Chapter 10: Building Information Systems

Question 1

Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC)

Answer 1

Series of well-defined phases performed in sequence that serves as a framework for developing a system or project

• Each phase’s output becomes the input for the next phase
• Used to design information systems from scratch

Question 2

4 Phases of Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC)

Answer 2

1. Planning
2. Requirements gathering and analysis
3. Implementation
4. Maintainance

Question 3

Conduct Feasibility Studies (5 dimentions)

Answer 3

1) Economic: Assesses a system’s costs and benefits
2) Technical: Assesses whether technology to support new system is available or feasible
3) Operational: How well the proposed solution will work in the organization
4) Scheduling: Will the new system can be completed on time
5) Legal: Will the system violate any legal issues in the country where it will be used?

Question 4

Phase 1: Planning

Answer 4

Systems designer must define the problem the organization faces

• Examine goals and how proposed system can support goals
• Identify potential system -> conduct analysis to define problem -> conduct feasibility studies -> make go decisions

Question 5

Internal users

Answer 5

Employees who use the system regularly

Question 6

External users

Answer 6

Not employees but do use the system

- Ex: Customers, contractors, suppliers, and other business partners

Question 7

Formation of the Task Force: Joint Application Design (JAD)

Answer 7

Collective activity involving users, top management, and IT professionals that centers on a structured workshop to develop an application

Question 8

Feasibility Study

Answer 8

Measure of how beneficial or practical an information system will be to an organization

1) Economic: Assesses a system’s costs and benefits
2) Technical: Assesses whether technology to support new system is available or feasible
3) Operational: How well the proposed solution will work in the organization
4) Scheduling: Will the new system can be completed on time
5) Legal: Will the system violate any legal issues in the country where it will be used?

Question 9

Phase 2: Requirements-Gathering and Analysis

Answer 9

Defining the problem and generating alternatives for solving it
- Information is gathered for process and data analysis
2 approaches:
1) Structured systems analysis and design (SSAD): Sequential approach that treats process and data independently
2) Object-oriented: Combines process and data analysis

Question 10

Phase 3: Design

Answer 10

The most realistic solution that offers the highest payoff for the organization is chosen
- Details of the proposed solution are outlined
3 designs:
1) Conceptual design: Overview of the system and does not include hardware or software choices
2) Logical design: Makes conceptual design specific by indicating hardware and software
3) Physical design: Created for specific platforms

Question 11

Computer-Aided Systems Engineering (CASE) Tools

Answer 11

Automate parts of the application development process

Question 12

Prototyping

Answer 12

Small-scale version of the system is developed
- Illustrates system benefits and allows users to offer feedback
2 types
1) Proof-of-concept prototype: Determines a system’s technical feasibility (how tasks can be done)
2) Selling prototype: Sells the proposed system to users and management by showing some features

Question 13

Phase 4: Implementation

Answer 13

Solution is transferred from paper to action

• Team configures the system and procures components for it
• Ex: Parallel, phased-in-phased-out, Plunge (direct cutover), pilot

Question 14

Parallel Implementation

Answer 14

Old and new systems run simultaneously for a short time to ensure the new system works correctly

Question 15

Phased-in-phased-out implementation

Answer 15

As each module of the new system is converted, the corresponding part of the old system is retired
- Process continues until the entire system is operational

Question 16

Plunge (direct cutover) implementation

Answer 16

Old system is stopped and the new system is implemented

Question 17

Pilot implementation

Answer 17

Analyst introduces the system in a limited area of the organization
- Implemented in the rest of the organization in stages or all at once if the system works correctly

Question 18

Project Management Tools and Techniques

Answer 18

• Help solve scheduling problems, plan and set goals, and highlight potential bottlenecks
• Project management software helps study cost, time, and resource impact of schedule changes

Question 19

PERT (Program Evaluation Review Technique) and CPM (Critical Path Method)

Answer 19

Determine critical paths for the completion of a series of interrelated activities

Question 20

Gantt chart

Answer 20

Constructed using the critical path

• Allows the systems analyst to monitor the progress of the project
• Helps detect delay in the daily operation of the project

Question 21

Request for Proposal (RFP)

Answer 21

A written document with detailed specifications the is used to request bids for equipment, supplies, or serviced from vendors

Question 22

Request for information (RFI)

Answer 22

An alternative to RFP that narrows the list of potential vendors by focusing on project requirements

Question 23

Approaches for developing information systems

Answer 23

1) Insourcing: Organization’s team develop system internally
2) Self-sourcing: End users develop information systems on their own
3) Outsourcing: Organizations hire external vendors or consultants
- Crowdsourcing: Process traditionally performed by employees or contractors to a crowd through an open call

Question 24

Phase 5: Maintenance

Answer 24

• Information system is operating
• Enhancements and modifications to the system have been developed and tested
• Hardware and software components have been added or replaced
• Performance data and information is gathered and assessed
• Feedback
• Corrective action is taken if the system’s objectives are not being met

Question 25

Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA)

Answer 25

Philosophy software that focuses on reuse of small self-contained blocks of codes to meet software needs

Question 26

Rapid Application Development (RAD)

Answer 26

Concentrates on user involvement and continuous interaction between users and designers

Question 27

Extreme Programming (XP)

Answer 27

Method for developing software applications and information systems (IS) projects that are divided into smaller functions in a step by step function
- Developers cannot move to the next phase until the current phase is finished

Question 28

Pair programming

Extreme Programming

Answer 28

Two programmers participate in one development effort at one workstation
- Each programmer performs the action that the other is not currently doing

Question 29

Agile Methodology

Answer 29

Similar to extreme programing where there is less emphasis on team coding and more emphasis on limiting the project’s scope

• Focuses on an incremental development process and timely delivery of working software
• Sets a minimum number of requirements and turns them into a working product