SYSTEMS ANALYSIS AND DESIGN

Objectives To understand the basic concepts of organisation systems To understand the role of systems analyst and the different approaches to the analysis and design of systems Analyze the user requirements and designing of physical systems Different techniques for implementation of a systems and its maintenance

Modules
Module 1 The system in the organisation:
the system analyst Communication skills of the system analyst

Planning objectives
Investigation methods Recording the investigation

Module 2 Analyzing the user requirements Logical system design

Modules
Module 3 File design Database design Output-input design Computer procedure design System security Module 4 Form design Dialogue design

Modules
Module 4 contd.. Code design Designing of user procedure Module 5 Preparation for implementation Change over Maintenance and review Project reports Project management

Lecture Schedule
1.
2. 3. 4.

5.
6.

Lecture 1(07/02/12): the system in the organisation and communication skills Lecture 2(07/02/12): system planning objectives of the investigation, methods of the investigation Lecture 3(07/02/12): recording of the investigationcase studies Lecture 4(08/02/12): analyzing user requirements Lecture 5(08/02/12): logical system design Lecture 6(08/02/12): file design and database design

Lecture schedule
7. TEST 1 (09/02/12) 8. Lecture 7(09/02/12):output and input design 9. Lecture8(09/02/12):computer procedure design10. 11. 12. 13.

system security Lecture 9(10/02/12):form design, dialogue design Lecture 10(21/02/12):code design, designing user procedure, preparation for implementation TEST 2 (21/02/12) Lecture 11(21/02/12): maintenance and review, project reporting, project management.

Lecture schedule
14. Lecture 12(21/02/12): project review
15. Lab work 1 (22/02/12) 16. Lab work 2 (23/02/12)

17. Assignment submission (23/02/12)

18. Lab work 3(24/02/12)

Note: the lab work will involve the use of Rational rose software or Star UML software.

WHY Systems Analysis and Design

Lecture 1
The system in the Organisation

The system analyst communication skills

Lecture 1

What is a system? How do you define system? Where do we find a system? Give me some examples. What are systems components? Different types of systems Who is the custodian? How do we define/ manage system? Available techniques Future?

System
Something of interest
Technical definition:

a set of interacting elements responding to inputs to produce outputs

Components
System elements:
Boundary Sub-systems: at a lower level is called black-box system Relationships/interfaces

feedback

Types of systems:
Deterministic vs Probabilistic Open vs Closed

Stable vs unstable

Laws of stability
Law of requisite variety
Principle of equifinality

Law 1: states that, in order to control each possible state of a system, there must be a corresponding control mechanism. For every way in which the system can get out of control, there must be a way of restoring the control. e.g man-machine approach. According to the principle of equifinality, an open system can reach the same final result from different initial conditions and by various routes. In other words a system can accomplish its objectives with varying inputs and varying processes, there is no one best way of achieving the objectives.

Business system components

Production
Purchasing Personnel

Accounting
Marketing Management control

System analyst and his responsibilities

Factorisation and integration of systems
Define the system in terms of its objectives, inputs,

outputs, boundary, processes, and the interfaces. To understand how the system behaves To design stable systems Responsible for systems analysis, ouline systems specs, detailed design of the system

Nature of the system

On going Often keeps changing

Must carter for current needs/requirements

Should not be obsolete

Activities life cycle of systems

1.
2. 3. 4. 5.

Problem identification and assessment of changes required Investigation and analysis of existing system Design of the new system Implementation of the new system Change over

Detailed study: Task to be carried out

Examine and document the relevant aspects of the

existing system, its failings and the problems Analyze the findings and record the results Define and document in outline a proposed system Test the proposed design against the known facts Produce a detailed report to support the proposal Estimate resources required to design and implement the system

Detailed study: Tasks to be carried out

Appraising the terms of reference Appraising the analysis of the existing system with regard to the

problem areas Defining precisely the required system output Deciding the medium and format of files Devising the processing methods and use of software to handle files and produce output Determine methods of data capture and data input designing forms Define detailed clerical procedures Calculate timings of processing and data movements Documenting all aspects of design

Interpersonal Skills for Systems Analysis

Mastery of interpersonal skills is paramount to success

as a Systems Analyst Four types of skills:

Communication skills

Working alone and with a team

Facilitating groups Managing expectations

Communication Skills
Effective communication helps to establish and

maintain good working relationships with clients and colleagues Skills improve with experience Three types used by Systems Analyst
Interviewing and Listening Questionnaires Written and Oral Presentations

Organizational Knowledge
Understanding of how organizations work
Knowledge of specific functions and procedures of

organization and department How work officially gets done Internal policies Competitive and Regulatory Environment Organizational Strategies and Tactics

Lecture 2
System planning

Objectives of investigation
Methods of investigation Recording of investigation

System planning
Is the first stage of systems analysis

Deals with various approaches to system development,

user involvement and feasibility study

Approaches
Individual application Integrated system (bottom up)

Integrated system (top down)

Process oriented database

User involvement
Depends on the philosophy and mentality of the

analyst Depends on the user understanding of job security, mutual understanding and common view of the problem between them and the system

Methods for User Involvement

User representatives
Expert users

Feasibility Assessement/study
Organisational
Economic Technical

operational

Feasibility Study

System Investigation