System Development Life Cycle (SDLC)

Seminar Topics
System Concepts Information Concepts Decision Support System Organization and MIS SAP Case Studies on Effect of MIS on Business Use of Wireless technologies in business Use of Internet technology in business Artificial Intelligence and Expert Systems Business Development Process (Ex of SDLC)

What is SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT ?

System Development refers to the process of

Examining a business situation with the intent of improving it, through better procedures and methods.

System Development is having two major component in it

System Analysis Analysis of current system for Problems & Demerits in it and Additional requirements in new system System Design Process of planning new system which will replace the old one

Why System Development

New design idea to smoothen the process in the organization. Evolving environmental changes such as Competition. Adding new business or product line to present business.

Present system does not satisfy the users information needs.

Present system no longer efficiently and effectively meets the Goals of organization. Excessive time spent in correcting errors. Current Reports / Outputs not meting users decision making skills.

Escalating customer and vendor complaints.

System Development Methodology

A system development methodology is a formalized, standardized, documented set of activities used to manage a system development project. It can be characterized as follows:

DIVISION OF PROJECT into the identifiable phases which can be managed without having any problem. REVIEW OF DEVELOPMENT PROCESS by TOP Management on periodically by getting deliverables. APPROVALS from all the participants of the Development (i.e. Users, Managers, Analyst and Auditors). TESTING OF SYSTEM thoroughly prior to implementation to ensure that it meets users needs. TRANNING of user who will operate the new system. POST IMPLEMENTATION REVIEW for effectiveness and efficiency of new system

Steps of System Development

System Investigation
Conduct of Product feasibility Development of project management plan

System Analysis
Analyze the information needs of all stakeholders in a business Development of functional requirements Development of Logical Models of existing system

System Design
Development of specifications Development logical modes of new system

System Implementation
Develop S/W, Acquire H/W, Testing the system, Training, Convert

SDLC Phases
Preliminary Investigation

System Operation & Maintenance

System Analysis

System Implementation n

System Design

System Development

Six Phases of the System Development Life Cycle

Preliminary Investigation Assesses feasibility and practicality of system System Analysis Study old system and identify new requirements Defines system from user's view System Design Design new/alternative system Defines system from technical view

Six Phases of the System Development Life Cycle

System Development
New hardware and software is acquired, developed, and tested

System Implementation
System installation and training System Operation & Maintenance Daily operation Periodic evaluation and updating

Who participates in the system development life cycle?

Systems Analyst

A person responsible for designing and developing information system He is the Liaison between users and IT professionals

Phase 1: Preliminary Investigation / Feasibility Study

The objective of this phase is to review all requests and identify those proposals that are most beneficial to the organization.

Three primary tasks:

Define the problem
By observation and interview, determine what information is needed by whom, when, where and why

Suggest alternative solutions Prepare a short report

Phase 1 Cntd
Preliminary Investigation object can be achieved in following steps:

Request Clarification

Feasibility study
Estimating Costs and Benefits Request Approvals

Request Clarification

Defining the Scope and Objective of Request:

An analyst has to define for which objective a request for development is submitted.

Conducting the Investigation

This is nothing but the Collection of data / inputs by: Reviewing internal documents (i.e Organizational Charts, operating procedures etc. Conducting interviews of User, Supervisory Personal and Managers Questionnaire

Joint-Application Design (JAD) session

Research

Feasibility Study
Evaluation of alternative systems through cost and benefit analysis:

Measure of how suitable system development will be to the company

Technical feasibility

Four feasibility tests:

Legal feasibility

Economic feasibility (also called cost/benefit feasibility)

Schedule feasibility

Operational feasibility

Feasibility (Possibility) Study

Technical Feasibility: Hardware and software availability, Technical Guarantee of Accuracy, Reliability, Easy to Access, Data security, technical capacity to hold data and future expansion. Economical Feasibility: Evaluation of cost & Benefits expected. Benefits- Cost Savings, Increased Revenue, Decreased Investment

Feasibility (Possibility) Study

Operational Feasibility: Finding the possibilities on

How well the proposed system supports the business priorities of the organization. How well the proposed system will solve the identified problem How well the proposed system will fit with existing system

Finding views of workers, employees, customers & suppliers about the use of new system.

Schedule Feasibility: Estimation of time to take for new system to become operational. Legal feasibility: Testing whether new system will comply the patent, copyright and licensing policies of company, Government etc.

