Introduction to System Analysis and Development

1. Introduction to System Analysis and Development The Value of Analysis and Design Components of IS Ethical Issues Dr Manolya Kavakli Senior Lecturer Department of Computer Science Macquarie University Read: Ch 1 [Shelly]

2. Chapter Objectives Discuss the impact of information technology on business strategy and success Define an information system and describe its components Identify various types of information systems and explain who uses them

3. Chapter Objectives Explain modeling, prototyping, and CASE tools Distinguish between structured analysis and object-oriented analysis Compare the systems development life cycle waterfall model to adaptive models Discuss the role of the information technology department and the systems analysts who work there Discuss Ethical Issues

4. Introduction Why do companies use information? Companies use information as a weapon in the battle to increase productivity, deliver quality products and services, maintain customer loyalty, and make sound decisions. Information Technology can mean the difference between success and failure.

5. Definition of Information Technology What is IT? Information Technology Combination of hardware and software products and services that companies use. What do companies do with the information? manage, access, communicate, and share information. A vital asset that must be used effectively, updated constantly, and safeguarded carefully.

6. The Impact of IT Who uses Internet most in the world? a)Asia b)America c)Australia d)Europe e)Africa Internet Usage (% of population) Asia: 9.9% and Middle East: 9.6% North America: 68.6% Australia: 52.6% Europe: 36.1% Africa: 2.6% The Future of IT IT sector accounts for almost 30 percent of America’s economic growth, and the wage gaps between IT workers and all other workers will continue to widen Global online population skyrocketed between 2000 and 2007

7. The Impact of IT What is The Role of Systems Analysis and Design? Systems Analysis and Design: A Step-by-step process for developing high-quality information systems. What does an Information System combine? IT, People, and Data to support business requirements. Who do we need to build an Information System? Systems Analyst: Plan, develop, and maintain information systems.

8. The Impact of IT What type of methods are used to develop Information Systems? A company develops its own ISs using In-house applications Software packages from outside vendors Internet-based application services Outsourcing Custom solutions from IT consultants Enterprise-wide software strategies Launching a new IS is risky. How versus What Outline What the system is supposed to do Before How it will be developed.

9. Introduction to Information System Components A system: a set of related components that produces specific results A mission-critical system: one that is vital to a company’s operations Data: consists of basic facts that are the system’s raw material Information: Data that has been transformed into output that is valuable to users.

10. Hardware Consists of everything in the physical layer of IS E.g., servers, workstations, networks, telecomm. equipment, scanners. Software Refers to the programs that control the hardware and produce the desired information or results. Types of Software: System software manages hardware components Operating system, security software, device drivers, etc. Application software supports day to day business functions order processing systems, payroll systems, company communications networks spreadsheets, word processors, database systems Information System Components

11. Types of Application software • Enterprise applications • (company wide applications such as order processing systems, payroll systems, company communications networks) • (on a smaller scale, spreadsheets, word processors, database systems) • Horizontal systems • (inventory or payroll application) that can be adapted for use in many different types of companies) • Vertical systems • designed to meet the unique requirements of a specific business • Legacy systems • new systems to interface with older systems

12. Information System Components • Data • Tables • Linking

13. Information System Components Processes Define the tasks and business functions that users, managers, and IT staff members perform to achieve specific results People Users, or end users, are the people who interact with an information system, both inside and outside the company

14. Understanding The Business Business Process Modeling represents a company’s operations and information needs and requires Business Profile Desribes a company’s overall functions, processes, products, services, etc. Business Models Graphical representation of business processes Airline reservation, selling a ticket To simplify operations we use Business process reengineering (BPR)

15. Understanding The Business Kinds of Companies Product-oriented Service-oriented Internet-dependent Dot-com (.com) companies such as Google, Yahoo, e-Bay Brick-and-mortar companies such as K-Mart, Target, etc.

16. Impact of the Internet E-Commerce or I-Commerce Internet based commerce Includes two main sectors: B2C (Business-to-Consumer) Consumers go online and purchase products and services eBay.com using a traditional auction concept B2B (Business-to-Business) Important to reduce costs Allows smaller suppliers to contact large customers Started with EDI –Electronic Data Interchange (company to company data sharing arrangements) Extensible markup language (XML) enabled company to company traffic using Web based communication. Supplier relationship management (SRM) is a form of interaction to submit specifications for business transactions.

