INTRODUCTION TO SYSTEM ANALYSIS AND DESIGN

- Manjot Kaur

REFERENCE BOOKS

1. Awad, EM: System Analysis and Design, second edition 2. James .A. Senn : Analysis and

Design of information systems,

second edition 3. Jeffery L. Whitten: System Analysis & Design Methods, fifth edition

DEFINITION OF A SYSTEM A system is an orderly grouping of interdependent components linked together according to a plan to achieve a specific objective. Basically there are three major components in every system, namely input, processing and output.

CHARACTERISTICS OF A SYSTEM Organization

Interaction
Interdependence

Integration
Central Objective

ELEMENTS OF A SYSTEM Outputs and Inputs Processors Control Feedback Environment Boundaries and Interface

Example: A fast food restaurant as a system

Environment: customers, food distribution, banks, etc.

Storage

Office

Inputs: Food, labor, Cash, etc.

Kitchens

Dining Room

Outputs: Prepared food

Counter

Boundary Interrelationship

ELEMENTS OF A SYSTEM - AN EXAMPLE Describe your college as a system What is the input? What is output? What is the boundary? What are the components and their relationship? The environment?

TYPES OF SYSTEMS Physical or Abstract Systems

Open or Closed Systems

Formal or Informal systems (Man-made

Information Systems)
Manual or Automated

TYPES OF SYSTEMS Physical Systems

Tangible entities that maybe static or dynamic in
application Eg: Computer Systems, Vehicles, Companies,etc.

Abstract Systems
Conceptual or non physical entities

Eg: Online Reservation system, library management system,

etc.

TYPES OF SYSTEMS Open Systems

Has many interfaces with its environment
Permits interaction across its boundary

Closed Systems
It is isolated from environmental influences

TYPES OF SYSTEMS Formal Systems

Planned in advance & used according to a schedule
System Policies & Procedures are documented well in advance

Informal Systems
It is not described by procedures

Works on as need basis

TYPES OF SYSTEMS Automated Systems

Does not require human intervention
The whole process is automatic Eg: Traffic control systems, Information kiosks

Manual Systems
Requires human intervention

eg: College Admission system

APPROACHES FOR DEVELOPMENT OF SYSTEMS

Structured Analysis & Design (Model Driven) Emphasizes the drawing of pictorial system models that become the blueprint for designing & constructing an improved system Prototyping (Accelerated) Building a scaled-down working version of the system Joint Application Design (JAD) Users, Managers and Analysts work together System requirements are reviewed

MODEL DRIVEN APPROACH

Structured Analysis : Organize tasks associated with requirements determination Process centered technique Uses DFD & ERD as tools

Structured Design Utilizes graphic description(output of system analysis) Focuses on development of programs consisting of functionally independent modules Uses modeling tool Structure Chart

DESIGN PRINCIPLES
Modularity & Partitioning Cohesion Coupling Span of Control Shared use of functions

PROTOTYPE APPROACH

JOINT APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT

Participants in a JAD meeting are: JAD session leader Users Managers Sponsors System analysts Other staff such as programmers, database analysts, etc.

SYSTEM ANALYST

SYSTEM ANALYST
Study problems and needs of an organization Determine best approach to improving organization through use of:
People Methods Information technology

Help system users and managers define their requirements for new or enhanced systems

ROLES OF A SYSTEM ANALYST

Change Agent

Investigator & Monitor

Architect

Psychologist
Motivator Intermediary

SKILLS OF A SYSTEM ANALYST

Analytical Skills

Technical skills
Management skills

Interpersonal skills

ANALYTICAL SKILLS
There are four sets of Analytical skills: System Study Organizational Knowledge

Problem Identification
Problem Analyzing and Solving

System Study
The first step in systems study is to be able to identify something as a system. Identify where the boundary lies and all of the relevant inputs & outputs

Visualizing a set of things and their relationship as a

system to translate the physical design into a logical design

Organizational Knowledge
How organizations work
Policies Terminologies, abbreviations, and acronyms Short/long term strategy and plans Role of technology

How the department operates,

its purpose, its relationship with other department its relationship with customers and suppliers

Problem Identification
Problem is the difference between an existing (current) situation and desired (output) situation The process of identifying problems is the process of defining differences, so problem solving is the process of finding a way to reduce differences Analyst should able to compare the current in an organization to the desired situation.

