1. The Systems Cycle Flashcards
What are the first 4 stages of the systems life cycle?
Definition of the problem, investigation and analysis, design and implementation.
What are the last 4 stages of the systems life cycle?
Testing, installation, documentation + evaluation and maintenance.
What are all 8 stages of the systems life cycle?
Definition of the problem, investigation and analysis, design, implementation, testing, installation, documentation + evaluation and maintenance.
Name 5 methods that an analyst might use to gather information during the investigation stage of the systems life cycle.
Questionnaires, interviews, meetings, document analysis and observations.
What is prototyping as a method of software development?
They are a first attempt at a design which are then extended and enhanced through the use of iterations. It stresses the early delivery to the end users of an incomplete, but working, system which is then adapted to feedback from the end user.
What is RAD as a method of software development?
Rapid application development. Aims to produce a software solution within a relatively short duration. Typical duration is less than 6 months.
What should be in a test plan?
The data should feature normal, extreme and erroneous data. The plan should cover validation, pathways and the user requirements.
What is the role of the project manager?
To plan and control the whole project. Main consultant with end user. Must ensure that all reports and documents are completed correctly. They must ensure that each stage of the life cycle is completed before the next stage is started.
What is the role of the system analyst?
They analyse the existing system. They develop the feasibility report. They liaise with the staff in organisation and develop expert knowledge of how the current system works.
What is the role of the systems designer?
They build on the findings of the analyst. They plan and design the system so that the hardware, software and communication technologies all integrate and interact. They complete the requirements analysis.
What is the role of the programmer?
Creates software that is required for the system being developed. They are responsible for developing the applications system or modifying an existing software solution. Their output document is the technical documentation.
What is the role of the tester?
They find any bugs in a system once it has been created. They develop and use the test plan, which is used by a third party without having to refer to the tester. They will need to record the results of the tests, on a test log. These two documents may form part of the technical documentation.
What is a CPA diagram?
Critical path analysis diagram. Shows the relationship between the different parts of the project. A large project is usually made up of many interrelated smaller ones.
What is a gantt chart?
A diagram that shows each task as a block of time.
What is a state transition diagram?
Defines every state of a system diagrammatically. Entities can be in different states: on or off, cold or hot, etc. It shows each state as a location and the transitions between them as arrows. Each arrow is labelled with the reason for the state transition.
