Systems Analysis and Design

With the overarching goal of preparing the analysts of tomorrow, Systems Analysis and Design offers students a rigorous hands-on introduction to the field with a project-based approach that mirrors the real-world workflow. Core concepts are presented through running cases and examples, bolstered by in-depth explanations and special features that highlight critical points while emphasizing the process of “doing” alongside “learning.” As students apply their own work to real-world cases, they develop the essential skills and knowledge base a professional analyst needs while developing an instinct for approach, tools, and methods. Accessible, engaging, and geared toward active learning, this book conveys both essential knowledge and the experience of developing and analyzing systems; with this strong foundation in SAD concepts and applications, students are equipped with a robust and relevant skill set that maps directly to real-world systems analysis projects.

Table of Contents:
Preface v Part 1 Planning Phase 1 The Systems Analyst and Information Systems Development, 3 Introduction, 4 The Systems Analyst, 5 Systems Analyst Skills, 5 Systems Analyst Roles, 6 The Systems Development Life Cycle, 7 Planning, 10 Analysis, 10 Design, 11 Implementation, 11 Project Identification and Initiation, 12 System Request, 14 Applying the Concepts at DrōnTeq, 15 Feasibility Analysis, 18 Technical Feasibility, 19 Economic Feasibility, 20 Organizational Feasibility, 26 Applying the Concepts at DrōnTeq, 29 Chapter Review, 31 Appendix 1A: Detailed Economic Feasibility Analysis for DrōnTeq, 35 2 Project Selection and Management, 37 Introduction, 38 Project Selection, 39 Applying the Concepts at DrōnTeq, 40 Creating the Project Plan, 41 Project Methodology Options, 42 Selecting the Appropriate Development Methodology, 49 Estimating the Project Time Frame, 51 Developing the Work Plan, 52 Staffing the Project, 56 Staffing Plan, 56 Coordinating Project Activities, 59 Managing and Controlling the Project, 62 Refining Estimates, 62 Managing Scope, 64 Timeboxing, 64 Managing Risk, 65 Applying the Concepts at DrōnTeq, 66 Staffing the Project, 68 Coordinating Project Activities, 70 Chapter Review, 70 Appendix 2A: The Function Point Approach, 74 Appendix 2B: Project Management Tools: The Gantt Chart and PERT Chart, 79 Gantt Chart, 79 PERT Chart, 79 Part 2 Analysis Phase 3 Requirements Determination, 85 Introduction, 86 The Analysis Phase, 86 Requirements Determination, 88 What Is a Requirement?, 88 The Process of Determining Requirements, 92 The Requirements Definition Statement, 92 Requirements Elicitation Techniques, 94 Requirements Elicitation in Practice, 94 Interviews, 95 Joint Application Development (JAD), 101 Questionnaires, 105 Document Analysis, 107 Observation, 109 Selecting the Appropriate Techniques, 110 Requirements Analysis Strategies, 111 Problem Analysis, 112 Root Cause Analysis, 112 Duration Analysis, 112 Activity-Based Costing, 114 Informal Benchmarking, 114 Outcome Analysis, 114 Technology Analysis, 115 Activity Elimination, 116 Comparing Analysis Strategies, 116 Applying the Concepts at DrōnTeq, 116 Eliciting and Analyzing Requirements, 116 Requirements Definition, 117 System Proposal, 119 Chapter Review, 119 4 Use Case Analysis, 124 Introduction, 124 What Is a Use Case?, 126 The Use Case Concept in a Nutshell, 126 Use Case Formats and Elements, 127 Casual Use Case Format, 128 Use Cases in Sequence, 130 Fully Dressed Use Case Format, 130 Applying Use Cases, 133 Use Case Practical Tips, 133 Use Cases and Functional Requirements, 133 Use Cases and Testing, 134 Creating Use Cases, 134 Applying the Concepts at DrōnTeq, 144 Identifying the Major Use Cases, 144 Elaborating on the Use Cases, 145 Chapter Review, 150 5 Process Modeling, 153 Introduction, 153 Data Flow Diagrams, 154 Reading Data Flow Diagrams, 154 Elements of Data Flow Diagrams, 157 Using Data Flow Diagrams to Define Business Processes, 159 Process Descriptions, 164 Creating Data Flow Diagrams, 164 Creating the Context Diagram, 165 Creating Data Flow Diagram Fragments, 166 Creating the Level 0 Data Flow Diagram, 168 Creating Level 1 Data Flow Diagrams (and Below), 169 Validating the Data Flow Diagrams, 172 Applying the Concepts at DrōnTeq, 176 Developing the Process Model, 176 Creating Data Flow Diagram Fragments, 176 Creating the Level 1 Data Flow Diagram, 178 Creating Level 2 Data Flow Diagrams (and Below), 180 Validating the Data Flow Diagrams, 181 Chapter Review, 181 6 Data Modeling, 186 Introduction, 187 The Entity Relationship Diagram, 187 Reading an Entity Relationship Diagram, 188 Elements of an Entity Relationship Diagram, 189 The Data Dictionary