Week 1

1. Week 1 Introduction andSystems Planning

2. Outline • Introduction to the Information Systems Analysis and Design • Systems Development Environment • Determining Requirements • SDLC Overview • Identifying and Selecting IS Development Projects • Initiating and Planning System Development Projects

3. Introduction • Information Systems Analysis and Design • Complex process whereby computer-based information systems are developed and maintained • Application Software • Result of systems analysis and design • Designed to support specific organizational functions or processes

4. Data and Processes • Three key components of an information system • Data • Data Flows • Processing Logic • Data vs. Information • Data • Raw facts • Information • Derived from data • Organized in a manner that humans can understand.

5. Organizational Responsibilities in Systems Development • Systems Analysts work in teams • Project Based • Includes • IS Manager • Programmers • Users • Other specialists • Characteristics of Successful Teams • Diversity of backgrounds • Tolerance of diversity • Clear and complete communication • Trust • Mutual Respect • Reward structure that promotes shared responsibility

6. Skills of a Successful Systems Analyst • Analytical • Understanding of organizations • Problem solving skills • System thinking • Ability to see organizations and information systems as systems • Technical • Understanding of potential and limitations of technology • Management • Ability to manage projects, resources, risk and change • Interpersonal • Effective written and oral communication skills

7. Approaches to Development • Joint Application Design (JAD) • Users, Managers and Analysts work together for several days • System requirements are reviewed • Structured meetings • Prototyping • Building a scaled-down working version of the system • Rapid Application Development (RAD) • Utilizes prototyping to delay producing system design until after user requirements are clear

8. Systems Development Life Cycle and Methodologies • Methodology: the process used to develop information systems. • A systems development life cycle (SDLC) is a logical process by which systems analysts, software engineers, programmers, and end-users build information systems and computer applications to solve business problems and needs.

9. Systems Development Life Cycle • Series of steps used to manage the phases of development for an information system • Consists of five phases: • Planning • Analysis • Design • Implementation • Maintenance

10. Configuration Phase

11. Problems, opportunities, or directives • Problems are undesirable situations that prevent the organization from fully achieving its purpose, goals, and objectives. • An opportunity is a chance to improve the organization even in the absence of specific problems. • A directive is a new requirement that's imposed by management, government, or some external influence.

12. Identifying and Selecting IS Development Projects • Sources of projects • Management and business units • Managers who want to make a system more efficient or less costly • Formal planning groups • Top-Down Identification • Senior management or steering committee • Focus is on global needs of organization • Bottom-up Identification • Business unit or IS group • Don’t reflect overall goals of the organization

13. Corporate and Information Systems Planning • Need for planning • Improperly planned projects result in systems that cannot be shared across an organization • As business processes change, lack of integration will hamper strategy and business process changes

14. Corporate and Information Systems Planning • Corporate Strategic Planning • Process of developing and refining models of the current and future enterprise as well as a transition strategy • Three-step process • Current Enterprise • Future Enterprise • Strategic Plan (Competitive Strategy)

15. Corporate and Information Systems Planning • Information Systems Planning (ISP) • An orderly means of assessing the information needs of an organization and defining the systems, databases and technologies that will best satisfy those needs • Three key activities: • Describe the Current Situation • Describe the Target (or Future) Situation • Develop a Transition Plan and Strategy

16. Corporate and Information Systems Planning • ISP must look at information systems and technologies in terms of how they help the business achieve its objectives defined during corporate strategic planning. • Parallel activities of CSP and ISP

17. Initiating and Planning System Development Projects • Project Initiation • Establishment of project team • Development of relationship with customer • Project Initiation Plan • Establishment of Management Procedures • Establishment of Project Workbook and Project Management Environment • Project Planning = Survey Phase • Defining clear, discrete activities and the work needed to complete each activity

18. Initiating and Planning System Development Projects • Deliverables and Outcomes • Baseline Project Plan (BPP) • Scope • Benefits • Costs • Risks • Resources • Statement of Work (SOW) • Describes deliverables • Outlines work needed to be performed

19. Group Project • Check Group Assignment • Go to “Communication” -> “Group” page • If you don’t see your name in the group section, let the instructor know ASAP • Try communicating with other members of the group • Check the first group exercise posted in the “Assignment” Area.