17. How Business Uses InformationSystems In past, IT managers divided systems into categories based on the user group the system served Office systems (for admin staff) Operational systems (for operational personnel) Decision support systems (for middle managers) Executive information systems (for top managers)

18. How Business Uses Information Systems Today, it makes more sense to identify a system by its functions, rather than by users Enterprise computing systems Transaction processing systems Business support systems Knowledge management systems User productivity systems

19. How Business Uses Information Systems Enterprise computing systems Support company-wide operations and data management requirements K-Mart’s inventory control system Singapore Airlines’ reservation system Transaction processing systems Efficient because they process a set of transaction-related commands as a group rather than individually Customer order processing Warranty claim processing

20. How Business Uses Information Systems Business support systems Provide job-related information to users at all levels of a company Management information systems (MIS) Radio frequency identification (RFID) to track physical objects using tags

21. How Business Uses Information Systems Knowledge management systems Called Expert Systems Simulate human reasoning by combining a knowledge base and inference rules Many use fuzzy logic User productivity systems Technology that improves productivity Email, voice mail, fax, video conferencing, internet. Groupware enables users to share data, collaborate, and work in teams.

22. How Business Uses Information Systems today Information systems integration Most large companies require systems that combine transaction processing, business support, knowledge management, and user productivity features. Warranty claim into a transaction processing system, updates a knowledge management system to track product problems, and a quality control system with decision support capabilities.

23. IS Users and Their Needs Top managers Strategic plans Middle Managers and Knowledge Workers Direction, resources, performance feedback Supervisors and Team Leaders Operational and day-to day functions Operational Employees Use TP systems and perform jobs

24. Systems Development Tools and Techniques Modeling Produces a graphical representation of a concept or process that system developers can analyze, test, and modify. Business model / Requirements model Describes the information that a system must provide Data model Describes data structures and design Object model Describes objects, which combine data and processes Network model Describes the design and protocols of telecommunication links Process model Describes the logic that programmers use to write code modules

25. Systems Development Tools and Techniques Prototyping tests system concepts Prototype: Early working version of an IS. Advantage: Speeds up the development process significantly Disadvantage: Important decisions might be made too early, before business or IT issues are thoroughly understood Can be an extremely valuable tool.

26. Systems Development Tools and Techniques Computer-Aided Systems Engineering (CASE) Tools Also called computer-aided software engineering A technique that uses powerful software called CASE tools to help system analysts develop and maintain ISs. Microsoft Project Microsoft Visio

27. Systems Development Methods Structured Analysis Uses a series of phases called Systems development life cycle (SDLC) To plan, analyze, design, implement and support an IS. Predictive approach Uses a set of process models to describe a system graphically Process-centered technique

28. Systems Development Methods Object-oriented Analysis O-O analysis combines data & processes into objects Object (E.g, student/instructor/customer/order) is a member of a class (E.g., person) Objects possess properties (E.g., address/status) Methods change an object’s properties A message requests specific behavior or information from another object Visual Basic, Java, C++

29. Planning and Modeling a Systems Development Project O-O methods (interactive model) tend to be less sequential and more interactive compared to SDLC (waterfall model) which is more predictive. There are also adaptive/iterative approaches (using a spiral model). In addition to selecting a development method, system developers also must create a plan or model for the many tasks that will be required Typically, the development team will use project management tools to help achieve the end result

30. Adaptive approach using a spiral model A set of prototypes evolves into final product Planning and Modeling a Systems Development Project

31. Planning and Modeling a Systems Development Project Structured analysis uses The SDLC (Waterfall Model) The result of each phase is called a deliverable or end product which flows sequentially. Disadvantage: the waterfall model does not emphasize interactivity among the phases This criticism can be valid if the SDLC phases are followed too rigidly However, adjacent phases usually interact

32. Planning and Modeling a Systems Development Project The SDLC Waterfall Model Usually includes five steps Systems planning Systems analysis Systems design Systems implementation Systems operation, support, and security

33. Planning and Modeling a Systems Development Project Systems planning Systems request Purpose of this phase is to perform a preliminary investigation whose key part is a feasibility study Systems Analysis First step is requirements modeling End product is the System requirements document

