Systems Analysis & Design (SAD) - Chapter 1+2 Study Guide

Structured analysis is a traditional systems development technique that uses a series of phases, called the ____, to plan, analyze, design, implement, and support an information system.

SDLC

Examines a firm's technical, human, and financial resources

SWOT analysis

Powerful software used in the development and maintenance of information systems

CASE tools

Many companies implement ____ systems that integrate all customerrelated events and transactions.

CRM

Analysis tool that is also referred to as a fishbone diagram

Ishikawa diagram

Electronic data interchange (EDI) enables ____ inventory systems, which rely on computertocomputer data exchange to minimize unnecessary inventory.

JIT

Widely used tool for visualizing issues that need attention

Pareto chart

Can identify a person by retina scan or by mapping a facial pattern

biometric device

The reasons, or justification, for a proposal

business case

Describes the information that a system must provide

business model

Set of transactions, events, and results that can be described and documented

business process

Graphical display of one or more business processes

business process model

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

business support system

Summary of a project request and a specific recommendation

case for action

Credential that verifies an individual has demonstrated a level of knowledge and skill

certification

A collection of similar objects

class

Group that is also known as a systems review committee

computer resources committee

Requirement or condition a system must satisfy or an outcome it must achieve

constraint

Set of beliefs, rules, traditions, values, and attitudes that define a company

corporate culture

Must be achieved to fulfill a company's mission

critical success factor

Includes perception, organization, analysis, and problem solving skills

critical thinking skills

Systems that integrate all customer-related events and transactions

customer relationship management

The basic facts that are a system's raw material

data

Demonstrates data flow, processing, and storage using various symbols and shapes

data flow diagram

Result of each phase in the waterfall model

deliverable

Projects where management has a choice in implementing them are called ____ projects.

discretionary

Projects where management has a choice in implementing them

discretionary projects

By questioning users about additional capabilities they would like to have, instead of focusing on difficulties, a systems analyst ____.

gets a better understanding of operations highlights ways to improve the user's job builds better, more positive relationships with users

Enables users to share data, collaborate on projects, and work in teams

groupware

Everything in the physical layer of the information system

hardware

A systems request form should not ____.

have complex instructions

System that can be adapted for use in many different types of companies

horizontal system

A common reason for systems requests is ____.

improved services better performance reduced cost

Logical rules that identify data patterns and relationships

inference rules

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

information

System comprised of hardware, software, data, processes, and people

information system

Combination of hardware, software, and services used for managing information

information technology

Advantages that are difficult to measure in dollars but are important to a company

intangible benefits

Costs that are difficult to measure in dollars but are important to a company

intangible costs

Primary method of obtaining information during the preliminary investigation

interview

An example of a horizontal system is a(n) ____.

inventory application payroll application

Team-based strategies with a focus on team-based fact-finding

joint application development

Database that allows users to find information by entering keywords or questions

knowledge base

When planning an information system, a company must consider how a new system will interface with older systems, which are called ____.

legacy systems

An example of a vertical system is a(n) ____.

medical practice application database for a video chain

In objectoriented design, builtin processes called ____ can change an object's properties.

methods

Reflects a firm's vision, purpose, and values

mission statement

____ is a systems development technique that produces a graphical representation of a concept or process that systems developers can analyze, test, and modify.

modeling

Projects where management has no choice in implementing them

nondiscretionary projects

Possesses properties it inherits from its class or possesses on its own

object

The ____ method of developing systems produces code that is modular and reusable.

object-oriented analysis

Means that a proposed system will be used effectively after it has been developed

operational feasibility

Of the measures of feasibility, ____ considers questions such as "Does management support the project?" and "Will the new system require training for users?"

operational feasibility

Conducted to study a systems request and recommend a specific action

preliminary investigation

Process of projects expanding gradually without specific authorization

project creep

Defines the specific boundaries, or extent, of a project

project scope

An early working version of an information system

prototype

Uses high-frequency radio waves to track physical objects

radio frequency identification

Systems analysis phase where business processes are investigated

requirements modeling

A system design that can expand to meet new business requirements and volumes

scalable design

Problem-solving tool that is sometimes referred to as a XY chart

scatter diagram

Means that a project can be implemented in an acceptable time frame

schedule feasibility

A large concentration of servers working together

server farm

A common name for the user support function

service desk

Programs that control the hardware and produce the desired information or result

software

A systems analyst needs ____.

