1. Systems Analysis What is it?

2. 2 A Systems Development Life Cycle The need for change is recognised or planned for Outline requirements may be issued, with some idea of the investigation scope, resources etc - Terms of Reference Feasibility issues may be considered, especially for ‘high risk’ developments Detailed Systems Analysis occurs A proposed System Design is produced The Systems Specification is developed into an Implementation There is a period of Evaluation & Review Ref: D. Bishton

3. 3 Systems Analysts – agents of change Investigate an Organisation’s Information Systems requirements They consider the effect of its Environment on an Organisation’s activities (Processes, Functions) They consider the feasibility and impact – financial, technological & social, of recommended changes to an organisation’s Processes, Data & Organisational Structures They model Behaviour, Process and Data Structures to support the development of an Organisation’s Information Systems, whether automated or manual They help to understand, (re)organise, synthesise and communicate appropriate Data Structures and Processes for an Organisation’s use Ref: D. Bishton

4. Fact-finding 1.Use a variety of techniques to gather knowledge about the system 2.Analyse those facts to remove ambiguity, identify omissions, resolve conflicts. – Use different perspectives/viewpoints to identify these problems

5. Logical Information Model What data does the information system need (to handle, to store)? Define terminology Define meaning Define data structure 1.Data Dictionary definitions 2.Logical Data Structure diagram: ProjectPart uses used by Supplier Supplies Supplied by

6. Process Model Where is the system boundary? What processes does the system need to carry out? What data is input to and output from each process? 1.Data Flow Diagrams (including Context Diagram) 2.Elementary Process Descriptions

7. Event Model How do events in the real world trigger changes in the Information system? What information in the system changes then? In what order do things need to happen? 1.Entity Life History

8. Summary Systems Analysis takes the facts found and “analyses”/considers them Identifies WHAT the information system must do Business point of view – no consideration of technology architecture Lateral/creative thinking needed

9. References (from recommended texts) Kendall & Kendall, chapters 1, 4, 5 Whitten & Bentley, chapters 1-4 Denis & Wixom, chapters 4-5