IMS3230 - Information Systems Development Practices

1. IMS3230 - Information Systems Development Practices Introduction: concepts and overview of systems development

2. IMS5006 - Information Systems Development Practices • Lecturer: Dr Peta Darke email: peta.darke@sims.monash.edu.au phone: 9903 2416 office: Room S7.13, level7, 26 Sir John Monash Drive, Caulfield East • Unit web page: www.sims.monash.edu.au/subjects/ims3230.nsf • Tutorials: NO TUTORIALS IN WEEK 1

3. Information systems development practice • Concept and role of a systems development methodology • Approaches to systems development • The role of the systems analyst/developer • Evaluate and compare methodologies • The human and organisational context

4. The systems development process The systems development lifecycle (SDLC): • Planning (Feasibility) • Systems analysis • System design • Implementation • Maintenance

5. Information system • " A system which assembles, stores, processes and delivers information relevant to an organisation (or to society) in such a way that the information is accessible and useful to those who wish to use it, including managers, staff, clients and citizens. An information system is a human activity (social) system which may or may not involve the use of computer systems" Buckingham et al. (1987) (in Avison & Fitzgerald 2003, p. 19)

6. Information systems • types of information systems: • transaction processing systems • decision support systems • expert systems • executive information systems • geographical information systems • E-commerce systems • multi-media systems • differences in: • users • size, scope • complexity, certainty, familiarity

7. Dimensions of information systems human, technological, organisational • early on, technology was new, costly, and so technological failure was more likely • failure of information system implementations now more likely due to human or organisational problems: e.g. lack of planning, poor project management, poor training, inadequate change management, poor development methods and techniques, inadequate requirements identification and specification

8. the evolution of information systems development methodologies • early computer system application development focused on the technology and on programming and technical skills rather than user and business needs • systems developers were technically trained and skilled, and used rule-of-thumb and personal experience • as computer use became more widespread: • a backlog of computer application requests developed • existing applications increasingly required changes • the changes made tended to have unexpected and undesirable effects.

9. the evolution of information systems development methodologies early 1960s: no formalised methodologies • basic data processing tasks • batch processing, unsophisticated technology • operational level, individual applications • implementation by programmers • maintenance / change problems • poor documentation • lack of standards, quality control

10. the evolution of information systems development methodologies • the need for analysis and design activities and personnel in the development of information systems • the need for more integrated information systems rather than piecemeal, one-off solutions • the desirability of an accepted, standardised approach to development

11. information systems development methodology • “A collection of procedures, techniques, tools and documentation aids which will help the systems developers in their efforts to implement a new information system. A methodology will consist of phases, themselves consisting of sub-phases, which will guide the systems developers in their choice of the techniques that might be appropriate at each stage of the project and also help them plan, manage, control and evaluate information systems projects” Avison and Fitzgerald (2003) p 20

12. information systems development methodologies Avison and Fitzgerald (1995): • a methodology must have a “philosophy”: - the nature of information systems - the nature of the developers’ role(s) - the nature of the development process e.g. what is the “best” system?: • the system which is the cheapest to run • the system which allows automation of most of the business processes • the system which is most acceptable to end users

13. systems development methodologies (SDMs) • Advantages of using a SDM: • Systematic approach to development • Maintainable, well-documented systems • Improved quality control and standards • Focus for training • Facilitates project management • Consistency across projects • Consistency across information systems • Learning and experience in use Improved product and process

14. the evolution of information systems development methodologies • Traditional “waterfall” SDLC approach: feasibility study, system investigation, systems analysis, systems design, implementation, review and maintenance (NCC in the UK 1970s) a problem exists which can be solved by computerisation • Advantages: systematic, phases, documentation, standards, techniques • Adequate response at first

15. the evolution of information systems development methodologies • criticisms of the early SDLC approach: • user dissatisfaction: focus on technical aspects • lack of creative design • piecemeal computerisation of applications • emphasis on procedures and processes • emphasis on "how" • management and strategic needs ignored • inflexibility • low productivity (application backlog)

16. the evolution of information systems development methodologies structured approaches of the 1970s: • structured programming top-down design, "black box", basic logic constructs • structured design top-down, design guidelines, incremental testing • structured analysis functional decomposition, data flow diagrams, separation of logical and physical views

17. the evolution of information systems development methodologies data-oriented methodologies of the 1970s and 1980s: • database technology, 4GLs, data analysis and data design • data management: “data is a corporate resource” • need for integration of applications e.g. Information Engineering (James Martin) strategic role of data independence of data

18. the evolution of information systems development methodologies strategic planning approaches (mid 1970s and 1980s): • to align information systems development with business strategy • to exploit information technology for strategic advantage • to plan for IT and information systems development: - identify business plans and goals, strategies, CSFs - evaluate current situation - develop information technology architecture: - information architecture - applications architecture - technical architecture

19. the evolution of information systems development methodologies the 1980s: information systems development • prototyping • CASE tools and development environments • large database systems and 4GLs • decentralisation • user participation • end user computing • soft systems approaches

20. the evolution of information systems development methodologies the 1990s: information systems development • object-oriented approaches • reusability in analysis and design activities • outsourcing • enterprise planning systems (ERP) • business process re-engineering • data warehouses • the Internet and intranets and extranets • multimedia

21. References • Prescribed text: Avison, D.E. & Fitzgerald, G. (2003). Information Systems Development: Methodologies, Techniques and Tools. (3rd ed), McGraw-Hill, London. Chapters 1, 2, 6.5