Chapter 1 - The Systems Development Environment

Information systems analysis and design

The complex organizational process whereby computer-based information systems are developed and maintained.

Analysis

The second phase of the SDLC in which system requirements are studied and structured.

Object class

A logical grouping of objects that have the same (or similar) attributes and behaviors (methods).

Systems development methodology

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

Object

A structure that encapsulates (or packages) attributes and methods that operate on those attributes. An object is an abstraction of real-world thing in which data and processes are placed together to model the structure and behavior of the real-world object.

Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA)

An approach to systems development based on building complete systems through assembling software components, each of which model generic business functions.

Rational Unified Process (RUP)

An object-oriented systems development methodology. It establishes four phases of development: inception, elaboration, construction, and transition. Each phase is organized into a number of separate iterations.

Application Software

Computer software designed to support organizational functions or processes.

Computer-aided software engineering (CASE) tools

Software tools that provide automated support for some portion of the systems development process.

Object-oriented analysis and design (OOAD)

Systems development methodologies and techniques base on objects rather than data or processes.

Rapid Application Development (RAD)

Systems development methodology created to radically decrease the time needed to design and implement information systems. RAD relies on extensive user involvement, prototyping, integrated CASE tools, and code generators.

Implementation

The fourth phase of the SDLC in which the information system is coded, tested, installed, and supported in the organization.

Systems Analyst

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

Logical design

The part of the design phase of the SDLC in which all functional features of the system chosen for development in analysis are described independently of any computer platform.

Physical design

The part of the design phase of the SDLC in which the logical specifications of the system from logical design are transformed into technology-specific details from which all programming and system construction can be accomplished.

Inheritance

The property that occurs when entity types or object classes are arranged in a hierarchy and each entity type or object class assumes the attributes and methods of its ancestors, that is, those higher up in the hierarchy. Inheritance allows new but related classes to be derived from existing classes.

Systems development life cycle (SDLC)

The traditional methodology used to develop, maintain, and replace information systems.

Design

Third phase of the SDLC in which the description of the recommended solution is converted into logical and then physical system specifications.

Maintenance

The final phase of SDLC in which an information system is systematically repaired and improved.

Planning

The first phase of the SDLC in which an organization's total information system needs are identified, analyzed, prioritized, and arranged.