solid technical knowledge and good analytical ability strong oral and written communication skills an understanding of business operations and processes

Agile methods typically use a(n) ____model, which represents a series of iterations based on user feedback.

spiral

Model representing a series of iterations, or revisions, based on user feedback

spiral model

Person who has an interest in an information system

stakeholder

____ planning is the process of identifying longterm organizational goals, strategies, and resources.

strategic

Process of identifying long-term organizational goals

strategic planning

Long-range plans that define the company's overall mission and goals

strategic plans

Traditional, time-tested, and easy to understand systems development technique

structured analysis

A set of related components that produces specific results

system

Deliverable for the systems design phase

system design specification

Deliverable for the systems analysis phase

system requirements document

Software, such as operating systems, that manages the hardware components

system software

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

systems analysis and design

Phase of the SDLC model whose purpose is to build a logical model

systems analysis phase

Member of the IT department who helps plan, develop, and maintain systems

systems analyst

Phase of the SDLC model whose purpose is to create a physical model

systems design phase

Typically starts with a systems request

systems development

In the SDLC, during ____, the new system is constructed.

systems implementation

In the SDLC methodology , which phases do NOT involve the IT staff maintaining, enhancing, and protecting the system?

systems implementation systems analysis systems planning

Phase of the SDLC model whose objective is to deliver a functioning system

systems implementation phase

In the SDLC, the ____ usually begins with a formal request to the IT department, called a systems request, which describes problems or desired changes in an information system or a business process.

systems planning phase

Phase of the SDLC model whose purpose is to perform a preliminary investigation

systems planning phase

Formal request to the IT department that describes problems or desired changes

systems request

Formal way of asking for IT support and starting point for most projects

systems request

Group of key managers and users responsible for evaluating systems requests

systems review committee

Benefits that can be measured in dollars

tangible benefits

Costs that can usually be measured in dollars

tangible costs

A feasibility study includes tests for ____ feasibility, which refers to the practical resources needed to develop, purchase, install, or operate the system.

technical

Which feasibilities do NOT mean the proposed system will be used effectively after it has been developed.

technical schedule economic

Technical resources needed to develop, purchase, install, or operate a system

technical feasibility

____ is/are an external factor(s) that affect(s) IT systems projects.

technology competitors suppliers

A business process describes a specific set of ____.

transactions events results

Database administration involves ____.

user access data design backup

Fact-finding form that users complete and return for tabulation

user survey

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

vertical system

Important problem-solving tool that shows a correlation between variables

xy chart

Over 40 years ago, a concept called Moore's Law accurately predicted that computer processing power would double about every ____ months.

24

Which of the following is one of the main sectors of ecommerce?

B2C

Development method that includes the latest trends in software development

adaptive methods

Supports day-to-day business functions and provides information users need

application software

A feasibility study includes tests for ____ feasibility, which means that the projected benefits of the proposed system outweigh the estimated costs.

economic

Means the projected benefits of a proposed system outweighs the estimated costs

economic feasibility

Internet-based commerce

electronic commerce

Data sharing agreement between companies

electronic data interchange

Technology that uses RFID tags to identify and monitor the movement of products

electronic product code

Trend that gives employees more responibility and accountability

empowerment

Security control that codes data to keep it safe from unauthorized users

encryption

Systems that support company-wide operations and data management requirements

enterprise computing

Examines operational, technical, economic, and schedule factors

feasibility study

Key part of the preliminary investigation that reviews anticipated costs and benefits

feasibility study

In the preliminary investigation report, the ____ section contains the results of the preliminary investigation, including a description of the project's scope, constraints, and feasibility.

findings

When using a ____ diagram to investigate causes of a problem, an analyst first states the problem and then draws a main bone with subbones that represent possible causes of the problem.

fishbone

Analysis tool that represents possible causes of a problem as a graphical outline

fishbone diagram