Week 01 - Information System Development Methods
Week 01 - Information System Development Methods
If you have mastered this topic, you should be able to use the following terms correctly
in your assignments and exams:
Information System (IS)
Systems Development Lifecycle (SDLC)
SDLC Phases
IS Methodologies
People involved in the development of IS
Definitions:
An information system has five key components: hardware, software, data, processes,
and people.
Software refers to the programs that control the hardware and produce the desired
information or results.
Software consists of system software and application software.
System software manages the hardware components. Examples: the operating system, security
software that protects the computer from intrusion, device drivers that communicate with
hardware such as printers, and utility programs that handle specific tasks such as data backup
and disk management.
Application software consists of programs that support day-to-day business functions and
provide users with the information they require. Examples of company-wide applications,
include order processing systems, and payroll systems.
Data is the raw material that an information system transforms into useful information.
An information system can store data in various locations, called tables. By linking the
tables, the system can extract specific information.
Processes/Procedures describe the tasks and business functions that users, managers,
and IT staff members perform to achieve specific results.
Processes are the building blocks of an information system because they represent
actual day-to-day business operations.
Definitions:
System development lifecycle (SDLC) is the entire process consisting of all activities
required to build, launch, and maintain an information system (Satzinger, et al., 2015).
SDLC is a series of phases to plan, analyze, design, implement, and support an
information system (Shelly and Rosenblatt, 2012).
A simplified definition – SDLC is a GENERAL RECEPIE to ‘cook-up’ an Information
System.
Des
• Solution is specified in detail
ign
Imp
lem
• System that solves problem is built and installed
enta
tion
• System used, maintained, and enhanced to continue to provide
Sup
port
intended benefits
Definition:
“A software development methodology or system development methodology in
software engineering is a framework that is used to structure, plan, and control the
process of developing an information system”.
Simplified Definition:
A Specific Recipe to ‘cook-up’ a specific type of Information System
• (In comparison to SDLC which viewed as GENERAL recipe)
Contains detailed steps to be carried out at specific situations / specific type of project.
SDLC acts as the basis for IS Development Methodology.
Examples:
Examples:
Interviewing
Techniques Tools Visual Modelling tool
Techniques Integrated Development
Guidelines to Software Environment
OO programming techniques
help an analyst applications to create Word Processor
Data Modelling Techniques
complete a task project components Automated Testing Tool
Software Testing Techniques
Code Generator
System Owners are people who pay and own the system
User are people who directly/indirectly use the new system
System Analysts are people who must understand business processes and document them carefully.
Project Manager is responsible for knowing the “who, what, where, when and why” of the
software project. This means knowing the stakeholders of the project and being able to effectively
communicate with each of them.
Developers are responsible for using the technical requirements for building the deliverables and
communicating the status of the software project to the Technical Lead or Project Manager.
System Testers ensure that the software solution meets the business requirements and that it is free
of bugs, errors and defects.
System Administrators: are people who ‘take-care’ of the system after it is done
Satzinger, J. W., Jackson, R. B., & Burd, S. D. (2015). Systems Analysis and Design in
A Changing World. Cengage learning.
Shelly, G. B., & Rosenblatt, H. J. (2012). Systems Analysis and Design. Boston, MA:
Course Technology.
Whitten, J. L., Bentley, L. D., & Dittman, K. C. (2005). Systems Analysis and Design
Methods (7th Ed.). McGraw-Hill/Irwin