Understanding Systems: Meaning, Components, and Analysis & Design, Schemes and Mind Maps of Computer science

Download Understanding Systems: Meaning, Components, and Analysis & Design and more Schemes and Mind Maps Computer science in PDF only on Docsity! Introduction to system What are system? To understand System Analysis and Design, one has to first understand what exactly systems are. In this session, we explore the meaning of system in accordance with analysts and designers. This session gives the reader basic concepts and terminology associated with the Systems. It also gives the overview of various types of systems. In the broadest sense, a system is simply a set of components that interact to accomplish some purpose. They are all around us. For example, human body is a biological system. We experience physical sensations by means of a complex nervous system, a set of parts, including brain, spinal cord, nerves, and special sensitive cells under our skin, that work together to make us feel hot, cold, itchy, and so on. Language is another example of a system. Each language has got its set of alphabets, vocabulary and grammar rules. Combination of all these make possible for one person to convey thoughts to other persons. An organization may also be viewed as a system where all the employees interact with each other and also with the employer to make the organization a functional unit. The organization also interacts with their customers to make a complete business system. Information system is the means by which data flow from one person or department to another and can encompass everything from interoffice mail and telephone links to a computer system that generates periodic reports for various users. Information systems serve all the systems of a business, linking the different components in such a way that they effectively work towards the same purpose. System components and characteristics A big system may be seen as a set of interacting smaller systems known as subsystems or functional units each of which has its defined tasks. All these work in coordination to achieve the overall objective of the system. The basic elements of the system may be listed as:  Resources  Procedures  Data/Information  Processes System analysis and design The development of any information system can be put into two major phases: analysis and Design. During analysis phase the complete functioning of the system is understood and requirements are defined which lead to designing of a new system. Hence the development process of a system is also known as System Analysis and Design process. So let us now understand. 1. What exactly System Analysis and Design is.? 2. Who is system analyst and what are his various responsibilities? 3. Users of the Systems? System development can generally be thought of having two major components: systems analysis and systems design. In System Analysis more emphasis is given to understanding the details of an existing system or a proposed one and then deciding whether the proposed system is desirable or not and whether the existing system needs improvements. Thus, system analysis is the process of investigating a system, identifying problems, and using the information to recommend improvements to the system. System design is the process of planning a new business system or one to replace or complement an existing system. Role of system analyst The system analyst is the person (or persons) who guides through the development of an information system. In performing these tasks the analyst must always match the information system objectives with the goals of the organization. Role of System Analyst differs from organization to organization. Most common responsibilities of System Analyst are following System analysis It includes system's study in order to get facts about business activity. It is about getting information and determining requirements. Here the responsibility includes only requirement determination, not the design of the system.