Chapter 4 System Analysis

Practice flashcards covering key concepts from the CSIT 317 Systems Analysis and Design lecture.

What are the three steps involved in the analysis phase?

1. Understand the existing situation (the as-is system).
2. Identify improvements.
3. Define requirements for the new system (the to-be system).

What does critical thinking in requirements gathering involve?

Spotting the good or bad aspects of an idea and reshaping it to improve the situation.

Define a requirement in the context of systems analysis.

A requirement states what the system should do or what features it must have, acting like a checklist for business and user needs.

What is requirements determination?

The process of turning big business goals into a detailed list of new system needs, ensuring the system provides value to the business.

Give an example of a functional requirement.

“Let users search for products.”

List the types of requirements in systems analysis.

1. Business requirements
2. User requirements
3. Functional requirements
4. Nonfunctional requirements
5. System requirements.

What are nonfunctional requirements?

Requirements that describe how a system should work, covering aspects like environment, speed, security, and cultural factors.

What do operational requirements define?

Where and how the system will work.

What is the purpose of Joint Application Development (JAD)?

JAD is a meeting that brings together users, managers, and project team members to discuss and agree on system requirements.

What techniques can be used for requirements gathering?

Interviews, Joint Application Development (JAD), Questionnaires, Document analysis, and Observation.

Why use a variety of techniques in requirements gathering?

No single method is perfect, and a mix of techniques helps cover all important details, avoiding mistakes and gaining a complete understanding.

In terms of information breadth, which techniques collect a lot of information quickly?

Questionnaires and document analysis.

What are the main goals of problem analysis in requirements analysis strategies?

Identify problems with the current system and find ways to resolve them through small, step-by-step improvements.

Define root cause analysis in the context of requirements analysis.

A technique focused on uncovering the underlying reasons for problems instead of just addressing symptoms.

What is the use of duration analysis?

To evaluate how long each business task takes step-by-step to identify where time is wasted.

What does Activity-Based Costing reveal?

The cost associated with each step in a process, helping to identify the most expensive steps for targeted improvement.

Explain informal benchmarking in business processes.

Comparing one’s own business processes to those of successful companies in order to learn and improve.

What is the focus of outcome analysis?

To ensure that improvements offer real value to customers, focusing on end results rather than just smoother processes.

What does technology analysis involve?

Examining new technologies to evaluate how they can enhance business processes, improving speed, cost, or quality.