Chapter 1

Introduction to Systems Analysis

and Design
 Describe the impact of information
technology
 Define an information system and describe its
components
 Distinguish among structured analysis,
object-oriented analysis, and agile methods
 Explain the waterfall model, and how it has
evolved
 Define systems analysis and design and the
role of a systems analyst

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• Companies use
information as a
weapon in the battle to
increase productivity,
deliver quality
products and services,
maintain customer
loyalty, and make
sound decisions
• Information technology
can mean the
difference between
success and failure FIGURE 1-1 These headlines show the
enormous impact of information
technology on our lives.
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 Information Technology (IT)
◦ Combination of hardware and software products
and services that companies use to manage, access,
communicate, and share information
 Welcome to the 21st Century: The IT Journey
Continues
◦ Changes in the world
◦ Changes in technology
◦ Changes in client demand

FIGURE 1-3 How times

have changed!

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 Systems Analysis and Design
 Step-by-step process for developing high-quality
information systems
◦ What Does a Systems Analyst Do?
 Plan, develop, and maintain information systems
 Also manages IT projects, including tasks, resources,
schedules, and costs
 Conducts meetings, delivers presentations, and writes
memos, reports, and documentation

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• A system is a set of related
components that produces
specific results
• Mission-critical systems are
vital to a company’s
operations
• Information systems have
five key components:
hardware, software,
data, processes, and people
FIGURE 1-6 An information
system needs these components.

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 Hardware
◦ Is the physical layer of the information system
◦ Moore’s Law
 Software
◦ System software
◦ Application software
 Horizontal system
 Vertical system
 Legacy systems
FIGURE 1-7 Server farms provide the
enormous power and speed that modern
IT systems need.

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 Data
◦ Tables store data
◦ Linked tables work
together to supply
data
 Processes
◦ Describe the tasks and
business functions that
users, managers, and IT
staff members perform to
achieve specific results
 People
◦ Stakeholders
◦ Users or end users
FIGURE 1-8 In a typical payroll system,
data is stored in separate tables that are
linked to form an overall database.
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 Modeling
◦ Business model
◦ Requirements model
◦ Data model
◦ Object model
◦ Network model
◦ Process model

FIGURE 1-21 Microsoft Visio allows you to

drag and drop various symbols and connect
them to show a business process.

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 Prototyping
◦ Early working version of an information system
◦ Speeds up the development process significantly
◦ Important decisions might be made too early,
before business or IT issues are thoroughly
understood
◦ A prototype based on careful fact-finding and
modeling techniques can be an extremely
valuable tool

10
 Computer-Aided Systems Engineering
(CASE) Tools
◦ Provide an overall framework for systems
development and support a wide variety of design
methodologies such as:
 Structured analysis
 Object-oriented analysis
◦ Can generate program code, which speeds the
implementation process

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 Structured Analysis
◦ Traditional method for developing systems
◦ Organized into phases
 Object-Oriented Analysis
◦ More recent method for developing systems
◦ Objects represent actual people, things, or events
 Agile/Adaptive Methods
◦ Latest trend in software development
◦ Team-based effort broken down into cycles

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 Object-
Structured Agile/Adaptive
Oriented
1980s 2000s
1990s
 Structured Analysis
◦ Time-tested and easy to understand
◦ Uses phases called the systems development life
cycle (SDLC)
◦ Predictive approach
◦ Uses process
models to
describe a
system
graphically
FIGURE 1-24 This Visible Analyst screen
shows a process model for a school registration
system. The REGISTER STUDENTS process
accepts input data from two sources and
transforms it into output data. 14
◦ The SDLC model usually includes five
steps
 Systems Planning
 Systems Analysis
 Systems Design
 Systems Implementation
 Systems Security and
Support

FIGURE 1-25 Development

phases and deliverables are
shown in the waterfall model.
The circular symbols indicate
interaction among the phases.
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 Systems Planning
 Systems request – begins the process and describes
problems or desired changes
 Purpose of this phase is to perform a preliminary
investigation – a critical step
 Key part of preliminary investigation is a feasibility
study

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 Systems Analysis
 Build a logical model of the new system
 Perform fact-finding techniques
 Build business models, data and process models, and
object models
 Deliverable is the system requirements document

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 Systems Design
 Create a physical model that satisfies all documented
requirements
 Design user interface
 Identify outputs, inputs, and processes
 Deliverable is the system design specification
 Management and user involvement is critical

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 Systems Implementation
 New system is constructed
 Programs are written and tested
 System is installed
 Deliverable is a completely functioning and
documented information system
 Systems Support and Security
 A well-designed system must be secure, reliable,
maintainable, and scalable
 Most information systems need to be updated
significantly or replaced after several years of
operation

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 Object-Oriented Analysis
 Combines data and the processes that act on the data
into things called objects
 Objects are members of a
class, which is a collection
of similar objects
 Built-in processes,
called methods, can
change an object’s
properties
 O-O methodology
provides easy transition
to O-O programming
languages like Java
FIGURE 1-26 The PERSON class includes
INSTRUCTOR and STUDENT objects, which
have their own properties and inherited
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properties.
 Agile Methods
 Newest development technique as systems are
developed incrementally
 A series of prototypes are built and adjusted to
meet user requirements
 As the process continues, developers revise,
extend, and merge earlier versions into the final
product
 Agile method emphasizes continuous feedback
 Iterative development
◦ Agile community has published the Agile Manifesto
◦ Spiral model

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 Agile Methods
◦ Agile process determines the end result
◦ Other adaptive variations and related methods exist
◦ Two examples are Scrum and Extreme
Programming (XP)
◦ Analysts should understand the pros and cons of
any approach before selecting a development
method

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 Other Development Methods
 Teams consists of IT staff, users, and managers
 joint application development (JAD)
 Focuses on team-based fact-finding
 Rapid application development (RAD)
 A compressed version of the entire development
process

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Nguồn: Forrester Research
 Develop a project plan
 Involve users and listen carefully to them
 Use project management tools to identify
tasks and milestones
 Develop accurate cost and benefit
information
 Remain flexible

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 Role  Knowledge, Skills,
◦ Analysts build a series of and Education
models, diagrams, and
decision tables and uses ◦ Technical Knowledge
other descriptive tools and ◦ Communication Skills
techniques
◦ Business Skills
◦ An analyst’s most valuable
skill is the ability to listen ◦ Critical Thinking Skills
◦ An effective analyst will ◦ Education
involve users in every step ◦ Certification
of the development
process

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 Career Opportunities
◦ Companies will need systems analysts to apply new
information technology, and the explosion in e-commerce will
fuel IT job growth
 What’s important?
◦ Job Titles
◦ Company Organization
◦ Company Size
◦ Salary, Location and Future Growth
◦ Corporate Culture

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• IT refers to the combination of hardware and
software resources that companies use to
manage, access, communicate, and share
information
• The essential components of an information
system are hardware, software, data,
processes, and people
• Successful companies offer a mix of
products, technical and financial services,
consulting, and customer support

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 Systems analysts need a combination of
technical and business knowledge, analytical
ability, and communication skills
 Systems analysts need to consider salary,
location, and future growth potential when
making a career decision

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