Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Systems
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Learning Objectives
Explain the concept of a systems development life cycle (SDLC).
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Learning Objectives (cont.)
Evaluate alternatives to in-house systems development.
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Case: Snap-On Sets up an EC Site
Problem:
Snap-On, a tool and equipment maker in Washington state wanted to
set up an e-commerce site and went for the in-house option.
Solution:
Snap-On hired application service provider (ASP) OnLink Technologies
to implement a catalog for the company's e-commerce site.
Results:
The creation of an in-house ASP consulting service for Snap-On.
Skill transferring to other departments and subsidiaries that want to put
up catalogs on their own Web sites.
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Systems Development Life Cycle
Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC) represents a set of
general categories that show the major steps, over time, of an
information systems development project.
There is no universal, standardized version of the SDLC, but the
phrase has two distinct meanings.
An SDLC can be a general conceptual framework for all the
activities involved in systems development or acquisition.
An SDLC can also be a very structured and formalized design and
development process.
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An Eight-Stage SDLC
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Stages 1 & 2
Stage 1: Project Initiation
Stage 2: Systems Analysis & Feasibility Studies
Systems Analysis - the investigation of the existing situation.
Feasibility Studies - the major areas of feasibility investigation are;
• Technology
• Economics
• Organizational factors
• Legal, ethical, and other constraints
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Stages 3 & 4
Stage 3: Logical Analysis and Design
Systems analysts determine 2 major aspects of the system:
(1) what it needs to do
(2) how it will accomplish these functions.
Logical Design – the design of an IS from the user’s point of
view.
Physical Design -translates the abstract logical model into
the specific technical design (the “blueprints”)
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Stages 5 & 6
Stage 5: Implementation
Approaches to conversion from a previous system include:
• Parallel conversion
• Direct cutover
• Pilot conversion
• Phased (or modular) conversion
Stage 6: Operation
After a successful conversion, the system will operate for an
indefinite period of time.
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Stages 7 & 8
Stage 7: Post-audit Evaluation
An organization should evaluate all its larger system projects
after their completion.
These post-audits introduce an additional element of
discipline into the development process.
Stage 8: Maintenance
Every system needs two kinds of maintenance:
• Fixing bugs
• Updating systems to accommodate changes in the
environment
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Implementing SDLCs
IS groups considering the implementation of a formal SDLC
methodology should look for the following characteristics:
Minimal overhead
Flexibility and responsiveness
Concurrent tasks
Focused analysis
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Alternatives to Conventional SDLCs
Four Possibilities:
Prototyping
Joint application design
Rapid application
development
Object-oriented
development
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Prototyping
Instead of spending a lot of time producing very detailed
specifications, the developers find out only what the users want.
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Joint Application Design
Joint application design (JAD) is a group-based method for
collecting user requirements and creating system designs.
JAD is most often used within the systems analysis and systems
design stages of the SDLC.
In contrast to the SDLC requirements analysis, JAD has a group
meeting in which all users meet simultaneously with analysts.
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Rapid Application Development
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Rapid Application Development (cont.)
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Object-Oriented Development
An object-oriented (OO) system begins not with the task to be
performed, but with the aspects of the real world that must be modeled
to perform that task.
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Component-based Development
Components are self-contained packages of functionality that have
clearly defined, open interfaces with high-level application services.
E.g., interface icons (small), online ordering (a business component)
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Systems Developed Outside the ISD
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Trends Favoring End-User Development
The following list presents existing factors that lead to higher levels of
end-user development:.
Increasingly powerful Backlog of IS projects
desktop hardware
Development speed
Declining hardware costs
Business orientation
Increasingly diverse
Small applications
software capabilities
Control
Increasingly computer-
literate population Apparent cost savings
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Outsourcing
Firms that provide outsourcing Outsourcing can also create
cite numerous benefits: problems for companies:
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External Acquisition of Software
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External Acquisition of Software (cont.)
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Managerial Considerations
The traditional SDLC approach often works well for large projects with
well-defined requirements, where there is not a lot of time pressure.
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Managerial Considerations (cont.)
Object-Oriented development is becoming increasingly popular, but
usage is limited by a shortage of personnel with OO skills.
A component-based application architecture provides several business
benefits, but the execution of component-based development requires
special training and skill.
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The Development of EC Applications (cont.)
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Development Strategies for EC Applications
1. Buy the EC Applications
The following are the major criteria for consideration in buying e-
commerce applications:
• The functionalities of development packages & criteria of choice
• User-friendliness
• Information requirements
• Hardware and software resources
• Installation
• Maintenance services
• Security
• Vendor quality
• Cost
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Development Strategies for EC Applications
2. Lease the EC Applications
Leasing is advantageous in cases where extensive maintenance
is required, or where the cost of buying is very high.
Two ways to lease:
• Lease the application from an outsourcer and install it on the
company’s premises.
• Lease from either an application service provider or a CSP.
3. Develop EC Applications In House: Insourcing
Build from scratch.
Build from components.
Enterprise application integration.
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Other Development Options
Join An E-Marketplace
Joint Ventures
Join a Consortium
Hybrid Approach
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Application Service Provider
An Application service provider
(ASP) is an agent who assembles
functionality needed by enterprises,
and packages it with outsourced
development, operation,
maintenance, and other services.
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Benefits & Risks of ASP Leasing
Type Benefit Potential Risk
Business Reduces the need to attract and Loss of control and high level of
retain skilled IT professionals. dependence on ASP.
Enables company to concentrate Inability of ASP to deliver quality of
on strategic use of IT. service: lack of skills and experience.
Technical Fast and easy application Level of customization and legacy
deployment. application integration offered by ASP
may be insufficient.
Higher degree of application Reliability and speed of delivery due to
standardization. bandwidth limitations.
Economic Low total cost of ownership. Pricing changes by ASP unpredictable
for application updates and services.
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Criteria for Selecting an ASP Vendor
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Java Programming Language
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CASE Tools
Computer-aided software engineering (CASE) tools are
marketed as individual items or in a set (toolkit) that automates
various aspects of the development process.
CASE can be used in two different ways:
To automate certain SDLC activities on a piecemeal basis.
To provide an integrated (I-CASE) package for IS groups.
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Software Quality
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) first published its
quality standards in 1987, and then republished an updated version in 2000.
The ISO allows organizations to use any SDLC that includes the following:
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Project Planning
Milestones, or checkpoints,
are established to allow a
periodic review of progress.
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Project Planning (cont.)
Critical Path Method (CPM), PERT, and Gantt Charts.
These generic project management tools are suitable for systems
development projects.
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Managerial Issues
Importance. Functional managers
must participate in the development
process and should understand all
the phases.
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Managerial Issues (cont.)
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