Estimating Cost & Benefit

COSTS: Development Costs: This includes cost of testing, training, start up costs, salary to designers, acquisition cost of hardware & software. Operation Costs: This includes operator salary, maintenance costs, etc. Intangible Costs: Loss of employee productivity, self confidence etc. BENEFITS: Tangible Benefits: Increase in sales / Contribution / Profits Decrease in investment, operating and processing cost. Improved information availability, analysis, Management Decision skill Intangible Benefits:

Phase 2: Collection of data and facts Analysis of Present System System Analysis of Proposed system Analysis to meets some set of needs and to Every system is built
assess these needs, the analyst often interact extensively with the people, who will be benefited from the system In order to determine the requirement of those peoples he can use following facts finding techniques: Documents: This includes the Manuals, diagrams, forms, organizational charts etc. It should be ensured that all documents are accurate & up to date Questionnaires: These are skillfully drafted group of standard question which can be given to all personal and can be analyze quickly. Interviews: To get a complete picture of problems and opportunities. Observation: Surprise Visit of users work palace to get a clear picture of users environment.

Phase 2: System Analysis Tools Used

Checklists - list of questions Top-down analysis - start with top level components, break down into smaller parts through each successive level Grid charts - to show relationship between inputs and outputs System flowcharts - charts flow of input data, processing, and output which show system elements and interactions

Phase 2: System Analysis Documentation Procedure

Complete description of current system and its problems Requirements for new system including:
Subject Scope Objectives Benefits

Possible development schedule

Phase 3: System Design

In depth study of the existing system to determine what the new system should do. Expand on data gathered in Phase 1, examine:
Formal lines of authority (organization chart)

In addition to observation and interviews

Standard operating procedures How information flows Reasons for any inefficiencies

Uses specifications from the systems analysis to design alternative systems Evaluate alternatives based upon:
Economic feasibility - Do benefits justify costs? Technical feasibility - Is reliable technology and training available? Operational feasibility - Will the managers and users support it?

Phase 3: System Design Tools Used

Computer-Aided Software Engineering (CASE) tools are software-based products designed to help automate the production of information systems. Examples:
Diagramming Tools Data Repositories Prototyping Tools Test Data Generators Documentation Tools Project Management Tools

Phase 3: System Design Documentation Produced

System Design Report Describe Alternatives including:

Inputs/Outputs Processing Storage and Backup

Recommend Top Alternative based upon:

System Fit into the Organization Flexibility for the future Costs vs. benefits

Phase 4: System Development

Build the system to the design specifications Develop the software

Purchase off-the-shelf software OR Write custom software

Acquire the hardware Test the new system

Module (unit) test - tests each part of system Integration testing - tests system as one unit

Create manuals for users and operators

Phase 5: System Implementation

Convert from old system to new system Train users

Compile final documentation

Evaluate the new system

Phase 5: System Implementation Types of Conversion

Direct/plunge/crash approach entire new system completely replaces entire old system, in one step
Parallel approach - both systems are operated side by side until the new system proves itself

Pilot approach - launched new system for only one group within the business -- once new system is operating smoothly, implementation goes companywide
Phased/incremental approach - individual parts of new system are gradually phased-in over time, using either crash or parallel for each piece.

Phase 5: System Implementation

User Training
Ease into system, make them comfortable, and gain their support Most commonly overlooked Can be commenced before equipment delivery Outside trainers sometimes used

Phase 6: Operations & Maintenance

Types of changes: Physical repair of the system Correction of new bugs found (corrective) System adjustments to environmental changes Adjustments for users changing needs (adaptive) Changes to user better techniques when they become available (perfective)

Phase 6: Operations & Maintenance

Evaluation Methods
Systems audit - performance compared to original specifications Periodic evaluation - checkups from time to time, modifications if necessary

Deliverables of the SDLC

Preliminary Investigation
System Analysis System Design Approved Feasibility Study Problem Specifications Abort Project Goto next phase Goto Previous phase

Design Specifications
System Development Coded and Tested System System converted Users trained

Begin building new system

System Implementation System Maintenance

Operational System Documentation completed

MIS Syllabus
Management Information Systems

1. Information Systems: data vs Information, Strategic role of information in management, Organization as an information system. TPS, MIS, DSS, ESS, OAS, Networking concepts, telecommunications networks. 2. Systems Development: the concept of systems development life cycle (SDLC),Types of SDLC, Use of flow charts. . Application Technologies: ERP concepts, Evolution of ERP, ERP packages, SAP, Baan, MFG-PRO, Oracle, ERP Evaluation, ERP and BPR, ERP Implementation, Extended ERP, Case studies. 4. Web Publishing: web publishing, Types of websites, Web surfing, E-commerce, B2B, B2C, C2C, E-commerce security issues, Ethical issues 5. Practicals on ERP -. Functional modules in business.