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Cape Information Technology Notes Unit1 Module 2 Content 6

The document discusses various tools used at different stages of the Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC). These include questionnaires, interviews, observation, review of printed materials, entity relationship diagrams, data flow diagrams, process models, object models, decision tables and trees, computer-aided software engineering tools, Gantt charts, prototypes, flowcharts, and pseudocode. Questionnaires can be open-ended or closed questions. Interviews can be structured or unstructured. Observation and review of printed materials provide direct and indirect information but have disadvantages like being time-consuming. Other tools like diagrams, models, charts and prototypes are used to design and develop the system.

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235 views

Cape Information Technology Notes Unit1 Module 2 Content 6

The document discusses various tools used at different stages of the Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC). These include questionnaires, interviews, observation, review of printed materials, entity relationship diagrams, data flow diagrams, process models, object models, decision tables and trees, computer-aided software engineering tools, Gantt charts, prototypes, flowcharts, and pseudocode. Questionnaires can be open-ended or closed questions. Interviews can be structured or unstructured. Observation and review of printed materials provide direct and indirect information but have disadvantages like being time-consuming. Other tools like diagrams, models, charts and prototypes are used to design and develop the system.

Uploaded by

Ataliah Dana
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Syllabus Focus: Unit 1 Module 2 Content 6

Specific Objective 6: discuss the tools used in the different stages of the (SDLC);
Content: Including questionnaires, interviews, observation, review/investigation of printed material, ER
diagrams, data flow diagrams, process models, object models, decision tables and trees,
computer-aided software engineering (CASE) tools, GHANT charts, prototypes, flowcharts,
pseudocode, programming languages.

Questionnaires
There are two types of questionnaires:
 Open-ended questions ask the respondent to provide his or her own answer to the
question. The questions are phrased so that the respondents are encouraged to explain
their answers and reactions to the question with a sentence, a paragraph or even a page or
more, depending on the survey. If you wish to find information on the same topic but
would like to find out what respondents would come up with on their own, you might
choose an open-ended question like 'What types of questions should be given in the
practical exam?'
* Closed questions ask the respondent to select an answer from a list of responses.
 The participants are allowed to choose from either yes/no, true/false, multiple choice with
an option for 'other' to be filled in, or ranking scale response options. The most common
of the ranking scale questions asks the respondents to look at a statement such as 'The
practical exam is the most interesting' and then 'rank' this statement according to the
degree to which they agree ('I strongly agree, I somewhat agree, I have no opinion, I
somewhat disagree, I strongly disagree').
Interviews
There are two main types of interviews. They are:
 Structured
 Unstructured
In structured interviews, the interviewer asks carefully pre-written questions. Interviewers are
trained to ask the specific questions and are not even allowed to simplify or re-phrase any
question. This is done to ensure consistency in administering the interview.
In unstructured interviews, the interviewer does not follow a rigid form of questions and may
encourage free and open responses or the interview may even ask the interviewee to elaborate on
a point.
Advantages of interviews
 Permit face-to-face contact with respondents
 Provide opportunity to explore topics in depth
 May allow the interviewer to explain or help clarify questions, increasing the likelihood
of useful responses
 May allow the interviewer to be flexible in administering interview to particular
individuals or circumstances
Disadvantages of interviews
 Expensive and time-consuming .
 Need well-qualified, highly trained interviewers
 Interviewee may distort information through bad memory, selective perceptions, desire to
please interviewer

CAPE NOTES Unit 1 Module2 Content 6 1


 Flexibility can result in inconsistencies across interviews
 Volume of information too large: it may be difficult to transcribe and reduce the data

