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INFORMATION SYSTEMS

ANALYSIS AND DESIGN


Reviews of IS and Software Process

Principles of Reviews

Systems concept
Computer-based IS and software intensive
systems
Analysis and design in the development of
above systems

What is a System?

A set of interrelated components


With a clearly defined boundary
Working together
To achieve a common set of objectives
By accepting inputs and producing output
In an organized transformation process
(OBrien and Marakas, 2008)

Basic Functions of a System

Input
Capturing

and assembling elements that enter


the system to be processed

Processing
Transformation

process that converts input into

output

Output
Transferring

transformed elements to their


ultimate destination

Cybernetic System

All systems have input, processing, and


output
A cybernetic system, a self-monitoring, selfregulating system, adds feedback and
control:
Feedback

is data about the performance of a

system
Control involves monitoring and evaluating
feedback to determine whether a system is
moving toward the achievement of its goal

A Cybernetic System

A Business as a System

Other System Characteristics

If a system is one of the components of a


larger system, it is a subsystem
The

larger system is an environment

Several systems may share the same


environment
Some

may be connected via a shared


boundary, or interface

Components of an IS

OBrien and Marakas (2008)

Information System Resources

People Resources
Specialists
End

users

Hardware Resources
Machines
Media

Software Resources
Programs
Procedures

Information System Resources

Data Resources

Network Resources

Product descriptions, customer records, employee


files, inventory databases
Communications media, communications
processors, network access and control software

Information Resources

Management reports and business documents


using text and graphics displays, audio responses,
and paper forms

Data Versus Information

Data are raw facts about physical


phenomena or business transactions
Information is data that has been converted
into meaningful and useful context for end
users
Examples:
Sales

data is names, quantities, and dollar


amounts
Sales information is amount of sales by
product type, sales territory, or salesperson

IS Activities

Input of data resources

Processing of data into information

Messages, reports, forms, graphic images

Storage of data resources

Calculations, comparisons, sorting, and so on

Output of information products

Data entry activities

Data elements and databases

Control of system performance

Monitoring and evaluating feedback

Our Focus

Computer-based information systems


Software-intensive systems
Analysis and design in the development of
above systems

Software

What is it?

Software

The concept of software resources includes


all sets of information processing
instructions.
This generic concept of software includes
not only the sets of operating instructions
called programs, which direct and control
computer hardware, but also the sets of
information processing instructions called
procedures that people need. (OBrien and
Marakas, 2008)

Software

Computer programs and associated


documentation. Software products may be
developed for a particular customer or may
be developed for a general market.
(Sommerville, 2010)

Software products

Generic products
Stand-alone systems that are marketed and sold to
any customer who wishes to buy them.
Examples PC software such as graphics
programs, project management tools; CAD
software; software for specific markets such as
appointments systems for dentists.

Customized products
Software that is commissioned by a specific
customer to meet their own needs.
Examples embedded control systems, air traffic
control software, traffic monitoring systems.

Product specification

Generic products
The

specification of what the software should


do is owned by the software developer and
decisions on software change are made by the
developer.

Customized products
The

specification of what the software should


do is owned by the customer for the software
and they make decisions on software changes
that are required.

20

Questions?

The software process

A structured set of activities required to


develop a software system.
Many different software processes but all
involve:

Specification defining what the system should


do;
Design and implementation defining the
organization of the system and implementing the
system;
Validation checking that it does what the
customer wants;
Evolution changing the system in response to
changing customer needs.

Software process model

A software process model is an abstract


representation of a process. It presents a
description of a process from some
particular perspective.

Software process descriptions

When we describe and discuss processes, we


usually talk about the activities in these
processes such as specifying a data model,
designing a user interface, etc. and the
ordering of these activities.
Process descriptions may also include:
Products, which are the outcomes of a process
activity;
Roles, which reflect the responsibilities of the
people involved in the process;
Pre- and post-conditions, which are statements
that are true before and after a process activity has
been enacted or a product produced.

Plan-driven and agile processes

Plan-driven processes are processes where all


of the process activities are planned in advance
and progress is measured against this plan.
In agile processes, planning is incremental and
it is easier to change the process to reflect
changing customer requirements.
In practice, most practical processes include
elements of both plan-driven and agile
approaches.
There are no right or wrong software processes.

Software process models

The waterfall model

Incremental development

Specification, development and validation are


interleaved. May be plan-driven or agile.

Reuse-oriented software engineering

Plan-driven model. Separate and distinct phases of


specification and development.

The system is assembled from existing


components. May be plan-driven or agile.

In practice, most large systems are developed


using a process that incorporates elements
from all of these models.

The waterfall model

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