and Metadata, 194 Creating an Entity Relationship Diagram, 196 Building Entity Relationship Diagrams, 196 Advanced Syntax, 199 Applying the Concepts at Dro-nTeq, 201 Validating an Entity Relationship Diagram, 205 Design Guidelines, 205 Normalization, 208 Balancing Entity Relationship Diagrams with Data Flow Diagrams, 208 Chapter Review, 210 Appendix 6A: Normalizing the Data Model, 213 Part 3 Design Phase 7 Moving into Design, 221 Introduction, 222 Transition from Requirements to Design, 222 System Acquisition Strategies, 224 Custom Development, 226 Packaged Software, 227 Outsourcing, 228 Influences on the Acquisition Strategy, 231 Business Need, 231 In-House Experience, 232 Project Skills, 233 Project Management, 233 Time Frame, 233 Selecting an Acquisition Strategy, 233 Alternative Matrix, 234 Applying the Concepts at DrōnTeq, 236 Chapter Review, 238 8 Architecture Design, 240 Introduction, 241 Elements of an Architecture Design, 241 Architectural Components, 241 Client–Server Architectures, 242 Client–Server Tiers, 243 Server-Based Architecture, 245 Mobile Application Architecture, 246 Advances in Architecture Configurations, 247 Comparing Architecture Options, 248 Creating an Architecture Design, 249 Operational Requirements, 249 Performance Requirements, 250 Security Requirements, 252 Cultural and Political Requirements, 257 Designing the Architecture, 259 Hardware and Software Specification, 261 Applying the Concepts at Dro-nTeq, 263 Creating an Architecture Design, 263 Hardware and Software Specification, 264 Chapter Review, 265 9 User Interface Design, 268 Introduction, 269 The Usability Concept, 269 Principles for User Interface Design, 270 Layout, 270 Content Awareness, 272 Aesthetics, 273 Usage Level, 273 Consistency, 275 Minimize User Effort, 276 Special Issues of Touch Screen Interface Design, 276 User Interface Design Process, 277 Understand the Users, 278 Organize the Interface, 280 Define Standards, 283 Interface Design Prototyping, 284 Interface Evaluation/Testing, 286 Navigation Design, 290 Basic Principles, 290 Menu Tips, 291 Message Tips, 293 Input Design, 296 Basic Principles, 296 Input Tips, 298 Input Validation, 300 Output Design, 300 Basic Principles, 300 Types of Outputs, 302 Media, 304 Applying the Concepts at DrōnTeq, 305 Understand the Users, 305 Organize the Interface, 305 Define Standards, 306 Interface Template Design, 306 Develop Prototypes, 312 Interface Evaluation/Testing, 313 Chapter Review, 313 10 Program Design, 318 Introduction, 319 Moving from Logical to Physical Process Models, 319 The Physical Data Flow Diagram, 319 Applying the Concepts at DrōnTeq, 322 Designing Programs, 323 Structure Chart, 326 Syntax, 327 Building the Structure Chart, 330 Applying the Concepts at DrōnTeq, 332 Design Guidelines, 336 Program Specification, 342 Syntax, 342 Applying the Concepts at DrōnTeq, 345 Chapter Review, 348 11 Data Storage Design, 354 Introduction, 355 Data Storage Formats, 355 Files, 356 Databases, 358 Selecting a Storage Format, 362 Applying the Concepts at DrōnTeq, 364 Moving from Logical to Physical Data Models, 365 The Physical Entity Relationship Diagram, 365 Revisiting the CRUD Matrix, 369 Applying the Concepts at DrōnTeq, 369 Optimizing Data Storage, 372 Optimizing Storage Efficiency, 372 Optimizing Access Speed, 374 Estimating Storage Size, 379 Applying the Concepts at DrōnTeq, 380 Chapter Review, 382 Part 4 Implementation Phase 12 Moving into Implementation, 387 Introduction, 387 Managing the Programming Process, 388 Assigning Programming Tasks, 388 Coordinating Activities, 389 Managing the Schedule, 390 Testing, 390 Test Planning, 392 Unit Tests, 392 Integration Tests, 395 System Tests, 395 Acceptance Tests, 395 Developing Documentation, 397 Types of Documentation, 398 Designing Documentation Structure, 398 Writing Documentation Topics, 400 Identifying Navigation Terms, 401 Applying the Concepts at DrōnTeq, 403 Managing Programming, 403 Testing, 403 Developing User Documentation, 404 Chapter Review, 407 13 Transition to the New System, 409 Introduction, 409 Making the Transition to the New System, 410 The Migration Plan, 411 Selecting the Conversion Strategy, 412 Preparing a Business Contingency Plan, 416 Preparing the Technology, 417 Preparing People for the New System, 418 Understanding Resistance to Change, 418 Revising Management Policies, 420 Assessing Costs and Benefits, 420 Motivating Adoption, 423 Enabling Adoption: Training, 424 Postimplementation Activities, 427 System Support, 427 System Maintenance, 428 Project Assessment, 430 Applying the Concepts at DrōnTeq, 432 Implementation Process, 432 Preparing the People, 432 Postimplementation Activities, 432 Chapter Review, 433 Index 436