Systems Analysis Management: System Requirement Specifications & Analysis

Practice vocabulary flashcards based on the Module 3 lecture notes regarding Systems Analysis Management, Requirements Determination, and Structured Analysis tools.

Analysis

The heart of the process and a key component of the first two phases of the system development cycle.

System Requirement

A feature that must be included in a new system, which may include ways of capturing or processing data, producing information, or controlling a business activity.

Requirements Determination

The process of studying the current business system to find out how it works and where improvements should be made.

Requirements Anticipation

The ability of a systems analyst to foresee the likelihood of certain problems, features, or requirements based on previous experience in similar environments.

Requirements Investigation

An activity at the heart of systems analysis that involves using various tools and fact-finding techniques to study the current system and document its features.

Requirements Specification

The analysis of data produced during fact-finding to determine descriptions of features for a new system, including fulfillment strategies.

Identification of Essential Requirements

The part of requirements specification where features ranging from operational details to performance criteria are specified for a new system.

Basic Business Process

One of the four major questions analysts seek to answer to understand the fundamental background and steps of a system.

Transaction Processing System (TPS)

Systems that capture, process, and store data, such as sales orders from customers that are processed for shipping.

Fact-Finding Techniques

Specific methods used by analysts for collecting data about requirements, including interviews, questionnaires, record inspections, and observation.

Interview

A technique used to collect information from individuals or groups, which can be structured or unstructured.

Questionnaire

A tool that allows analysts to collect information from a large number of persons using open-ended and close-ended questions.

Record Review

An examination of written policy manuals, regulations, and standard operating procedures to understand what operations must be supported.

Observation

A firsthand fact-finding method used to see how documents are handled and how processes are carried out.

Structured Analysis

A set of techniques and graphical tools that allow analysts to develop system specifications that are easily understandable to the user.

Data Flow Diagram (DFD)

Also known as a "bubble chart," it is a tool used to clarify system requirements and identify major transformations using bubbles and lines.

External Entities

In a DFD, these are represented by squares and act as the source or destination of data.

Processes

In a DFD, these are represented by rectangles with rounded corners.

Data Flows

Indicated by arrows in a DFD to denote the physical or electronic movement of data.

Data Stores

Denoted by open-ended rectangles in a DFD, these represent physical or electronic files like XML files.

Data Dictionary

A structured repository of metadata that provides a common language and comprehensive description of the data used in a system.

Domain Value

A component of a data dictionary that defines the valid values for a specific data element.

Structured English

A technique that resembles programming statements used to model and document the logic of information processes without compiler-readable syntax.

Case Structure

A type of logic in Structured English used to handle mutually exclusive cases.

Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD)

A design tool used to model the relationships between entities, where entities are rectangles and relationships are connecting lines.

Decision Tree

A hierarchical model that visually represents a decision-making process by mapping out possible outcomes based on a sequence of conditions.

Nodes

Points in a decision tree that represent conditions where a determination must be made before a path is chosen.

Decision Table

A concise visual representation used to specify actions to perform based on given conditions, functioning as a structured algorithm for decision-making logic.

Structured Specification

A definable and measurable document produced as a major contribution of Structured Analysis to the system development cycle.