SWE2315 : SYSTEM

ANALYSIS & DESIGN

Lecture 01: Introduction
At: CIT Theater
By: 2-4pm
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Course Objectives
To teach students new ways of looking at information in
order to solve business problems.

To teach students effective methods for gathering and

documenting essential information during system
analysis.

To teach students effective methods for analysing and

designing systems to solve problems effectively using
appropriate methodology and technology
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Course Structure
• Two Parts

• System Analysis (The “what”)

• System Design (The “how”)

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Assessment
• CA – 30%

• Exams – 70%
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Essential Texts
• System Analysis and design,
by Dennis, Wixom and Roth

• System Analysis and design in a changing world,

by Satzinger, Jackson and Burd

• System Analysis and design with UML, version 2.0

by Dennis, Wixom and Tegarden
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Why systems?
• Computerized systems are becoming our way of life.

• Important issue to understand and build computer

systems as they are everywhere in our lives (home, office,
body)

• Systems can be quite large complicated so they may

require a team to develop, a model to be followed and
some certain skills and capabilities.
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What is a System?
• The term system is coined from the Greek word
_
syst ema, meaning to “place together”

A System is an integrated set of interoperable units.

Each unit has a specified and bounded functions. All the
units work together to perform a value-added
processing, in a prescribed operating environment,
with a specified outcome and probability of success.
This enables user to satisfy a mission-oriented
operational needs
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Different Types of Systems

Management Transaction Office Decision

information processing automation support system Expert system
system (MIS) system (TPS) system (DSS)

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 Basic Representation of a System

Input
Process
Output
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System Components

Process: the
operational
Data/information: element of the
Input and output system that
makes use of
the resources
Procedure: Set to operate on
of rules the data under
the defined
procedures in
order to
Resources : achieve the
hardware or desired goal.
software
 SDLC
• The systems development life cycle (SDLC) is the
process of determining how an information system (IS) can
support business needs, designing the system, building it,
and delivering it to users.

• The key person in the SDLC is the systems analyst,

• A System Analyst analyses the business situation, identifies

the opportunities for improvements, and designs an IS to
implement the improvements.

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 Systems Analyst
• The systems analyst works closely with all project team
members so that the team develops the right system in an
effective way.

• Systems analysts must understand how to apply

technology in order to solve problems.

• Systems analysts may serve as change agents who

identify organizational improvement needed, design
systems to implement those changes, train and motivate
others to use the systems.

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System Analysts Skills
Technical–Must understand the technical environment,
technical foundation, and technical solution.
Business–Must understand how IT can be applied to
business situations.

Analytical–Must be problem solvers.

Interpersonal–Need to communicate effectively.

Management–Need to manage people and to manage

processes and risks.
Ethical-Must deal fairly, honestly, and ethically with other
project members, managers, and systems users.

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Where Do Systems Analysts Work?

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 SDLC

• The first three (3) stages will be the focus in this course

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 Planning, Analysis & Design
• Planning: This phase is the fundamental process of understanding
why an information system should be built, and determining how the
project team will go about building it.

• Analysis: The analysis phase answers the questions of who will

use the system, what the system will do, and where and when it will
be used. During this phase the project team investigates any current
system(s), identifies improvement opportunities, and develops a
concept for the new system.

• Design: The design phase decides how the system will operate, in
terms of the hardware, software, and network infrastructure; the user
interface, forms, and reports that will be used; and the specific
programs, databases, and files that will be needed.

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Project Planning

Project Initiation

Project Management
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Project Initiation

Identification is Done by Project

Sponsor

System Request is then written

after identification

Feasibility is conducted on the

System Request
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Project Identification
• A project is identified when someone in the organization
identifies a business need to build a system.
• Examples of business needs include supporting a new
marketing campaign, reaching out to a new type of
customer, or improving interactions with suppliers.

• Business needs arise may arise from some kind of pain

within the organization.
• Example drop in market share, poor customer service
levels, unacceptable product defect rates, or increased
competition.
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Project Identification
• Business need may be due to new business initiatives
and strategies created and a system to support them is
required.

• Business needs also can surface when the organization

identifies unique and competitive ways of using IT.
• For example, if companies stay abreast o technological
advances such as cloud computing
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Project Identification
• When a strong business need for an information system is
recognized, as a result of a person or group of people
who have an interest in the system’s success (project
sponsor)

• The next step is to determine high-level business

requirements for the systems.
• Business requirements describe the reasons for
developing the system and outline the benefits it will
provide the organization.
• business requirements are explained at a high level
for approval and for project team understand what the
business expects from the final product.
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Project Identification
• Once a project sponsor identifies a project that meets an
important business need and he or she can identify the
business requirements and business value of the system,
it is time to formally initiate the project.
• Usually, the sponsor of the project is from a business
function such as marketing, accounting, or finance;
however, members of the IT area also can sponsor or
cosponsor a project.

• In most organizations, project initiation begins by

preparing a system request.
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System Request
• A system request is a document that describes
the business reasons for building a system and
the value that the system is expected to provide.

• The project sponsor usually completes this form

as part of a formal system project selection
process within the organization.

• Most system requests include five elements:

project sponsor, business need, business
requirements, business value, and special issues.
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System Request-- Elements

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System Request--Example
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System Request--Decision
• The approval committee reviews the system
request and makes an initial determination, based
on the information provided, of whether to
investigate the proposed project or not.

• If so, the next step is to conduct a feasibility

analysis.
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Feasibility Analysis
• Once the need for the system and its business
requirements have been defined, the approval
committee may authorize the systems analyst to
prepare a more detailed business case to better
understand the proposed information system
project.

• Feasibility analysis guides the organization in

determining whether to proceed with the project.
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Feasibility Analysis
• Feasibility analysis also identifies the important
risks associated with the project that must be
managed if the project is approved.

• Most feasibility analysis include techniques to

assess three areas:
• technical feasibility,
• economic feasibility,
• and organizational feasibility
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Feasibility Assessment Factors

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Economic Feasibility
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Economic Feasibility

• Cash Flow = Benefit – Cost

• Return on Investment (ROI) = (Cummulative Net Cashflow)/Total Costs
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Feasibility Report Example

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Feasibility-Critical Decision
• The feasibility report should guide the entire
organization to decide whether or not the proposed
system is the best solution and is feasible.

• If it is, then project development move to the

planning phase, otherwise it is terminated.
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Questions !!!