System Design Life Cycle | SDLC (Design)

System Design Life Cycle is defined as the complete journey of a System from planning to deployment. The System Design Life Cycle is divided into 7 Phases or Stages, which are:

1. Planning Stage
2. Feasibility Study Stage
3. System Design Stage
4. Implementation Stage
5. Testing Stage
6. Deployment Stage
7. Maintenance and Support

What is meant by System Design Life Cycle (SDLC)?

The system design life cycle is a process that involves planning, creating, testing, and implementing a system. It includes defining system requirements, specifying how components will interact, and detailing the architecture. It ensures that the final system meets user needs, is scalable, and can be maintained efficiently throughout its lifecycle.

Imagine it as a recipe for making a cake. You start by planning what kind of cake you want, gathering the ingredients, mixing them together, baking the cake, making sure it tastes good, and finally, sharing it with others. Similarly, the SDLC helps professionals in system development follow a clear plan from the beginning of the idea of a system to its ongoing maintenance.

What are the Phases (Stages) of the System Design Life Cycle?

The System Design Life Cycle (SDLC) involves following phases:

Below is the objective and example of each stage of System Design Life Cycle:

Stage 1. Planning

• This is where the project starts! You decide what you want to achieve (goals), how much you can spend (budget), and who will work on it (team).
• Example: A company plans to build a customer management system and outlines its key features and the team involved.

Stage 2. Feasibility Study

• Before starting, check if the idea is practical. Will it work technically? Is it affordable?
• Example: The company checks if building the system is worth the cost and effort and whether it can deliver the expected benefits.

Stage 3. System Design

• This stage is all about planning how the system will work behind the scenes and how it will look to users.
• Imagine designing a house, before construction begins, architects create blueprints that show where every room, pipe, and wire will go. Similarly, in system design, you create a detailed plan that developers will follow to build the system.

Stage 4. Implementation

• Transform the design into an operational system. Developers write the code to create the system based on the design.
• Example: The CRM system's features, like customer profiles and dashboards, are coded

Stage 5. Testing

• Verify that the system meets the specified requirements and makes sure everything works as planned.
• The CRM system undergoes various testing procedures, such as unit testing, integration testing, and user acceptance testing, to ensure its functionality, performance, and security.

Stage 6. Deployment

• All of the hard work concludes at the deployment phase, when the system is made accessible for real usage. After all the planning, designing, and building is finished, it's similar like launching a new store.
• This stage involves transferring the system from a testing or development environment to a production environment where actual users can access it.

Stage 7. Maintenance and Support

• Ensure the ongoing functionality and address any issues that arise.
• Regular updates, bug fixes, and user support for the CRM system to adapt to changing business requirements and address any emerging issues.

Differences between the System Development Life Cycle and the System Design Life Cycle

Below are the differences between System Development Life Cycle and System Design Life Cycle:

Challenges in System Design Life Cycle

Below are the challenges in System Design Life Cycle:

• Sometime, the initial requirements for a system might be unclear or ambiguous, leading to difficulties in designing the system accurately.
• Requirements may change during the design process, posing a challenge to maintain consistency and ensuring that the system still meets the user's needs.
• Rapid advancements in technology can make it challenging to choose the most suitable and up-to-date technologies for system design.
• Ensuring seamless integration of various system components can be complex, especially when dealing with different technologies and platforms.
• Designing a system within budgetary constraints can be challenging, as incorporating certain features or technologies might be cost-productive.

Models Used for System Design Life Cycle

Below are the models used for System Design Life Cycle:

• Waterfall Model: A linear and sequential model where each phase must be completed before moving on to the next. It's a straightforward approach but can be inflexible in the face of changing requirements.
• Iterative Model: Involves repeating cycles, with each iteration refining and improving the system based on feedback. It's adaptable to changing requirements.
• Prototyping Model: Involves building a prototype (a preliminary version) of the system to gather feedback refine the design before building the final product.
• Spiral Model: Incorporates elements of both iterative and prototyping models. It involves cycles of planning, designing, constructing, and evaluating.
• Agile Model: Emphasizes flexibility and collaboration, with frequent iterations and continuous feedback. It's well suited for projects where requirements may evolve.

Iterative nature of SDLC

The iterative nature of the System Design Life Cycle (SDLC) means the process is not strictly linear; instead, it involves revisiting and refining stages based on feedback and evolving requirements. This ensures the system remains adaptable and aligned with its objectives.

Key Aspects of Iteration in SDLC:

1. Refining Requirements: Stakeholders may identify additional needs or changes after deployment or testing. These insights prompt revisiting earlier phases, such as planning or design, to incorporate updates.
2. Prototyping and Testing: Prototypes or early iterations of the system are developed and evaluated. Better performance and user satisfaction are ensured by improving the design and implementation based on feedback from these trials.
3. Adapting to Changes: The system design is reviewed and modified to be relevant and efficient as user expectations, technological advancements, or corporate objectives change.

The system may gradually evolve to satisfy present and future expectations due to this iterative process, which also ensures ongoing improvement and reduces risks. It's similar to building a bridge and then modifying it over time to handle growing traffic or changing conditions.

Best Practices in System Design Life Cycle

Below are the best practices in System Design Life Cycle:

• Invest time in thoroughly understanding and documenting requirements to provide a solid foundation for the design process.
• Maintain open communication with stakeholders to ensure their needs are understood and to address any changes promptly.
• Design systems in a modular fashion, allowing for easier maintenance, updates, and scalability.
• Identify potential risks early in the design process and develop strategies to mitigate or manage them effectively.

Use Cases of System Design Life Cycle

The SDLC is used in a wide variety of projects, from developing small applications to building large enterprise systems. Some common use cases for the SDLC includes:

• Developing new software applications.
• Enhancing existing software applications.
• Integrating different systems together.
• Replacing legacy systems.
• Developing custom solutions for specific business needs.

By following the best practices and using the appropriate SDLC model, organizations can increase their chances of successfully completing their system development projects.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the System Design Life Cycle (SDLC) plays a pivotal role in shaping the development of robust and efficient systems. By focusing on the design aspects, it provides a blueprint for constructing systems that meet user requirements and adhere to industry standards.