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COMM 226 > QE3-2 What Are the Activities of the Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC) Development Process? > Flashcards

QE3-2 What Are the Activities of the Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC) Development Process? Flashcards

1
Q

What is Systems Development?

A

Systems development is the process of creating and maintaining an information system. It is a structured process similar to BPM.

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2
Q

What is the Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC)?

A

SDLC is a structured process used to create or improve information systems, involving five main activities:

**- Define the system **

- Determine requirements

- Design system components

- Implement the system

- Maintain the system

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3
Q

What are the five activities of the SDLC process?

A

Define the system

Determine requirements

Design system components

Implement the system

Maintain the system

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4
Q

What is the goal of defining the system in the SDLC?

A

To define system goals and scope, assess feasibility, decide on outsourcing, and form the project development team.

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5
Q

What are the steps involved in assessing feasibility during the SDLC?

A

Cost feasibility - Are the benefits worth the cost?

Schedule feasibility - Can the project be completed on time?

Technical feasibility - Does the firm have the technology and expertise required?

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6
Q

What is the purpose of defining system goals and scope?

A

To specify the scope of the new system, including who will use it, when it will be completed, and what it will do.

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7
Q

What is the relationship between business processes and information systems?

A

A business process may use one or more information systems, and an information system may be used by more than one process.

Organizations can create systems as part of BPM or integrate them into existing processes.

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8
Q

What is outsourcing in the context of systems development?

A

Outsourcing is obtaining goods or services from an external or foreign supplier.

It involves hiring another firm to develop the system instead of using internal employees.

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9
Q

What is offshoring in systems development?

A

Offshoring refers to obtaining goods or services from a foreign supplier, often in a low-cost country like India, to complete development steps.

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10
Q

What are the advantages of outsourcing?

A

Cost reduction
Better accountability
Focus on core competencies
Reduced overhead

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11
Q

What are the disadvantages of outsourcing?

A

Reduced control

Increased dependence on other firms

Less secure sensitive data

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12
Q

What is the role of the IS development team?

A

To oversee the creation of the system. The team typically includes a manager, business analysts, IT analysts, programmers, software testers, and users.

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13
Q

Who is a business analyst, and what do they do?

A

A business analyst is well-versed in organizational strategy, Porter models, and tools like COBIT. They align information systems with strategies and processes.

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14
Q

What is the role of an IT analyst in systems development?

A

IT analysts understand both business and technology, acting as a bridge between them.

They play a key role in integrating programmers, testers, and users into the development process.

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15
Q

Why is user involvement critical in the systems development process?

A

Users provide specifications, describe how the system will be used, and take ownership of the project.

Their involvement ensures the system meets organizational needs.

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16
Q

What are common tools used by IS development teams for project planning?

A

Microsoft Project, Gantt charts, PERT, and the Critical Path Method (CPM).

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17
Q

What is the purpose of a Gantt chart in systems development?

A

A Gantt chart visually represents the project timeline, task dependencies, and schedules to ensure efficient project execution.

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18
Q

Why is determining requirements important in the SDLC?

A

It ensures that the system meets user needs.

Incorrect requirements can lead to system failure, while clear and complete requirements simplify design and implementation.

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19
Q

What are examples of system requirements?

A

Contents and formats of web pages

Button functionalities

Report structures

Data entry fields and menu options

Security features

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20
Q

What are common steps in the “Determine Requirements” activity?

A

Conduct user interviews

Evaluate existing systems

Determine new forms/queries

Identify new features/functions

Consider security

Create the data model

Consider all five IS components

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21
Q

What are the five IS components considered in requirements analysis?

A

Hardware, software, data, procedures, and people.

22
Q

What are key questions when considering hardware requirements?

A

Are there special needs or restrictions on hardware?

Are there standards for hardware use?

Should the system use existing hardware?

What are the requirements for communication/network hardware?

23
Q

What questions are asked about procedures and personnel in requirements analysis?

A

Do accounting controls require separating duties?

Are there actions restricted to specific departments?

Are there policy or union restrictions?

Does the system need to integrate with other companies’ systems?

24
Q

What is a prototype, and why is it used in the SDLC?

A

A prototype is a scaled-down, functional version of a system used to help analysts and users collaborate on basic requirements.

It provides direct experience and user feedback.

25
Q

How are prototypes typically created?

A

Using tools like SAP Build, which allows teams to create interactive prototypes, share them with users, and collect feedback without writing code.

