Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Chapter
10
Developing Business/IT Solutions
Systems Development Life Cycle Prototyping End User Development Project Management Change Management
McGraw-Hill/Irwin
Learning Objectives
1.
2.
Use the systems development process outlined in this chapter and the model of IS components from Chapter 1 as problemsolving frameworks to help you propose information systems solutions to simple business problems. Describe and give examples to illustrate how you might use each of the steps of the information systems development cycle to develop and implement a business information system.
Learning Objectives
3.
4.
5.
Explain how prototyping can be used as an effective technique to improve the process of systems development for end users and IS specialists. Understand the basics of project management and their importance to a successful systems development effort. Identify the activities involved in the implementation of new information systems.
Learning Objectives
6. 7.
8.
Compare and contrast the four basic system conversion strategies. Describe several evaluation factors that should be considered in evaluating the acquisition of hardware, software, and IS services. Identify several change management solutions for end user resistance to the implementation of new information systems.
software can give companies an competitive edge But in-house development isnt cheap H&R Block, Morgan Stanley and others still choose in-house development When and why?
2.
3.
Jeff Brandmaier, senior VP and CIO at H&R Block Inc., describes in-house developed applications as the stuff that gives you competitive advantage. Why do you think he feels this way? Can a modern organization be competitive without developing any applications inhouse? Why or why not? The case points out that despite the use of vendor applications, there is still a lot of manually intensive work that goes on in the development process. Why do you think vendor applications still require in-house
Despite all the media coverage concerning the loss of jobs in IS/IT, there is still a strong and growing need for in-house developers. Using the Internet,
See if you can find examples, beyond those discussed in the case, of companies that are doing their development in-house. Are they using the SDLC or some other method?
development is costly, to be sure. Yet many companies believe that their core applications require personal attention by their developers. In small groups,
Discuss
how an organization determines what applications to buy from a vendor and what applications to develop in-house. What are the criteria for making the decision?
A problem solving technique that uses a systems orientation to define problems and opportunities and develop appropriate and feasible solutions. Analyzing a problem and formulating a solution involves the following interrelated activities: 1. Recognize and define a problem or opportunity using systems thinking 2. Develop and evaluate alternative system solutions 3. Select the system solution that best meets your requirements 4. Design the selected system solution 5. Implement and evaluate the success of the designed system
by:
Seeing
interrelationships among systems rather than linear cause-and-effect chains whenever events occur Seeing processes of change among systems rather than discrete snapshots of change, whenever changes occur
See
Find
&D
Overall
Two
Object-oriented
we have business opportunities? What are our business priorities? How can information technologies provide information systems solutions that address our business priorities?
Feasibility Study
A
the
information needs of prospective users the resource requirements, costs, benefits, and feasibility of a proposed project
are
determined
Feasibility Categories
Operational
Feasibility Economic Feasibility Technical Feasibility Human Factors Feasibility Legal/Political Feasibility
Operational Feasibility
How
supports
the business priorities of the organization. solves the identified problem. fits within the existing organizational structure.
Schedule
Economic Feasibility
Assess:
Cost
analysis
Cost/Benefit Analysis
Costs
versus Benefits Tangible costs and benefits can be quantified with a high degree of certainty
Example:
Intangible
estimate
Example:
Technical Feasibility
Determine
if reliable hardware and software capable of meeting the needs of a proposed system can be acquired or developed by the business in the required time
Hardware Software Network
customer, supplier acceptance Management support The right people for the various new or revised roles
Legal/Political Feasibility
Assess
Possible
patent or copyright violations Software licensing for developer side only Governmental restrictions Changes to existing reporting structure
Systems Analysis
An
in-depth study of end user information needs That produces functional requirements that are used as the basis for the design of a new information system
Systems Analysis
Detailed
The
study of
information needs of a company and end users. The activities, resources, and products of one or more of the present information systems being used. The information system capabilities required to meet information needs of users and stakeholders
End
Organizational Analysis
Study
control
Logical Analysis
Construction
Functional Requirements
End
user information requirements that are not tied to the hardware, software, network, data, and people resources that end users presently use or might use in the new system What the system must do Functional Requirement categories
User
Systems Design
Modify
the logical model until it represents a blueprint for what the new system will do Physical design: How the system will accomplish its objectives
Prototyping
The
rapid development and testing of working models Used in design phase Especially useful when end user requirements are hard to define
Prototyping
Can
But
Develop
on supporting the interactions between end users and their computer-based applications Frequently prototype the user interface
the customer successful websites are built solely for the customer, not to make company vice presidents happy Aesthetics successful designs combine fastloading graphics and simple color palettes for pages that are easy to read Broadband Content the Webs coolest stuff cant be accessed by most Web surfers; dont make it the focus of a site
to navigate make sure its easy to get from one part of site to another Searchability make sure to have a useful search engine Incompatibilities test site with target web browsers Registration forms short registration forms are a useful way to gather customer data Dead links be sure to keep links updated
System Specifications
Formalize
User
design of
professional plays a consulting role End user does his/her own application development
Contrast
End
Source: Adapted from James N. Morgan, Application Cases in MIS, 4th ed. (New York: Irwin/McGraw-Hill, 2002), p. 31.
for tools that make sense Spur creativity Set some limits Give managers responsibility Make users comfortable
students without access to promised financial aid Problem was not with software
What
2.