Observation
Observation is the action or process of examining something or someone carefully in order to
gain information. It is useful for one or more individuals to gather first-hand data on programs,
processes or behaviour being studied. It provides an opportunity to collect data on procedures
and to note interactions between employees. By directly observing operations and activities, you
will understand how the project or procedure works. Observational approaches also allow the
observer to determine potential problems, and learn how efficient or willing participants or
employees are about following procedures and carrying out tasks.
Advantages of observation
 Provides direct information about behaviour of individuals and groups
 Permits the evaluator to interact and understand a situation or procedure
 Provides good opportunities for identifying unexpected outcomes
 Takes place in a natural, unstructured and flexible setting
Disadvantages of observation
 Expensive and time consuming
 Needs well qualified, highly trained observers
 May affect behaviour of participants: persons being observed may not behave as in
normal conditions
 Investigator has little control over situation

Review/investigation of printed material


Existing records often provide an insight into some procedures that cannot be observed or noted
in another way. This information can be found in any written or recorded material including
mission statements, annual reports, budgets, minutes of meetings, official correspondence and
demographic (population) material. These are particularly useful for describing business
characteristics and identifying strengths and weaknesses.
Advantages of Review/investigation of printed material
 Available locally
 Inexpensive
 Useful for determining value, interest, positions, political climate, public attitudes,
historical trends or sequences
 Provide opportunity to study trends over time
Disadvantages of Review/investigation of printed material
 May be incomplete
 May be inaccurate
 Locating suitable documents may pose a challenge
 Analysis may be time-consuming
 Access may be difficult

ER (Entity – relationship) Diagram


This shows the connection between entities in a system …

CAPE NOTES Unit 1 Module2 Content 6 2


DFD (Data Flow Diagram)
This shows how data is transformed as it moves through the system. and also depict functions
that transform the data flow.

Process Model
This is an analysis and design technique that describes processes that transform inputs into
outputs. Tools that a systems analyst uses for process modelling include entity-relationship
diagrams and data flow diagrams.
Object Model
This combines the data with the processes that act on that data into a single unit, called an object.
An object is an item that can contain both data and the procedures that read or manipulate that
data. For example, a Student object might contain data about a student (Student ID, First Name,
Last Name, Address, and so on) and instructions about how to print a student’s record or the
formula required to compute a student’s GPA.
Decision table
This list a variety of conditions and the actions that correspond to each condition.
Useful when they are complex combinations of conditions, actions and rules or you want to
avoid impossible situations, such as redundant or contradicting information.
E.g No charges are reimbursed to the patient until an initial payment has been made. After this
payment reimburse 50% for Doctor’s Office visits or 80% for Hospital visits.

CAPE NOTES Unit 1 Module2 Content 6 3


Decision trees
It is similar to decision tables except that the conditions and actions are shown graphically
instead of as a table.

Computer Aided Software Engineering (CASE)


Many systems analysts use computer software to assist during system development. These are
designed to support one or more activities of system development. They include diagrams to
support both process and object modelling. Some CASE tools exist separately. One program
might be a dictionary and another might allow you to create drawings. They allow the following:
 Drawing of DFDs and ERDs.
 Creates models of the proposed system
 Analyzes deliverables such as graphs and data dictionary
 Creates actual computer programs from design specification

Gantt Chart
This is a graphic way of showing how long a set of activities will take. The activities are listed
along the left side of the chart and a time line is given at the top or bottom of the chart. The
duration of an activity is shown with a horizontal bar that extends over the appropriate period of
the time line. It allows one to see the status of each project task at any point in time and also to
see overlapping or parallel tasks.

CAPE NOTES Unit 1 Module2 Content 6 4


Advantages
 Its simplicity
 Allows for worthwhile communication with end users
 The bars representing activities are drawn to scale, therefore it is easy to see the time
spans.
Disadvantages
 Estimates must be completed before the chart can be drawn.
 Changes to the schedule require a redrawing of the chart.
 Several scheduling possibilities cannot be shown in the same chart.

Prototypes
A prototype, sometimes called proof of concept, is a working model of the proposed system. The
system analyst actually builds a functional form of the solution during design.
Advantages
 Users can work with the system before it is completed to make sure it meets their needs.
Disadvantages
 They have inadequate documentation or none at all.
 Users tend to embrace the prototype as a final system, which may not be the result of an
extensive analysis.

CAPE NOTES Unit 1 Module2 Content 6 5

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