Tutorial cin603

1. What are JAD and RAD, and how do they differ from traditional factfinding
methods? What are the main advantages of team-based methods?
JAD is a user-oriented technique for fact-finding and requirements modelling whereas
RAD uses a condensed version of the system development life cycle, relying heavily on
prototyping and user involvement.
Both JAD (joint application development) and RAD (rapid application development)
are team-based development process techniques where IT and system users actively
participate in various development tasks.
They differ from traditional fact-finding methods as the traditional model consulted
users only when their input or approval was required.
2. What is total cost of ownership (TCO)? What costs often are underestimated?

Total cost of ownership (TCO) is a financial estimate of how much a project is going to cost
including all the direct and indirect costs. TCO is important if the development team is
assessing several alternatives. After considering the indirect costs, which are often
underestimated, a system that seems inexpensive initially might actually turn out to be the
most costly choice. One problem is that cost estimates tend to understate indirect costs such
as user support and downtime productivity losses. Even if accurate figures are unavailable,
systems analysts should try to identify indirect costs and include them in TCO estimates

3. The three types of sampling are systematic, stratified, and random sampling.

Systematic sample: selection of every tenth customer for review

Stratified: selection of five customers from each four postal codes

Random: selection of any 20 customers

: objective of sample – to ensure that it represents the overall population accurately

4. What is the Hawthorne Effect? Have you ever experienced it? When and where?

5. What are agile methods? Are they better than traditional methods? Why or why not?

Agile methods attempts to develop a system incrementally, by building a series of prototype

and adjusting them to user requirements regularly

6. To what three different audiences might you have to give a presentation? How would the
presentation differ for each? Which one would be the most challenging for you?
The different audiences are presentations to the users, the IT department, and to management.
The user audience focuses on ease of use, and how their daily routine will be simplified. For
IT, focus on technical specs and effects on the network environment. For management, focus
on how the TCO will be less with this method and what its effect on profitability will be.
Focus on the decision makers if only one presentation will be made.