Chapter 7 - Moving into Design

Question 1

What exactly goes on in the design phase?

Answer 1

During the design phase, it is decided HOW the new system will operate, developing system requirements that will describe, in detail, the new system.

Question 2

What are used to generate system requirements?

Answer 2

During the design phase, system requirements are modeled after business requirements.

Question 3

How are system requirements communicated?

Answer 3

System requirements are communicated through the use of design documents and physical models.

Question 4

What are design documents?

Answer 4

Design documents are documents created as deliverables of the design phase.

Question 5

What is the final deliverable of the design phase?

Answer 5

The final deliverable of the design phase is the system specification. It contains many documents, physical process models, physical data models, architecture design, hardware & software specification, interface design, data storage design, and program design docs.

Question 6

What are the three primary ways to approach the creation of a new system?

Answer 6

The three main methods of creating a new system are to:

• Develop a custom application in-house
• Buy a pre-made system (off-the-shelf) and possibly customize it
• Rely on an external vendor/developer/service provider to build or provide the system

Question 7

What goes into custom development?

Answer 7

Custom development, as approached in the design phase, is when a business designs a new system entirely from scratch.

Question 8

What are the pros and cons of custom development?

Answer 8

The Pros:
- Custom development is very flexible.
- It allows the use of current technologies.
- It builds technical skills and functional knowledge internally.
The Cons:
- Custom development requires a huge amount of effort & work.
- It requires a considerable amount of skilled workers.
- Highly risky (plenty of opportunities for failure).

Question 9

What is “packaged software” in terms of system development?

Answer 9

Packaged software is software that has been designed to meet common business needs. Due to it being pre-made, buying it and installing it can be done cheaply and quickly. It can then be customized (usually) to meet a more narrow set of needs.

Question 10

What is the biggest problem with packaged software?

Answer 10

Packaged software’s largest problem is it contains “what it says on the tin”. That is, the functionality it provides is all that you are going to get.

Question 11

What is systems integration?

Answer 11

Systems integration is the process of building a new system by combining packaged software with existing legacy systems, through the use of new software written to integrate them. The biggest challenge with this is the “translation” of data between software.

Question 12

What is outsourcing, in terms of the design phase of the SDLC?

Answer 12

Outsourcing is when an outside vendor/developer/service provider is contracted to create or supply the system.

Question 13

What is an application service provider? How does this relate to Software as a Service?

Answer 13

An application service provider, or ASP, is a firm that supplies software applications and/or services over the internet. Software as a Service (SaaS) is an extension of the application service provider “model”, where licences aren’t purchased for a particular software; instead, contracts over time for the use of software are purchased.

Question 14

What are the main risks of outsourcing development?

Answer 14

The main risks of outsourcing development are:

• The loss of confidential information
• Losing control over future development
• Loss/degradation of the skill of in-house professionals.

Question 15

What are the three types of outsourcing contracts?

Answer 15

The three types of outsourcing contracts are:

• Time & Arrangements: Pay for whatever time and expenses are needed to get the job done.
• Fixed-Price Contract: A price is named, and is paid, the end.
• Value-Added Contract: The outsourcer takes some percentage of the completed system’s benefits.

Question 16

What are the key guidelines for outsourcing?

Answer 16

The key guidelines for outsourcing are:

• Keep the lines of communications open between you and the outsourcer.
• Ensure that requirements are well-defined and stable before signing a contract.
• Treat the outsourcing relationship as a partnership.
• Select your ASP carefully!
• Assign someone to manage the relationship.
• Don’t outsource what you don’t understand.
• Flexible requirements, long-term relationships, and short-term contracts are gooooood.

Question 17

How can the business need behind a project direct which development method is best?

Answer 17

If the business need for the system is common, and the solutions already exist, then packaged software is the way to go.
If the business need is unique and core to the business, a custom solution is key.
If the business need is unique, but it is not a core part of the company’s strategy, outsourcing is appropriate.

Question 18

How can in-house experience direct which development method is the best?

Answer 18

If in-house technical experience exists and can handle all the functional and technical needs of the new system, then go for a custom solution. Otherwise, go for packaged or outsourced.

Question 19

What are the two divisions of project skills?

Answer 19

Project skills can come in two forms:

• Technical (SQL, etc)
• Functional (e-commerce)

Question 20

How does time impact which development method is best-suited for a new system?

Answer 20

If time is a factor, a pre-packaged solution is generally going to be best. If that isn’t available, timeboxing is a great way to ensure the system is moving ahead swiftly. Outsourcing is generally not a good option with a short time frame.

Question 21

What is a Request for Proposal? Request for Information? Request for Quote?

Answer 21

A Request for Proposal (RFP) is a formal document that requests a proposal from a potential vendor/developer/service provider. They describe in detail the system/service needed. A shorter and less detailed is the Request for Information. If we know all the equipment we need, then a Request for Quote may be used.

Question 22

What is an alternative matrix?

Answer 22

An alternative matrix is a document that combines several feasibility analyses into one matrix, taking into account technical, economic, and organizational feasibilities for each system candidate, pros and cons, and so forth.

Question 23

How is an alternative matrix set up?

Answer 23

An alternative matrix is set up as a grid with alternatives across the top, and criteria along the sides, occasionally with weights and scores (for a weighted alternative matrix).