Review Questions What is a systems development process? A system development process is a set of activities, methods, best practices, deliverables, and automated tools that stakeholders use to develop and maintain information systems and software

Review Questions Why is it important to use systems analysis and design methodology? Why not just build the system in whatever way seems to be “quick and easy”? Methodologies help ensure the quality and appropriateness of the system being built. Following a systems methodology provides structure to the systems development process, since it has been tested and perfected by others. The quick and easy approach to building systems may be easier, cheaper, and quicker in the short run, but it almost always results in a poorly developed system, meaning that the system will be less than optimal and require extra work to maintain. In the long run, a poorly developed system requires more time and money to make right

Review Questions Identify and briefly describe the seven basic phases that are common to most modern systems development methodologies. Preliminary investigation—establishes scope, schedule, and budget. Problem analysis—ensures that the problems, causes, and effects are understood before developing any solution. Requirements analysis—identifies the business requirements that must be met regardless of what technical solution is adopted. Decision analysis—identifies and analyzes alternative technical solutions that may fulfill business requirements. Design—provides a technical blueprint for the chosen technical solution. Construction—builds and tests the technical solution. Implementation—delivers the technical solution into production

Review Questions What is the Capability Maturity Model? The Capability Maturity Model (CMM) is a framework to assess the maturity level of an organization ’ s information system development and management processes and products. It consists of five levels of maturity as measured by a set of guidelines called the key process areas

Review Questions Some people believe that automated tools will eventually replace programmers or systems analysts. What do you think? It is not likely that automated tools will replace IT specialists anytime soon. There is a human element to working with users and management to understand problems and define requirements. Also there are a multitude of technical choices to be made during design and implementation. Automated tools assist with documentation and information system construction, and they provide facilities to catalog and reuse documentation and system components, but they cannot yet mimic the cognitive process of the human mind

Review Questions Describe four types of feasibility. Technical feasibility — Is the solution technically practical? Does our staff have the technical expertise to design and build this solution? Operational feasibility — Will the solution fulfill the user ’ s requirements? To what degree? How will the solution change the user ’ s work environment? How do users feel about such a solution? Economic feasibility — Is the solution cost-effective? Schedule feasibility — Can the solution be designed and implemented within an acceptable time period?