Chapter 1& 2

Question 1

Information System

Answer 1

Information systems exist to support all aspects of business organizations
An information system is a set of interrelated components that collect, process, store, and provide as output the information needed to complete business tasks.

Question 2

Difference between Systems Analysis and Design

Answer 2

Systems Analysis - what is Required for the new system to solve the problem

Systems Design - How the system will opertae to solve the problem

Question 3

7 Steps for Systems Analysis and Design

Answer 3

Understand the need (business need).

Capture the vision.

Define a solution.

Communicate the vision and the solution.

Build the solution or direct others in building the solution.

Confirm that the solution meets the need.

Launch the solution application.

Question 4

What is the The System Development Life Cycle (SDLC)

Answer 4

Initial development of an information system is usually done as a project

A project management framework is needed to guide and coordinate the work of the project team.

SDLC is a framework that identifies all the activities required to research, build, deploy, and often maintain an information system.

Question 5

What are the 6 Core Processes of the SDLC

Answer 5

1-identify the problem and optain approval
2-plan and menotor the project
3-discover and inderstand details
4-design sys comp
5-build,testand integrate sys comp
6-complete sys test and deploy the sol

Question 6

What is Agile Development

Answer 6

An information system development process – it emphasizes flexibility and rapid response to anticipate new and changing requirements during development

The project plan and the execution of the project must be responsive to unanticipated issues

Question 7

What is Iterative Development

Answer 7

An approach to system development in which the system is “grown” piece by piece through multiple mini projects called iterations

Core components are developed first and then additional components are added.

It is called iterative because the six core development processes are repeated for each component.

Question 8

What are the Advantages of Iterative Development

Answer 8

Portions of the system can sometimes be deployed sooner

By taking a small portion and developing it first, the most difficult problems can be identified and addressed early in the project.

By focusing on only a small portion at a time, the requirements are fewer and easier to solve

Developing a system in iterations makes the entire development process more flexible and able to address new requirements and issues that come up throughout the project.

Question 9

What is the Work Breakdown Structure

Answer 9

breaks down a project deliverables into sub-deliverables

These can be represented hierarchically (in levels)

It provides a visual representation of the project and outlines key dependencies

Question 10

What is Systems Analysis and Design

Answer 10

Systems analysis is about understanding the business and its goals and strategies, defining requirements for information systems that support those goals and strategies, and supporting the business.

Systems design is the process of specifying in detail how the many components of the information system should be physically implemented.

Question 11

Who is a Systems Analyst?

Answer 11

A** business professional** who requires extensive technical, business, and people knowledge and skills and uses** analysis and design** techniques to solve business problems by using** information technology.**

Question 12

Define a System

Answer 12

a collection of interrelated components that function together to achieve some outcome

Question 13

Define Subsystem

Answer 13

a system that is part of a larger system

Question 14

Information Systems and Subsystems

Functional decomposition

Answer 14

– dividing a system into components based on subsystems that are further divided into smaller subsystems

Question 15

Information Systems and Subsystems

System boundary

Answer 15

the separation between a system and its environment that inputs and outputs must cross

Question 16

Types of Information Systems

Customer relationship management (CRM) system

Answer 16

a system that supports marketing, sales, and service operations involving direct and indirect customer interaction

retail company to manage their customer interactions.

Question 17

Types of Information Systems

Supply chain management (SCM) system

Answer 17

– a system that easily connects product development, product sourcing, manufacturing, and inventory management

like Apple. The SCM system helps Apple coordinate product development, sourcing components from suppliers, managing the manufacturing process, and keeping track of inventory levels. This integration ensures that the latest iPhones are developed efficiently, sourced from the best suppliers, manufactured on time, and available in stores when customers want to buy them.

Question 18

Types of Information Systems

Accounting and financial management (AFM) system

Answer 18

– a system that records accounting information needed to produce financial statements and other reports used by investors and creditors

like Microsoft. The AFM system helps Microsoft record all financial transactions, manage accounts payable and receivable, and generate financial statements.

Question 19

Human resource management (HRM) system

Answer 19

a system that supports such employee-related tasks as payroll, benefits, hiring, and training

like Google uses an HRM system to manage its employee records, process payroll, administer benefits, track training programs, and streamline the hiring process

Question 20

Manufacturing management system

Answer 20

a system that controls internal production processes that turn raw materials into finished goods

like Toyota uses a Manufacturing Management System to oversee its assembly lines.

Question 21

Knowledge management system (KMS)

Answer 21

a system that supports the storage of and access to documents from all parts of the organization

Question 22

Collaboration support system (CSS)

Answer 22

a system that enables geographically distributed personnel to collaborate on projects and tasks

Question 23

Business intelligence system

Answer 23

a system that supports strategic planning and executive decision making

Question 24

Enterprise resource planning (ERP)

Answer 24

a process in which an organization commits to using an integrated set of software packages for key information systems

Question 25

Technical Knowledge and Skills

Answer 25

Computers and how they work

File, database, and storage hardware and software

Input and output hardware and software

Computer networks and protocols

Programming languages, operating systems, and utilities

Communication and collaboration technology such as digital telephones, videoconferencing, and Web-based document management systems

They also need to know about tools and techniques for developing systems

Question 26

Tools

Answer 26

a software application that assists developers in creating models or other components required for a project

Question 27

Techniques

Answer 27

strategies for completing specific system development activities:

Project planning techniques

Cost/benefit analysis techniques

Interviewing techniques

Requirements modeling techniques

Architectural design techniques

Network configuration techniques

Database design techniques

Question 28

Business Knowledge and Skills

Answer 28

*What business functions do organizations perform?
*
How are organizations structured?

How are organizations managed?

What type of work goes on in organizations (finance, manufacturing, marketing, customer service, etc)?

What does the specific organization do?

What makes it successful?

What are its strategies and plans?

What are its traditions and values?

Question 29

People Knowledge and Skills

Answer 29

Interpersonal skills are perhaps the analyst’s most important skills because analysts rely on others, including managers, users, programmers, technical specialists, customers, and vendors, to take a system from initial idea to final implementation

The analyst must develop repport with users who may be resistant to change, negotiate with management for such resources as budget, time, and personnel, and manage development personnel with many different skills, capabilities, and attitudes

The analyst must be an effective teacher, mentor, confidant, collaborator, manager, and leader, shifting easily among those roles many times over the course of a typical work day

Question 30

Integrity and Ethics

Answer 30

Personal integrity and ethics is extremely important for a systems analyst
Problems that can be worked on by an analyst could involve confidential corporate information, including proprietary information about products, strategic plans or tactics, and even top secret information involving government military contracts
Analysts are expected to uphold the highest ethical standards when it comes to private proprietary information
Ethics and integrity also include follow-through on commitments, dealing directly with mistakes and gaps in relevant knowledge and skills, and practicing open and honest communication

In the context of a systems analyst, integrity means consistently acting with honesty, responsibility, and ethical behavior, especially when handling confidential or sensitive information.

In the context of a systems analyst, ethics means adhering to the highest ethical standards when it comes to private proprietart and have moral principles , ensuring fairness, confidentiality, and transparency in all work-related activities.

Question 31

What is the approach taken by an SA to solve a problem

Answer 31

1-Research and understand the problem
2-det if the benefits on solving that problem outweight the cost involved
3-det req
4-define all possible solutions
5-dec which sol is best
6-define the details of sol
7-imple the sol
8-monitor sol