Management Information Systems, 4 th Edition 1 Chapter 15 Systems Development

Management Information Systems, 4th Edition1

Chapter 15Systems Development


Learning Objectives

• Describe the systems development life cycle, which is the traditional approach to systems development

• List and explain the pros and cons of prototyping

• Describe how software tools facilitate monitoring and controlling systems development


Learning Objectives (Cont.)

• Explain the difficulties involved in systems development

• List the advantages and disadvantages of different system conversion strategies

• Explain the concept of systems integration


Why Develop an IS?• An opportunity (proactive)

– Potential increase in revenue

– Reduction of costs

– Gain in competitive advantage

• A problem (reactive)

– Undesired situation

• A directive

– An order to take action


The Systems DevelopmentLife Cycle (Cont.)




Analysis

• Investigation

• Developers interview managers and perspective users to determine business needs

• Three feasibility studies performed


Analysis (Cont.)

• Technical Feasibility Study

– Ensures hardware and software exist to build the system

• Economic Feasibility Study

– Determines resources needed for implementation

– Determines if benefits outweigh the costs




• Operational Feasibility Study

– Determines if system will be used as intended at its full capacity

• Requirements Definition

– Specific features and interface requirements of the system defined

Analysis (Cont.)


The Systems DevelopmentLife Cycle


Design• Translation of user requirements into detailed

functions of the system

– Input files

– Procedures

– Output files

– User Dialog

– Interfaces


Design (Cont.)


• Software development tools

– Flowcharts

• Graphical symbols illustrating system

• Logical and physical elements

• Over 30 symbols for events, hardware, processes and more

Design (Cont.)


Design (Cont.)



– Data flow diagram

• Describe flow of data in system with only four symbols:

– External entities

– Processes

– Data stores

– Data direction

Design (Cont.)







– Unified Modeling Language

• Graphical standard for visualizing, specifying, and documenting software

• Independent of programming language

• Describe types of software

• Use case, class, interaction, state, activity, and physical components

Design (Cont.)




• Construction

– Programming

• Systems Testing

– Checked against system requirements

– Attempts to make system fail

Design (Cont.)


• Training

• Conversion

– Parallel Conversion

– Phased Conversion

– Cut Over Conversion

– Pilot Conversion

Implementation


Implementation (Cont.)


Support


Prototyping

• Systems developed using an iterative process

– Purpose is to develop a working model as quickly as possible, which can be tweaked and revised

– Significantly shortens systems development backlog

– Can increase risk of incompatibility and other unforeseen mishaps


Prototyping (Cont.)


Prototyping (Cont.)


Agile Methods• Alternatives to SDLC

– Able to adapt to vague or rapidly changing user requirements

• Adaptive Software Development (ASD)• Extreme Programming (XP)• Lean Development (LD)• Rational Unified Process (RUP)• Feature Driven Development (FDD)• Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM)• Scrum• Crystal


• Project Management Tools– Project Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT)

• PERT chart shows events, required activities, and relationships

• Advantage: Communication of interdependencies among activities

– Gantt Chart• Represents activities and start and completion times, but

not the relationships among activities• Advantage: Simple and linear

Project Management


Project Management (Cont.)



• Project Management Goals

– Complete the project on time

– Complete the project within budget

– Meet requirements

– Meet expectations




Project Management• Project Management Functions

– Communication Management

– Schedule Management

– Quality Management

– Financial Management

– Resource Management


Project Management Functions and Tools

• Communication management

– Ensure information gets to team members

• Schedule management

– Ensure milestones are met on time

– Uses Gantt, PERT and other tools

• Quality management

– Tests and retests


• Financial management

– Recording and tracking expenses

• Resource management

– Allocate personnel, hardware, software

– Recruiting

Project Management Functions and Tools (Cont.)


The Project Management Office• Enforce standard processes

• Control budgets

• Oversee several projects at one time

• Two thirds of North American corporation had PMOs in 2003

• Not a substitute for direct involvement of senior managers


JAD: Systems DevelopmentLed by End Users

• Joint Application Development (JAD)• Uses six-step process

– Plan• Customize• Workshop• Wrap-up

– Design• Customize• Workshop• Wrap-up


JAD: Systems DevelopmentLed by End Users (Cont.)


• All participants must be committed to the JAD process

• The customers and IS people must agree on the project’s scope

• The sponsor must be supportive and involved

• JAD team members must be empowered decision makers

JAD Critical Success Factors


• Business objectives must be clearly defined

• Business processes must be understood

• Team members must be able to meet two or more days per week

• Members must be committed to the team

JAD Critical Success Factors (Cont.)


• Speeds up development process:

– Time required to gather requirements and resolve business issues is shortened

• Increases customer commitment, confidence, and involvement while improving communication and design quality

Benefits of the JAD Method


• Increased commitment to the process:

– IS unit and customers are partners, each with a vested interest in the project

• Resulting system costs less than one developed in a traditional SDLC

Benefits of the JAD Method (Cont.)


Systems Integration

• Takes a look at the information needs of an entire organization (or a major division)

• Analysts integrate existing systems so that:

– Data can flow more easily among business units

– Users can access different types of data via a single interface


Systems Integration (Cont.)


Ethical and Societal IssuesShould IS Professionals Be Certified?

• Malfunctioning ISs

– Faulty systems may wreak havoc, causing financial damage or even death

– Should IS professionals be certified based on the high investment and risk involved in their work?


Ethical and Societal IssuesShould IS Professionals Be Certified?

• Certification Pros– Protect potential employers

– Protect clients of consultants

– Fewer software-related failures

• Certification Cons– Difficult to measure software competence

– May create a “closed shop:” decreased competition, decreased incentive to improve skills


Summary

• The SDLC is the traditional approach to systems development

• There are pros and cons to prototyping

• Software tools facilitate monitoring and controlling system development

• There are advantages and disadvantages to different system conversion methods

Documents

Management Information Systems, 4 th Edition 1 Chapter 15 Systems Development