34. Planning and Modeling a Systems Development Project Systems Design Identify all outputs, inputs, and processes End product is system design specification Systems Implementation New system is constructed Users, managers, IT staff trained to operate and support the system System evaluation performed

35. Planning and Modeling a Systems Development Project Systems Operation, Support, and Security A well-designed system must be secure, reliable, maintainable, and scalable After several years of operation, systems need extensive changes SDLC ends with system replacement

36. Planning and Modeling a Systems Development Project Adaptive Methods and Models Attempt to develop a system incrementally, by building a series of prototypes and constantly adjusting them to user requirements Extreme Programming (XP) Interactive process between developers and users Analysts should recognize that these approaches have advantages and disadvantages

37. Planning and Modeling a Systems Development Project Joint Application Development and Rapid Application Development Methods and Models Joint application development (JAD) Team-based fact finding in one phase Rapid application development (RAD) Team-based approach on the entire process Other Development Methods and Models Rational Unified Process (RUP®) Iterative process for managing software development projects Microsoft Solutions Framework (MSF) Similar to the SDLC but documents the experience of its own software development teams http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRioQNowpkI&feature=related

38. Planning and Modeling a Systems Development Project The Importance of Project Management Regardless of the development strategy, people, tasks, timetables, and expenses must be managed effectively Complex projects can involve dozens of people, hundreds of tasks, and many thousands of dollars

39. Systems Development Guidelines Stick to a plan Involve the users throughout the development process Listening is very important Use project management tools to identify tasks and milestones Remain flexible Develop accurate cost and benefit information

40. Information Technology Department The information technology (IT) department develops and maintains a company’s information systems The IT group provides technical support

41. Information Technology Department Application Development Team may include users, managers and IT Staff members Systems Support and Security Deployment team User Support Help desk or information center (IC)

42. Information Technology Department Database Administration Database design, management, security, backup, and user access Network Administration Includes hardware and software maintenance, support, and security Web Support Webmasters

43. Information Technology Department Quality Assurance (QA) Reviews and tests all applications and systems changes to verify specifications and software quality standards Is a separate unit that reports directly to IT management

44. The Systems Analyst investigates, analyzes, designs, develops, installs, evaluates, and maintains a company’s information systems On large projects, the analyst works as a member of an IT department team Smaller companies often use consultants to perform the work

45. The Systems Analyst Position Responsibilities Translate business requirements into practical IT projects to meet needs Required Skills and Background Solid communication skills and analytic ability http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCFtBCbMOgY&feature=fvw

46. The Systems Analyst Position Certification Cisco, Microsoft, ITIL Career Opportunities Job titles Company organization Company size Corporate culture Salary, location, and future growth

47. Ethics • Ethical behaviour could be viewed as • decent, fair, good, honest or moral behaviour • Ethical standards: • framed by the society in which you choose to work • Professional bodies • usually have a code of ethics and • will expel members who fail to uphold it. • The pressures on many businesses can result in legal but not ethical behaviour – • however the advantage gained is usually short-lived • Good ethics usually means good business.

48. The Ten Commandments of Computer Ethics 1.Thou shalt not use a computer to harm other people. 2. Thou shalt not interfere with other people’s computer work. 3. Thou shalt not snoop around in other people’s computer files. 4. Thou shalt not use a computer to steal. 5. Thou shalt not use a computer to bear false witness. 6. Thou shalt not copy or use proprietary software for which you have not paid.

49. The Ten Commandments of Computer Ethics 7.Thou shalt not use other people’s computer resources without authorization or proper compensation. 8. Thou shalt not appropriate other people’s intellectual output. 9. Thou shalt think about the social consequences of the program you are writing or the system you are designing. 10. Thou shalt always use a computer in ways that insure consideration and respect for your fellow human

50. The British Computer Society Code Of Conduct • The BCS Code of Conduct is used here as an example: • Members shall carry out work with due care and diligence in accordance with the requirements of the employer or client • and shall, if their professional judgment is overruled, indicate the likely consequences. • Members shall endeavour to complete work undertaken on time and to budget and shall advise their employer or client as soon as practicable if any overrun is foreseen.