3.
As with any story, there are always two sides. Indiana University sees the problem as a surprise; outside observers see the problem as predictable and preventable. What do you think? Why? Is it possible that some implementation problems cannot be easily foreseen or prevented? Give some examples. What could Indiana University have done differently to prevent this unfortunate event from occurring? Is there evidence to suggest
In many cases, we tend to hear about implementation failures more often than implementation successes. Using the Internet,
See if you can find some examples of implementation success stories. Why were they successful?
project described in the case was an example of a large-scale software deployment of vendor software. In small groups,
Discuss
the differences between implementing vendor-supplied software and in-house developed software. Should an in-house project be implemented differently than a vendor supplied application? Why or why not?
Systems Implementation
Hardware
and software acquisition Software development Testing of programs and procedures Conversion of data resources Conversion alternatives Education and training of end users and specialists who will operate a new system
Implementation Process
Project Management
IT
responsibilities, time lines for major stages of development, and financial budgets
Project
A
project
a set of activities with a clear beginning and end
Is
Each
project has
Managing a project
To
Initiating/defining
State the problems/goals Identify the objectives Secure resources Explore costs/benefits in feasibility study
Planning
Identify and sequence activities Identify the critical path Estimate time and resources needed for completion Write a detailed project plan
3.
Executing
Commit resources to specific tasks Add additional resources/personnel if necessary Initiate project work
Controlling
Establish reporting obligations Create reporting tools Compare actual progress with baseline Initiate control interventions if necessary
Closing
Install all deliverables Finalize all obligations/commitments Meet with stakeholders Release project resources Document the project Issue final report
acquire hardware, software How do we evaluate and select it? Companies may ask suppliers to present bids and proposals May score different products
Determine
evaluation factors Assign each product points on each factor May require benchmark tests
Simulate
Examples of IS Services
Developing
a company website Installation or conversion of hardware or software Employee training Hardware maintenance System integration System design Contract programming Consulting services
development Maintenance Conversion Training Backup Accessibility Business Position Hardware Software
System Testing
Testing
and debugging software Testing website performance Testing new hardware Review of prototypes of displays, reports and other output
Data Conversion
Converting
data elements from old database to new database Correcting incorrect data Filtering out unwanted data Consolidating data from several databases Organizing data into new data subsets
organized and formatted data is major causes of failures in implementing new systems.
Documentation
User
documentation
data entry screens, forms, reports
Sample
Systems
documentation
Communication
among people responsible for developing, implementing and maintaining system Important in diagnosing errors and making changes
Training
End
users must be trained to operate new system Educate managers and end users in how the new technology impacts the companys business operations and management
Conversion
Conversion
Direct Conversion
Turn
Parallel Conversion
New
and old systems run simultaneously until end users and project coordinators are satisfied that the new system is functioning correctly
Low
risk Highest cost method: perform all functions with both systems
Pilot Conversion
When
new system is installed in multiple locations Convert to new system in single location Once complete in pilot location,
Evaluate
Phased Conversion
Incremental
Systems maintenance
Corrective:
fix bugs and logical errors Adaptive: add new functionality to accommodate changes in business or environment Perfective: improve performance Preventive: reduce chances of failure
Post-implementation review
Ensure
Implementation Challenges
New
User Resistance
New
User
involvement
End
Source: Adapted from Grant Norris, James Hurley, Kenneth Harley, John Dunleavy, and John Balls, E-Business and ERP: Transforming the Enterprise, p. 120. Copyright @2000 by John Wiley & Sons Inc. Reprinted by permission.
Change Management
Involve
as many people as possible in planning and application development Make constant change an expected part of the culture Tell everyone as much as possible about everything as often as possible Make liberal use of financial incentives and recognition Work within the company culture, not around it
Source: Adapted from Martin Diese, Conrad Nowikow, Patric King, and Amy Wright, Executives Guide to E-Business: From Tactics to Strategy, p. 190. Copyright @ 2000 by John Wiley & Sons Inc. Reprinted by permission.
derails an IT development project faster than sloppy project management Process management is the art and science of creating and continuously improving the process of developing and delivering systems Best practices in process management:
Industry
2. 3.
What is process management? How does it differ from project management or traditional development methodologies like the SDLC? Is the SDLC an example of good process management? What is meant in the case by the phrase:
implementing a standard approach to systems development helps experienced staff and new hires to be more productive, because they spend less time wondering how to do something and more time doing it?
We know that good project and process management are keys to successful systems development and implementation projects. Using the Internet,
See if you can find examples of companies that subscribe to the tenets set forth in the case. Is there evidence to suggest that such companies are realizing competitive benefits as a result?
discussed issues related to user resistance, involvement, and change management in this chapter. In small groups,
Discuss
how these issues relate to good process management. What specific change management approaches are involved in ensuring high quality process management?