Essentials of

Systems Analysis and Design

Chapter 1

1.1
1.1 Copyright 2004 Prentice-Hall, Inc.
 Learning Objectives
Define information systems analysis
and design
Discuss the modern approach to
systems analysis and design
Describe the organizational role of the
systems analyst

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 Learning Objectives
Describe four types of information
systems:
 Transaction Processing Systems (TPS)
 Management Information Systems (MIS)
 Decision Support Systems (DSS)
 Expert Systems (ES)
Describe the information systems
development life cycle (SDLC)
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1.3
 Learning Objectives
Discuss alternatives to the systems
development life cycle
Discuss the role of computer aided
software engineering (CASE) tools in
systems development

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 Chapter Preview
Systems Analysis is a proven method to
help business utilize information to its
fullest
Systems Development Life Cycle
(SDLC)
 Central to Information Systems
Development

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 Information Systems Analysis
and Design
A method used by companies to create
and maintain systems that perform
basic business functions
Main goal is to improve employee
efficiency by applying software solutions
to key business tasks
A structured approach must be used in
order to ensure success

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System Analysis vs. System
Design
System Analysis:
 Investigation of the problem and

requirement rather than solution.

System Design:
 A conceptual solution that fulfills the

requirements, rather than implementation.

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 Information Systems Analysis
and Design
Systems Analyst performs analysis and
design based upon:
 Understanding of organization’s objectives,
structure and processes
 Knowledge of how to exploit information
technology for advantage
Fig 1-1 illustrates the Systems
Development Life Cycle, a four-phased
approach used throughout this text
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 Systems Analysis and Design:
Core Concepts
Major goal: to improve organizational
systems by developing or acquiring
software and training employees in its
use
Application software, or a system,
supports organizational functions or
processes

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 Systems Analysis and Design:
Core Concepts
System: Turns data into information and
includes:
 Hardware and system software
 Documentation and training materials
 Job roles associated with the system
 Controls to prevent theft or fraud
 The people who use the software to perform their
jobs
Figure 1-2 illustrates all the components of a
system
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1.10
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 Software Engineering Process
A process used to create an information
system
Consists of:
 Methodologies
 A sequence of step-by-step approaches that help
develop the information system
 Techniques
 Processes that the analyst follows to ensure thorough,
complete and comprehensive analysis and design
 Tools
 Computer programs that aid in applying techniques

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1.12
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 System
A system is an interrelated set of
business procedures used within one
business unit working together for a
purpose
A system has nine characteristics
A system exists within an environment
A boundary separates a system from its
environment
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 Characteristics of a System
Components
Interrelated Components
Boundary
Purpose
Environment
Interfaces
Constraints
Input
Output
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 Important System Concepts
Decomposition
 The process of breaking down a system into
smaller components
 Allows the systems analyst to:
 Break a system into small, manageable subsystems
 Focus on one area at a time
 Concentrate on component pertinent to one group of
users
 Build different components at independent times

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1.18
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 Important System Concepts
Modularity
 Process of dividing a system into modules
of a relatively uniform size
 Modules simplify system design
Coupling
 Subsystems that are dependent upon each
other are coupled
Cohesion
 Extent to which a subsystem performs a
single function
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 A Modern Approach to
Systems Analysis and Design
Systems Integration
 Allows hardware and software from
different vendors to work together
 Enables procedural language systems to
work with visual programming systems
 Visual programming environment uses
client/server model

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 Data and Processes
Three key components of an information system
 Data
 Data Flows
 Processing Logic
Data vs. Information
 Data
 Raw facts
 Information
 Derived from data
 Organized in a manner that humans can
understand

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 Data and Processes
Data
 Understanding the source and use of data
is key to good system design
 Various techniques are used to describe
data and the relationship amongst data
Data Flows
 Groups of data that move and flow through
the system
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 Data and Processes
Data Flows (Continued)
 Include description of sources and
destination for each data flow
Processing Logic
 Describe steps that transform data and
events that trigger the steps

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 Databases and Application
Independence
Database
 Shared collection of logically related data
 Organized to facilitate capture, storage and retrieval
by multiple users
 Centrally managed
 Designed around subjects
 Customers
 Suppliers

Application Independence
 Separation of data and definition of data from
applications
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 Role of the Systems 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

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 Role of the Systems Analyst
Assess options for system
implementation
 In-house development
 Outsourced development
 Outsourced development and operation
 Commercial application
For in-house projects, work on a team
of analysts and developers
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 Skills of a Successful Systems
Analyst
Analytical
 Understanding of organizations
 Problem-solving skills
 System thinking
 Ability to see organizations and information
systems as systems
Technical
 Understanding of potential and limitations
of technology
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 Skills of a Successful Systems
Analyst
Managerial
 Ability to manage projects, resources, risk
and change
Interpersonal
 Effective written and oral communication
skills

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 Types of Information Systems
and Systems Development
Transaction Processing Systems (TPS)
 Automate handling of data about business
activities (transactions)
Management Information Systems (MIS)
 Converts raw data from transaction processing
system into meaningful form
Decision Support Systems (DSS)
 Designed to help decision makers
 Provides interactive environment for decision
making
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 Types of Information Systems
and Systems Development
Expert Systems (ES)
 Replicates decision-making process
 Knowledge representation describes the
way an expert would approach the problem

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 Systems Development Life
Cycle
System Development Methodology
 Standard process followed in an
organization
 Consists of:
 Analysis
 Design
 Implementation
 Maintenance

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 Systems Development Life
Cycle
Series of steps used to manage the
phases of development for an
information system
Consists of four phases:
 Planning and Selection
 Analysis
 Design
 Implementation and Operation

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 Systems Development Life
Cycle
 Phases are not necessarily sequential
 Each phase has a specific outcome and
deliverable
 Individual companies use customized life
cycle

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 Phases of the Systems
Development Life Cycle
Systems Planning and Selection
 Two Main Activities
 Identification of need
 Investigation and determination of scope

Systems Analysis
 Study of current procedures and information
systems
 Determine requirements
 Generate alternative designs
 Compare alternatives
 Recommend best alternative
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 Systems Development Life
Cycle
System Design
 Logical Design
 Concentrates on business aspects of the system
 Physical Design
 Technical specifications

Implementation and Operation

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 Approaches to Development
Prototyping
 Building a scaled-down working version of the
system
 Advantages:
 Users are involved in design
 Captures requirements in concrete form

Rapid Application Development (RAD)

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 Approaches to Development
Joint Application Design (JAD)
 Users, Managers and Analysts work
together for several days
 System requirements are reviewed
 Structured meetings

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 Summary
Information systems analysis and
design
 Process of developing and maintaining an
information system
Modern approach to systems analysis
 Process-Oriented
 Data-Oriented

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 Summary
Role of Systems Analyst
Four types of information systems
 Transaction Processing (TPS)
 Management Information Systems (MIS)
 Decision Support (DSS)
 Expert Systems (ES)

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 Summary
Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
 Systems Planning and Selection
 Systems Analysis
 Systems Design
 Systems Implementation
Alternatives to Systems Development Life
Cycle
 Prototyping
 Rapid Application Development (RAD)
 Joint Application Design (JAD)
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