MIS 350 Module 10 Use It
Your company is replacing its outdated order processing system with a new, proprietary system that you're helping to develop. As your team moves into the design phase, you and your boss, Tasha, start hashing out the specifics of the new system. Tasha: Now that we've got a working understanding of the big picture, we need to start making some hardware and software decisions. You: Great, I'll get to work with our CASE tools to start developing the __________ and check in with you as questions come up.
Logical Design
Staff in several departments interact with the order processing system and will be affected by any changes. Tasha's team needs to gather feedback from representatives of all these user groups to ensure users are involved with the system's design without requiring large chunks of their time away from normal operations. She's decided to form a __________ for this purpose.
Task Force
Tasha: Okay, let's work with that. First, we need to develop a picture of what all is happening in this system to show the various subprocesses and the data involved. I don't think any of us has a clear vision of the scope of this project yet. You: Yes, I'll start working up a __________ , and you can help me fine tune it as I get into areas I'm not as familiar with.
Data Flow Diagram
Tasha has been with this company long enough to have observed the failure of more than one system development project in the past. One particularly frustrating and costly experience involved the implementation of an expensive, fully developed custom system that didn't perform the business functions it was commissioned to do. Tasha invests significant time during the planning phase to schedule various __________ to prevent these kinds of problems in this project.
Feasibility Checkpoints
When an information system is ready to be converted, designers have several options that vary based on how gradually the new system takes over, how long the conversion takes, and what kind of workflow is required of users in the interim. Identify which conversion method is being used in each scenario.
Parallel: Brenden enters orders in the old system and again in the new system. Plunge: Alberto pulls reports from the new customer feedback system. Pilot: Lacey offers incentives and coupons for customers who try out the new, self-serve order kiosk.
Tasha: Chet is concerned the new system might have problems interfacing with our accounting system, which has also been around a while. What do you think? You: Clearly, that functionality is an important technical feature. My team will put together a __________ to see if it'll work, given the design decisions we've made so far.
Proof-of-Concept
The SDLC model is not the best fit for all development situations, such as when users' needs change frequently. For these situations, other approaches are more suitable. Identify the development method illustrated in each scenario.
RAD: Lorenzo uses drag-and-drop modules to build a travel request app based on input and frequent feedback from the HR department on the needed workflow. XP: Willow takes the keyboard from Savannah so she can type out the next section of code to implement the solution to a problem the two just brainstormed. SOA: Verity's team is developing an app that will rely on the existing GPS function built into smartphones. Scrum: Logan selects the most important item from the current backlog to guide his work for the next two-week sprint.
Tasha: That's good. I'll check back in with Chet when it's ready and we'll see what he thinks. You: Yes, he'll have some good insights, then we can __________ as necessary.
Revise
Tasha is leading a team to replace your company's order processing system with a new, customized system that can be hosted in the cloud. As a systems analyst, you've been added to the team to help identify and analyze user requirements for the new system. Tasha: This system is deeply integrated with other systems in our company. I think we need a very clear picture of the processes involved that our new system will need to handle before we move into designing that system. You: It's a little old-fashioned, but let's take the __________ approach to ensure we complete the analysis phase before moving into the design phase of our project.
Structured Systems
Tasha: Do you think we can have the __________ documentation ready before the holidays? You: That's a tight time-frame, but it would be nice to have it finished before the next scheduled task force meeting so they can review the documentation and hopefully give approval to move this project to design.
Systems Specifications
The order processing system at Tasha's company was developed nearly three decades ago and has long since outlived its suitability to their current business needs. Customers complain of inefficiencies, missing information, and even errors. Sales reps and customer service staff spend an inordinate amount of time handling these problems, and new hires require extensive training to learn to use the system. As her company is slowly migrating to the cloud, Tasha's team has already discovered this massive, clunky legacy system requires support processes that can't be transferred to a cloud environment. Despite the high price tag, management has decided it's time for the old system to go and replace it with something more modern, capable, and flexible. Which of the following statements most clearly and thoroughly defines the current problem that Tasha's team needs to solve by developing a new system?
The current system requires unacceptable investments of time and resources in order to complete required business processes.
