Preamble:
This area develops basic systems analysis and design skills by examining commonly used techniques and system development methodologies. A range of life-cycle models are considered including the classical waterfall approach and more recent approaches such as prototyping and evolutionary development. The aim is to present a balanced overview of the process of analysing user requirements, designing computerised information systems to meet these requirements and at the same time developing the necessary skills to apply the techniques to simple problems.
Table of Topics:
Role of Information Systems in an Organisation
System Development Methodologies
Different systems development life cycle models such as waterfall, spiral, evolutionary, prototyping
Phases, stages, activities and stakeholders, deliverables, models and modelling techniques.
Common system development methodologies - structured analysis and design, information engineering and object oriented approaches
Fact Finding Techniques
Interviews, workshops, discussions, forms and documents, observation.
The role of Models and Modelling Techniques
A framework for relating and understanding models - planning, analysis, design and implementation stages versus data, process, behaviour, location, organisation and motivation perspectives.
Business Area Analysis
Problems, participants, physical versus essential models,
Typical modelling techniques based on any one development methodology or paradigm which may include data flow diagrams, functional decomposition diagrams, functional dependency diagrams, decision tables / trees, state transition diagrams, process descriptions, entity relationship diagrams, class diagrams, object diagrams, interaction diagrams, module diagrams, etc.
Business Systems Design
Constraints, problems and participants. Deciding on the automation boundary. Design options. Typical modelling techniques based on any one development methodology or paradigm which may include structure charts, dialog flow diagrams, module diagrams, call graphs,etc. User interface design - ergonomics, data entry and validation, input forms, windows, window objects, screens and reports. Transforming analysis models into design models.
Supporting Analysis and Design
The use of proformas and standards, system dictionaries and CASE tools.
Project Management
Team structures, project scenarios, risk assessment, monitoring and measurement, tools PERT/ CPM
Quality Assurance
Walkthroughs, inspects, reviews, consistency checks
Context:
This area introduces system development methods and a range of approaches to the system development life-cycle. It introduces the relevant fact finding techniques and provides a basis to understand the use of models and modeling techniques in systems analysis and design. It considers business area analysis and a business system design in detail and provides an introduction to the various modeling techniques used to support these activities. It provides an introduction to how these activities may be supported by the use of CASE tools and system dictionaries. It also provides an introduction to project management and quality assurance techniques. |