Purpose of analysis
The main purpose- to investigate a
problem(s) with an
information system.
The solution to the problem can be either improvements within the
existing system or creation of a
new information
system.
The systems analyst(s) who will be investigating the current system may have little or no knowledge of how the existing
organisation works.
The systems analyst will have to investigate the
present system to establish user
requirements.
In order to do this the analyst needs to understand
the purpose of the business or organisation and its existing system in terms of
inputs, processing and outputs.
This will also include any constraints to be placed
on the new system such as timescale,
cost, existing hardware and software and staff capability.
Design
The purpose of
the design stage is to produce a Systems Specification.
This document
will include detail on a number of design components including:
Data capture methods
and forms for
the system
Data inputs and
outputs for the system
including screen designs, report
specifications, query designs, storyboards, macros
Data processing within the
system
Data structures such as: Database structure, Data Models, DFDs, normalisation.
Development
The purpose is to develop the software package required for the
information system.
In order to do this appropriate programming code needs
to be produced or the features of the software package need to be developed.
Aspects such as data structures, data checking procedures and the user
interface also need to be developed.
As part of the development stage there also needs to be evidence of effective use of the hardware specification
uPrototyping
Cont.
uThe result of these refinements may result into a fully working system which is known
as Evolutionary Prototyping or produce a set of user requirement which is known as
Throw-away prototyping.
uThis system is then
fully developed using an
alternative approach such as Waterfall method.
uA prototype
which is usually a practical implementation of the system is produced to help
discover requirements