Problem Analysis & Solving

Once the Problem has been identified, analyse the problem & determine how to solve it Analyst should able to formulate alternative solutions to the problem & choose the best one

TECHNICAL SKILLS
Many aspects of the job as a system analyst are technically oriented.
The System Analyst should be familiar as possible with

information technologies such as:

Microcomputer, micro station, workstation, mainframe computers Programming languages Operating systems Database and file management systems Data communication standards Software for local and wide networks Web developing tools Decision support system generators Data analysis tools Data design tools

MANAGEMENT SKILLS
System analysts are almost always members of project teams and are frequently asked to lead team Management skills are very useful for anyone in a leadership role

There are four class of management skills:

1- Resource Management 2- Project Management 3- Risk Management 4- Change management

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS
Communication skills Interviewing, Listening, and questionnaires Written and oral presentations
Meeting agenda Meeting minutes Interview summaries Requests for proposal from contractors and vendors

Working alone and with a team Facilitating groups Managing expectations

ASSIGNMENT
Describe yourself in terms of your abilities at each of the following interpersonal skills: Working alone v/s working with a team Interviewing, Listening, Writing, Presenting Facilitating a group and Meeting expectations Where are your strengths and weakness? Why? What can you do to capitalize on your strengths and strengthen areas where you are weak?

SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT LIFE CYCLE

SYSTEM LIFE CYCLE

An information system is born when a problem is recognized After the system is developed, it grows until it reaches maturity Eventually, a change in the nature of the problem or increasing maintenance costs degrade the value of the system, so it dies and a new or replacement system is born to take its place.

SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT LIFE CYCLE (SDLC)

System Development Life Cycle is an organizational process of developing and maintaining systems It helps in establishing a system project plan, because it gives overall list of processes and subprocesses required developing a system.

SDLC PHASES

SDLC PHASES
SDLC consists of mainly seven steps: Problem Identification & Selection Project Initiation & Planning Analysis Logical Design Physical Design Implementation Maintenance

Problem Identification & Selection

The first step is problem identification The intent is to identify the problem, determine its cause, and outline a strategy for solving it. Includes a detailed and in-depth study in which the identification of users requirement and the limitations and problems of the present system are studied.

Project Initiation & Planning

The second step is project planning The problems that are identified are investigated Includes determination of scope of the proposed system

Analysis
Analysis is a detailed study of various operations performed by a system and their relationships within and outside the system The objective of analysis is to determine exactly what must be done to solve the problem. Typically, the systems logical elements (its boundaries, processes, and data) are defined during analysis. Feasibility Study of the proposed system is also performed

Types of Feasibility Operational Feasibility Technical Feasibility Economic Feasibility Schedule Feasibility

Operational Feasibility
Operational Feasibility means that a proposed system will be used effectively after it has been developed.
Does management or do users support the projects? Do users see the need for change? Will the system result in a work force reduction? Will the system require training for users? Will customers experience adverse effect in anyway, either temporarily or permanently.

Technical Feasibility
The technical resources needed to develop, purchase, install, or operate the system.
Does the company have the necessary hardware, software, and network resources? Does the company have the needed technical expertise? Will the hardware and software environment be reliable? Will the system be able to handle future transaction volume and company growth?

Economic Feasibility
Economic Feasibility means that the projected benefits of the proposed system outweigh the estimated costs usually considered the total cost of ownership (TCO).
People, including IT staff and users Hardware and equipment Software Formal and informal training Licenses and fees Consulting expenses Facility costs The estimated cost of not developing the system or postponing the project

Schedule Feasibility Schedule Feasibility means that a project can be implemented in an acceptable time.
Can the company or the IT team control the factor that effect schedule feasibility? What condition must be satisfied during the development of the system? Will an accelerated schedule pose any risk? Will the project manager be appointed?

System Design
The objective of design is to determine how the problem will be solved

Based on the user requirements and the detailed analysis of a new system, the new system must be designed It is a most crucial phase in the development of a system
Normally, the design proceeds in two stages : Logical : concentrates on the business aspects of the system(functionality) Physical: concentrates on the technical aspects of the system(programming language, databases, etc.)

Implementation
Implementation includes Coding , Testing & Installation Coding is also called the programming phase in which the programmer converts the system specifications into computer instructions Before actually implementing the new system into operations, a test run of the system is done removing all the bugs, if any During installation phase, all the programs of the system are loaded onto the user's computer After loading the system, training of the users starts

Maintenance
Maintenance is necessary to eliminate errors in the system during its working life and to tune the system to any variations in its working environment It is the review of the system from time to time Maintenance is of three types: Corrective Adaptive Perfective

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