26
Q

What is a sign-off in the SDLC?

A

A sign-off is the user’s signature indicating approval of the stated requirements.

27
Q

What happens during the “Design Components” activity in the SDLC?

A

Each of the five IS components is designed by developing alternatives, evaluating them against requirements, and selecting the best option.

28
Q

What are the five IS components involved in the design activity?

A

Hardware
Software
Database
Procedures
People

29
Q

What are the key tasks in the “Design Components” activity?

A

Determine hardware specifications

Determine software specifications

Design the database

Develop procedures

Create job descriptions

30
Q

How is hardware design handled during the “Design Components” activity?

A

The team determines the specifications for hardware that needs to be acquired but does not design hardware like CPUs or disk drives.

31
Q

How does software design differ based on the source of the program?

A

For off-the-shelf software:
Candidate products are evaluated against requirements.

For off-the-shelf with alterations: Necessary changes are identified.

For custom-developed software: Design documentation is created for writing program code.

32
Q

How is database design handled in the SDLC?

A

Database designers convert the data model into a database design using techniques like those described in Chapter 4.

33
Q

How does procedure design differ based on the project’s nature?

A

Processes first (BPM): Procedures for using the app are created.

Systems first: Procedures for using the system and possibly related business processes are developed.

34
Q

What is involved in designing the “people” component of an IS?

A

Developing job descriptions that detail responsibilities, required skills, and necessary training.

35
Q

What are the two meanings of “implementation” in the SDLC?

A

Implementing the information system components.

Implementing the information system and associated business processes.

36
Q

What tasks are involved in the implementation activity of the SDLC?

A

Build system components

Conduct unit tests

Integrate components

Conduct integrated tests

Convert to the new system

37
Q

What does testing involve during the implementation phase?

A

Constructing and testing each component (hardware, software, database).

Writing adaptations and custom programs.

Documenting, reviewing, and testing procedures.

Creating training programs and hiring personnel.

38
Q

What is a test plan?

A

A formal description of the system’s response to use and misuse scenarios, often prepared by Product Quality Assurance (PQA) test engineers.

39
Q

What is system conversion in the SDLC?

A

The process of transitioning business activity from the old system to the new system, with or without new business processes.

40
Q

What are the four types of system conversion?

A

Pilot Installation: The new system is tested on a limited part of the business.

Phased Installation: The system is installed in phases across the organization.

Parallel Installation: The new and old systems run simultaneously until the new system is fully operational.

Plunge Installation: The old system is completely replaced with the new system.

41
Q

What are the risks of plunge installation?

A

If the new system fails, the organization is in trouble since the old system has been completely replaced.

42
Q

Why is managing implementation impact challenging?

A

New systems create ripple effects on other systems and processes.
Multiple IS changes may interact unpredictably.

43
Q

What tasks are associated with design and implementation for each of the five IS components?

A

Hardware: Specify and obtain hardware.

Software: Select, install, and adapt programs.

Data: Design and create databases.

Procedures: Develop and test user/operations procedures.

People: Develop job descriptions, hire, and train personnel.

44
Q

Why is the term “maintenance” a misnomer in the SDLC?

A

The work done during this activity involves either fixing the system to work correctly or adapting it to changes in requirements.

45
Q

What tasks are involved in the maintenance activity of the SDLC?

A

Record change requests (failures and enhancements).

Prioritize requests.

Fix failures.

46
Q

What is the purpose of a tracking database in system maintenance?

A

Descriptions of failures or enhancements.

Who reported the issue.

Who will address it.

The status of the work.

Whether it has been tested and verified.

47
Q

What is the difference between a failure and an enhancement in system maintenance?

A

Failure: A discrepancy between what the system does and what it is supposed to do.

Enhancement: An adaptation to meet new requirements, prioritized separately from failures.

48
Q

What is configuration control in the SDLC?

A

A process ensuring all changes to the system are approved by management, preventing unauthorized modifications.

49
Q

What is a sandbox in system maintenance?

A

A testing environment that isolates new code while replicating enough of the system to test how the new code interacts with existing code.

50
Q

How is the SDLC process similar to and different from the BPM process?

A

Similarities: Both involve managing and improving processes.

Differences: BPM occurs more frequently and changes processes rather than IS, while SDLC is longer, more complex, and more expensive.

51
Q

What is one attempt to shorten the SDLC process?

A

Using the scrum process, which is discussed as an alternative.

COMM 226 (48 decks)

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