems a company uses

message

one object can send information to another object via a message a message request specific behavior or information from another object

Enterprise applications

order processing systems, payroll systems, company communications networks

Supervisors and Team Leaders

oversee operational employees and carry out day-to-day functions need decision support info, knowledge mgmt systems and user productivity systems to carry out responsibilities

Business profile

overview of company's mission, function, organization, products, services, customers, suppliers, competitors, constraints and future direction. Business profile is the starting point for the modeling process

Users (end users)

people inside and outside the company who will interact with the system Success or failure of a system usually depends on whether it meets the needs of its users It is essential to understand user requirements and expectations throughout development process

Joint application development (JAD)

popular systems development technique that uses a group of users, managers and IT professionals that work together to gather information, discuss business needs and define the new system requirements

Visio

popular tool that systems analysts can use to create business process diagrams

Project managment

process of planning, scheduling, monitoring, controlling and reporting upon development of an information system

Modeling

produces a graphical representation of a concept or process that system developers can analyze, test and modify

Groupware

programs that allow users to share data, collaborate on projects, and work in teams

Software

programs that control the hardware and produce desired information results

Application software

programs that support day-to-day business functions, provide users with information they need

middle managers

provide direction, necessary resources, performance feedback to supervisors and team leaders focus on shorter time frame

Business support systems

provide job related information support to users at all levels of a company

Enhancements

provide new features and benefits

Systems support and security

provides vital protection and maintenance services for system hardware and software, including enterprise computing systems, networks, transaction processing systems, and corporate IT infrastructure.

Systems analysis phase

purpose is to build a model of the new system

Systems design phase

purpose is to create a physical model that will satisfy all documented requirements for the system at this stage user interface is designed and necessary outputs, inputs and processes are identified

Supply chain

refers to all companies who provide materials, services and functions needed to provide a product to a customer

Structured analysis

represents system in terms of data and the processes that act upon that data system development is organized in phases, with deliverables and milestones to measure progress

Deliverable

result of each phase

Quality assurance

reviews and tests all applications and systems changes to verify specifications and software quality standards

Feasibility study

reviews anticipated costs and benefits and recommends course of action based on operational technical, economic and time factors

Security controls

safeguard system from internal and external threats

Systems development life cycle (SDLC)

series of phases in structured analysis plan, analyze, design, implement, and support an information system

System

set of related components that produces specific results

System analysis and design

step-by-step process for developing high-quality information systems.

Agile methods aka adaptive methods

stresses intense team-based effort. Breaks development into cycles or iterations, that add functionality. Each cycle is designed, built, tested in an ongoing process

Horizontal system

system such as inventory or payroll system that can be adapted for use in many different types of companies

Systems Analyst

systems analyst investigates, analyzes, designs, develops, installs, evaluates, and maintains a company's information systems

rapid application development (RAD)

team-based technique that speeds up information systems development and produces a functioning information system. RAD is similar in concept to a joint application development (JAD) but goes further by including all phases of the System Development Life Cycle (SDLC)

Technical support

tech support is necessary to support the wide variety of IT systems and users. It includes six main functions application development, systems support, user support, database administration, network administration, and web support. These functions overlap considerably and often have different names in different companies

Skills a Systems Analyst must possess

technical knowledge communications skills business skills critical thinking skills

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)

technology that uses high frequency waves to track physical objects

Transaction processing systems (TP) systems

used to process data generated by day-to-day business operations can be used for customer order processing, accounts receivable, warranty claim processing

data flow diagram (DFD)

uses various symbols and shapes to represent data flow, processing, and storage

Systems planning phase

usually begins with a formal request to the IT department

Object oriented analysis

views the system in terms of objects that combine data and processes the objects represent actual people, things, transactions and events

Mission-critical system

vital to a company's operations, company can not do business without it