Cambridge AS & A Level Information Technology (9626) - Chapter 16 - System Life Cycle

System Life Cycle (SLC)

A structured process that guides the development, maintenance, and retirement of an information system.

Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)

Another name for the System Life Cycle, focusing on software system processes.

Analysis phase

The stage where the problem is understood, project scope is defined, user requirements are identified, and feasibility is determined.

Feasibility study

Assessment of the technical, economic, legal, operational, and scheduling viability of a project.

TELOS

An acronym for Technical, Economic, Legal, Operational, and Scheduling feasibility in project assessment.

Deliverables of the Analysis phase

Feasibility report, user requirements specification, current system documentation.

Design phase

The stage where the blueprint of how the system will meet requirements is created.

User Interface (UI) design

Planning the layout, navigation, and interaction elements of a system.

Data design

Designing databases, data structures, and file formats as part of the system architecture.

Development phase

The stage of translating design specifications into a working system through coding and setup.

Testing phase

The stage focused on identifying and fixing errors in the system to ensure requirements are met.

Unit testing

Testing individual modules or components of the system.

Acceptance testing (UAT)

When users test the system to ensure it meets their needs before deployment.

Implementation (Deployment) phase

The stage of introducing the new system into an operational environment.

Data migration

The process of transferring data from the old system to the new system.

Evaluation and Maintenance phase

The stage ensuring the system continues to function correctly and meet evolving needs.

Corrective maintenance

Fixing bugs and errors discovered after system implementation.

Preventive maintenance

Making changes to prevent future problems with a system.

Post-implementation review

Assessing the system's performance and user satisfaction after deployment.

System architecture design

Specifying hardware and software components and network configuration in the design phase.

Pilot running

Introducing the new system to a small part of the organization before full deployment.