Systems Planning, Analysis, and Design: Communication Issues in Systems Development - Prof, Study notes of Accounting

Download Systems Planning, Analysis, and Design: Communication Issues in Systems Development - Prof and more Study notes Accounting in PDF only on Docsity! CH. 11 Systems Planning, Analysis, and Design Systems Development-Communication Issues • Systems Development is the process of modifying or replacing a portion or all of an Info.Sys. – Usually undertaken by a project team comprised of: • Systems Analysts • Systems Programmers • Accountants, and • Other people in the organization. – Systems Development Lifecycle – Stages: • Planning and Analysis • Design • Implementation Traditional Systems Development Rigid top-down Sequential approach: • Develop a Plan • Develop the design • Implement the working system that conforms to developed plan. Also known as Big-design-up-front and Waterfall approach Systems Development includes defining, shaping, and reshaping the 4 architecture domains: • Business Architecture • Information Architecture • Application Architecture • Technical Architecture Alternative SD Approaches Provides Added flexibility to Traditional Rigid Approach by: • Breaking projects into smaller pieces • (reduces project failure risk) • Iterative or Agile approaches allowing life cycle phases to be simultaneously performed • (reduces time to complete project) Systems Planning requires identifying system problems that need attention. • Systems Analysis follows planning (usually based on prioritization) – Requires understanding of existing system – Identification and understanding of problems – Document information needs and system requirements to resolve problem – Clearly identify subsystems priority • Consider impact of future projects • Organizational strategy • Greatest need • Systems planning and top management – Steering committee for systems planning (multi-disciplinary) • Developing objectives and system constraints • Developing a strategic systems plan – Identifying individual projects – Commissioning the system project Systems Analysis Steps Survey Current System (insiders and outsiders) – Gain understanding of the current system operations • (see Table 11.1: e.g. questionnaires, flowcharts, procedure/operations manuals, forms, reports, observations) – Collect data useful in new system design • (Strengths/Weaknesses) – Identify problems or flaws that require additional analysis – Be weary of communication gap • (e.g. Job Security, Uncertainty, Change) Identify Information Needs – Information management needs is likely based on: • Job Responsibilities and Oversight • Measures/Means of own evaluation and staff evaluations • Problems and Decisions the manager faces Identify System Requirements • Outputs should be determined in order to determine the needed Inputs • Inputs should be based on output requirements Develop Systems Analysis Report (that includes) • Summary of the Scope and Purpose of the project (relationship to strategic IS Plan) • Description of existing problems • Summary of assumptions and decisions • Overall cost budget and schedule timeline • Specification of performance requirements • Identification of system improvements • Iterative Systems Method – Note that it is a structured yet iterative process (unlike waterfall) Evaluate Various Designs • Identify Alternative Designs • Describe the alternatives • Evaluate the Alternatives • What are the benefits to each?