Lecture 17 - SDLC: Sourcing

Question 1

What is project management?

Answer 1

Project management is the application of knowledge, skills, tools and techniques to project activities and to meet project requirements.

Question 2

What constraints must be managed about a project? (3)

Answer 2

The Triple Constraint that must be managed:

1. Scope / Quality of product
2. Time / Schedule
3. Resources / Cost $$

Question 3

What do failed projects have in common?

Answer 3

• Poor project planning, e.g. (unclear objectives, lack of required resources)
• Poor project management & control, e.g.:
  o Skipping SDLC phases
  o Failure to manage scope
• Incomplete or changing system requirements
• Limited user involvement
• Lack of executive support
• Lack of technical support
• Technology changes

Question 4

Scope creep

Answer 4

Scope creep - occurs when the scope of the project gradually increases.

Question 5

Feature creep

Answer 5

Feature creep - occurs when developers add extra features that were not part of the initial requirements.

Question 6

What is a prototype? And what do they do?

Answer 6

A prototype is a (working) model of a proposed product, service, or system. For example, architects make prototypes to show a building’s design. During SDLC, prototypes are used to:
o Gather system requirements
o Help clarify requirements for a new system
o Show that a system is technically feasible (proof-of-concept prototype)
o Convince people of the worth of a proposed system (selling prototype).

Question 7

What are the advantages of prototyping?

Answer 7

o Encourages end-user participation
o Helps resolve discrepancies among end-users
o Gives end-users a feel for the final system
o Helps determine technical feasibility
o Helps sell the proposed system

Question 8

What are the disadvantages of prototyping?

Answer 8

o Leads people to believe that the new system will soon be complete
o Gives no indication of how the system will perform under real operational conditions
o Leads the project team to forgo proper testing and documentation

Question 9

The Prototyping Process

4 Steps:

Answer 9

1. Identify basic requirements
2. Develop initial prototype
3. Let the end-user review it
4. Revise and enhance the prototype

Question 10

What are some of the approaches/methodologies of Component-based Development?

Answer 10

o Rapid application development (RAD)
o Extreme programming (XP)
o Agile methodology

Question 11

How/Where can we get needed software? (3 types)

Answer 11

A new information system can be built using:

1. Insourcing with IT specialists (employees)
2. Selfsourcing (end-user development) where end users take with little or no help from IT specialists
3. Outsourcing with a third-party which is given a specified cost, time frame and level of service to adhere to.

Question 12

What is component-based development ?

Answer 12

Builds small self-contained blocks of code (components) that can be reused across a variety of applications
o Different from traditional SDLC, where software is usually written from scratch
o IT specialists look in the software library for code they can reuse.

Question 13

Selfsourcing

Answer 13

Selfsourcing (end-user development) is development and support of IT systems by end users with little or no help from IT specialists.
o This do-it-yourself systems development approach must align with organizational goals.
o Some support from IT specialists may be needed.
o Technical documentation must be written.
o Ongoing user support must be provided.

Question 14

Selfsourcing

Advantages:

Answer 14

o Improves requirements determination
o Increases end user participation and sense of ownership
o Increases speed of systems development
o Reduces invisible backlog (undertaking system development projects that have not been funded due to a lack of resources)

Question 15

Selfsourcing

Disdvantages:

Answer 15

o Lack of organizational focus creates “privatized” IT systems.
o Insufficient analysis of alternatives leads to below-par systems.
o Lack of documentation and support leads to short-lived systems.
o Lack of concern for security leads to potential gaps in protection.

Question 16

Outsourcing

Answer 16

Outsourcing is the delegation of specified work to a third party for a specified length of time, at a specified cost, and at a specified level of service.

Question 17

Request for proposal

Answer 17

A request for proposal must be prepared before outsourcing. This document describes the detailed requirements of the new system and invites companies to bid on the development work. Bids are then evaluated and one vendor is chosen.

Question 18

Outsourcing – SLA

SLA, SLS, SLO

Answer 18

Once the vendor is selected, a service level agreement (SLA) becomes the contract between the two parties. Technical specifications are in a supporting document called a service level specification (SLS) or service level objective (SLO).

Question 19

Geopolitical Outsourcing Options

3 Forms:

Answer 19

1. Onshore outsourcing (within the same country e.g. Canada)
2. Nearshore outsourcing (with a company in a nearby country e.g. USA)
3. Offshore outsourcing (with a company that is geographically far away e.g. India)

Question 20

Outsourcing: Advantages

Answer 20

o	Focus on unique core competencies
o	Exploit the intellect of another organization
o	Better predict future costs
o	Acquire leading-edge technology
o	Reduce costs
o	Improve performance accountability

Question 21

Outsourcing: Disadvantages

Answer 21

o Reduces technical know-how for future innovation
o Reduces degree of control
o Increases vulnerability of your strategic information
o Increases dependency on other organizations.