System Aquisition & Development & The Future of Jobs Flashcards
What is Agile development
increment is released in a specified period of time
(called a time box), creating a regular release schedule with very specific objectives/short-term deliverables
- small cross-functional teams that include development team members and users
- daily status meetings to discuss the current state of the project
- short-time frame increments for each change to be completed
- working project at the end of each oration which demonstrates
progress to the stakeholders→different from RAD although they have significant overlap in principles -> iterative development, interaction & flexibility (to change)
What is Computer-aided software engineering (CASE)
helps designer to develop software with little to no programming →the tool writes the code for the designer
-> goal is to create quality code based on the designers input
What are the different Conversion strategies
parallel, pilot, phasing, cutover ; how new system replaces the old one
What is Direct Cutover
users begin using the new system one a specific date & from that point on the old system is unavailable
+ very fast
+ the least expensive implementation method
- most risk -> if the new system has an operational problem or if the users are not properly prepared -> disastrous for the organization
What is pilot implementation
a pilot group starts using the new system before the rest of the organization
+ smaller impact/risk on the company
+ allows the support team to focus on a smaller group of individuals
+ problems with the new software can be contained within the group and then resolved
What is parallel operation?
allows both the old and new systems to be used simultaneously for a limited period of time
+ least risky because the old system is still being used while the new system is essentially being tested
- by far the most expensive methodology since work is duplicated and support is needed for both systems in full
What is phased implementation?
provides for different functions of the new application to be gradually implemented with the corresponding functions being turned off in the old system -> more conservative as it allows an organization to slowly move from one system to another
What is Incremental commitment
- The four principles of the incremental commitment spiral model are
(1) stakeholder value¬-based system definition and evolution
(2) incremental commitment and accountability
(3) concurrent system and software definition and development and (4) evidence and risk-¬based decision making
What is Joint Application Design (JAD) ?
Users collaborate with the system analysts, designers, and programmers to design the software -> JAD session brings all of the stakeholders together for a structured discussion about the design of the system
What is Offshoring
process of shifting production or delegating business tasks to foreign specialists -> company employs people abroad, usually in a developing country where wages are several times lower
What is Rapid application development (RAD)
quickly building a working model of the software (prototype), getting feedback from users, and then using that feedback to update the working model
1. Requirements planning – similar to preliminary analysis system analysis and design phases of the SDLC
2. User design phase where users work with the system analyst, designers, and programmers interactively to create the design of the system (JAD)
3. Destruction application developers build the next version of the system through an interactive process/parallel to the user design stage
4. Cut over – switching from the old system to the new software -> usually done when there is low activity
What is the Systems development lifecycle (SDLC) and what does each step mean?
1) Preliminary analysis – analyse the needs & feasibility of a project
2) System analysis – determine specific requirements for the new system based on different stakeholder groups and their needs
3) System design – transforms business requirements into specific technical designs -> system design document
4) Programming – code gets written & software developed -> initial working program
5) Testing – the software is put through a series of structured tests to ensure they work properly
->Unit test – evaluate individual part of the code for errors or bugs
->System test – different components of the system are tested to ensure that they work together properly
->User acceptance test – ensures that the software meets the software users’ standards
6) Implementation
->Training uses
->providing documentation
->data conversion from the previous system to the new system
7) Maintenance – System has a structure supports process in place where reported bugs are fixed a quest for new features are evaluated and implemented
What are the differences/benefits of buy or build
o buy
+ less expensive
+ available much quicker
+ already tested and many bugs have been removed
- can also be used by your competitors/hard to differentiate based on a business process
- hard to manage customisations/general process of customisation
->Web services can blur the lines between building buy – adding a continuum of options in between
o build -> opposite
Which system development methods exist?
a) System development life cycle (SDLC)
b) Rapid application development (RAD)
c) Agile methodologies
d) Lean methodology – focuses on the idea and developing a minimum viable product (MVP)/working software application was just enough functionality to demonstrate the idea behind the project
Will IT lead to higher or lower employment levels? Explain the arguments for higher employment levels in this debate.
- creates new jobs -> IT developer/programmer
- demands a different set of skills -> structural shift in the labour market
- frees up labour due to automation -> more creative jobs
- creates new industries
- creates new opportunities to expand and innovate
- create new products & services that need labour
