AIS Chapter 13

system professionals

have expertise in the specific areas that the feasibility study covers

user handbook

reference manual of commands for getting started

project planning

allocate resources to individual applications within the framework of the strategic plan

strategic systems planning

allocation of systems resources at the macro level and often deals with a time frame of three to five years

walk through

analysis of system design to ensure the design is free from conceptual errors

economic feasibility

availability of funds to complete the project

backbone systems

basic system structure on which to build

project schedule

budget of the time and costs for all the phases of the SDLC and represents managements commitment to the prj

turnkey systems

completely finished and tested systems that are ready for implementation

office automation systems

computer systems that improve the productivity of office workers

systems maintenance

constitutes the organization's program change procedures: It begins once the seven phases are completed and the system is fully implemented

parallel operation cutover

conversion process in which the old system and the new system are run simultaneously for a period of time

systems selection report

deliverable portion of the systems selection process that will go to the next phase

general accounting systems

designed to serve a wide variety of user needs

system survey

determination of what elements of the current system should be preserved as part of the new system

technical feasibility

determination of whether the system can be developed under existing technology or if new technology is required

structure diagram

divides processes into input, process, and output functions

run manual

documentation describing how to run the system

legal feasibility

ensures that the proposed system is not in conflict with the company's ability to discharge its legal responsibilities

stakeholders

entities that have a direct or indirect interest in the firm

systems professional

expertise in the specific areas that the feasibility study covers

systems analysis report

formal report that marks the conclusion of the systems analysis phase

new systems development

involves conceptual steps that can apply to any problem-solving process

systems planning

links individual system projects or applications to the strategic objectives of the firm

systems evaluation and selection

optimization process that seeks to identify the best system

phased cutover

process of converting an old system to a new one in modules

cold turkey cutover

process of converting entirely from an existing system to a new system on a particular day r

Cutover

process of converting from the old system to the new one

detailed design

produce a detailed description of the proposed system

detailed design phase

produce a detailed description of the proposed system that both satisfies the system requirements identified during systems analysis and is in accordance with the conceptual design

conceptual design

produce several alternative conceptual systems that satisfy the system requirements identified during systems analysis

project proposal

provides management with basis for deciding whether to proceed with the project

detailed design report

set of blueprints that specify input screen formats, output report layouts, database structures, and process logic

Data flow diagrams

set of symbols in a diagram to represent the processes, data sources, data flows, and process sequences of a current or proposed system

iterative approach

small "chunks" or modules cycle through all of the SDLC phases rather rapidly, with a short time frame from beginning to end

systems development life cycle (SDLC)

software development process

back bone system

system structure on which to build

vendor supported systems

systems that the vendor develops and maintains for the client organization

pay back method

the break-even point is reached when total costs equal total benefits

operational feasibility

the degree of compatibility between the firm's existing procedures and personnel skills and the operational requirements of the new system

schedule feasibility

the firm's ability to implement the project within an acceptable time.

Net Present value method

the present value of the costs is deducted from the present value of the benefits over the life of the system

end users

those for whom the system is built

database conversion

transfer of data from its current form to the format or medium required by the new system