system analysis chapter 1 & 2

Combination of hardware, software, and services used to manage, access, communicate, and share information.

What is Information Technology (IT)?

A step-by-step process for developing high-quality information systems.

What is Systems Analysis and Design (SAD)?

Plans, develops, and maintains information systems; manages IT projects; conducts meetings; delivers presentations; writes documentation.

What does a systems analyst do?

Hardware, software, data, processes, and people.

What are the 5 key components of an information system?

Data = raw facts. Information = processed data that is useful to users.

Difference between data and information?

Globalization, tech integration, cloud services.

What are Internet Business Strategies trends?

B2C = business-to-customer (shopping, delivery, payment). B2B = business-to-business (supply chain management).

What are B2C and B2B systems?

Creating graphical representations of business processes using BPM and BPMN.

What is Modeling Business Operations?

Transaction Processing Systems, Management Information Systems, Business Support Systems, Knowledge Management Systems, User Productivity Systems.

What are the types of business information systems?

Models representing business functions at different levels: top managers, middle managers, supervisors, and operational employees.

What are Organizational Information Models?

Structured analysis (SDLC), Object-oriented analysis, Agile methods, Spiral model.

What are the Systems Development approaches?

Computer-Aided Software Engineering tools to support design methodologies and generate code.

What are CASE tools?

Application development, systems support/security, user support (help desk), database admin, network admin, web support, quality assurance.

What are the key roles in the IT department?

Technical knowledge, business/communication skills, critical thinking.

What skills does a Systems Analyst need?

Agile methods, cloud computing, data science, mobile, service orientation, social media.

What are key IT trends?

Identifying long-term goals, strategies, and resources. Starts with mission statement and SWOT analysis.

What is Strategic Planning?

Justification for a project: purpose, cost, risks, success measures, alternatives.

What is a Business Case?

Formal requests for IT support or new systems to improve performance, controls, service, or products.

What are Systems Requests?

Internal (business needs, resources) and external (competition, regulation, technology changes).

What factors affect IT projects?

Submitted via request forms, reviewed by systems review committee, prioritized and scheduled.

How are Systems Requests processed?

Evaluation of practicality: Operational, Economic, Technical, Schedule feasibility.

What is a Feasibility Study?

Tangible = measurable in dollars. Intangible = not easily measured but important (e.g., customer satisfaction).

What are Tangible vs. Intangible costs/benefits?

Priorities that can change over time as circumstances and business needs evolve.

What are dynamic priorities in systems projects?

1. Will the system reduce costs? 2. Will it increase revenue? 3. Will it produce better results or more information?

List three factors that affect project priority.

Projects that management can choose to implement or not.

What are discretionary projects?

Projects that must be implemented, often due to predictable or mandatory requirements such as tax or payroll updates.

What are nondiscretionary projects?

To study the system request and recommend whether the project should proceed.

What is the purpose of the preliminary investigation?

Key managers, users, and IT staff.

Who should analysts meet with during the preliminary investigation?

Improvements and enhancements, not problems.

What should analysts focus on during meetings?

1. Understand the problem or opportunity 2. Define the project scope and constraints 3. Perform fact-finding 4. Analyze project usability, cost, benefit, and schedule data 5. Evaluate feasibility 6. Prepare a report to management.

What are the six main steps in a preliminary investigation?

Understand the problem or opportunity by developing a business profile and identifying affected departments and processes.

What is Step 1 of the preliminary investigation?

Fishbone diagram.

What diagram can be used to analyze causes of a problem?

Define the project scope and constraints.

What is Step 2 of the preliminary investigation?

The specific boundaries or extent of the project — including what it must do, should do, could do, and won’t do.

What is project scope?

The tendency for a project’s scope to expand beyond its original objectives.

What is project creep?

Perform fact-finding — gathering data about usability, costs, benefits, and schedules.

What is Step 3 of the preliminary investigation?

Interviews, surveys, documentation reviews, observation, and organizational chart analysis.

What are some fact-finding methods?

Analyze project usability, cost, benefit, and schedule data.

What is Step 4 of the preliminary investigation?

Operational, Technical, Economic, and Schedule feasibility.

What four feasibility types are evaluated in Step 5?

Summarize findings in a formal report to management.

What is the final step of the preliminary investigation?

Introduction, System request summary, Findings and recommendations, Project roles, Time and cost estimates, Expected benefits, Appendix.

What should a preliminary investigation report include?

The justification for a proposed system, including its purpose, costs, benefits, and expected financial impact.

What is a business case in systems analysis?

To improve performance, reduce costs, strengthen controls, provide better service, or offer more information.

Why are systems projects initiated?

To evaluate the system request and determine whether the project is feasible.

What is the main goal of the analyst during systems planning?