Ch.12

Patch

- A group of fixes for high-priority failures that can be applied to existing copies of a particular product - Software vendors supply patches to fix security and other critical problems.

Why is systems development difficult and risky

- Many projects never finish - Often 200-300% over budget - Some finish within budget and schedule, but don't accomplish goals - High risk of failure, even with competent people following an appropriate methodology

Problems with the SDLC

- The SDLC waterfall - Requirements documentation difficulty - Scheduling and budgeting difficulties

Developing an information system involves

- hardware - software - data - procedures - people

Developing a computer program involves

- software

Four ways to implement a system conversion

1. Pilot 2. Phased 3. Parallel 4. Plunge

Five Phases of the SDLC

1. System definition 2. Requirements analysis 3. Component design 4. Implementation 5. Maintenance

Major Challenges to Systems Development

1. difficulty of determining requirements 2. changes in requirements - the bigger the system and longer the project, the more requirements change 3. difficulties involving scheduling and budgeting 4. changing technology 5. diseconomies of scale - as development teams become larger, the average contribution per worker decreases

Three sources for software

1. off-the-shelf 2. off-the-shelf with adaptation 3. custom made - Systems development is both 2 and 3

________ is the process by which users agree to one set of conditions, then add a bit more, then add a bit more, and so forth. A. Requirements creep B. Coordination C. Configuration control D. Diseconomies of scale

A. Requirements Creep

Which of the following personnel in a development team has the final say on whether a system is ready for use? A. users B. PQA personnel C. managers D. systems analysts

A. users

Which of the following statements is TRUE of systems development for bigger systems and longer projects? A. The diseconomies of scale are reduced. B. The changes in requirements are increased. C. The project budgeting and scheduling becomes easy. D. The average contribution per worker is increased.

B. The changes in requirements are increased.

The SDLC assumes ________. A. the government will sponsor all projects B. people do not adapt C. requirements do not change D. it is better than the SCRUM method

C. requirements do not change

Which of the following statements is TRUE of information systems? A. They cannot be tailor-made. B. They are off-the-shelf software without adaptation. C. They can be purchased as off-the-shelf software. D. They can be adapted to fit business needs.

D. They can be adapted to fit business needs.

A ________ is a hierarchy of the tasks required to complete a project. A. encryption algorithm B. virtual model C. scatter plot D. work breakdown structure

D. work breakdown structure

Requirements creep is the process by which a project manager reduces his or her responsibilities for requirements through miniscule rollbacks. True False

False

Systems development does NOT require a coordinated teamwork of both specialists and non specialist with business knowledge. True False

False

The critical path determines the earliest date by considering the shortest path through the network of activities. True False

False

Systems Analysts

IT professionals who understand both business and technology

Building a prototype can be beneficial. True False

True

Development begins when a business planning process identifies a need for a new system. True False

True

Systems development has a broader scope than computer program development. True False

True

Brooke's Law

adding more people to a late project makes the project later

Service Packs

bundle fixes of low-priority problems into larger groups

Test Plan

consists of sequences of actions that users will take when using the new system

System ________ refers to the process of changing business activity from an old information system to a new system. A. testing B. definition C. conversion D. analysis

conversion

SDLC Requirements Analysis Phase

developers identify the particular features and functions of the new system

SDLC Implementation Phase

developers implement, test, and install the new system

Waterfall SDLC

flow of the project begins in the planning phase and then there runs "downhill" to each subsequent phase

Procedures to be Designed

normal processing, backup, failure recovery

Systems development projects require the balancing of three critical drivers: requirements, cost, and ________. A. value B. performance C. scope D. time

not performance

Analysis Paralysis

projects that spend so much time documenting requirements

Business Analysts

specialize in understanding business needs, strategies, and goals and helping businesses implement systems to accomplish their competitive strategies

Phased Installation

the new system is installed in phases across the organization

Parallel Installation

the new system runs in parallel with the old one until the new system is tested and fully operational

Pilot Installation

the organization implements the entire system on a limited portion of the business

Plunge Installation

the organization shuts off the old system and starts the new system

Beta Testing

the process of allowing future system users to try out the new system on their own

System Conversion

the process of converting business activity from the old system to the new

Systems Development

the process of creating and maintaining information systems

Product Quality Assurance (PQA)

the testing of a system

Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC)

the traditional process used to develop information systems and applications

SDLC System Definition Phase

use management's statement of the system needs in order to begin to define the new system

Schedule Feasibility

whether an information system can be developed on time - difficult to determine

Cost Feasibility

whether an information system can be developed within budget

Technical Feasibility

whether existing information technology is likely to be able to meet the needs of the new system

Organizational Feasibility

whether the new system fits within the organization's customs, culture, charter, or legal requirements