ICT2621 structured_systems_analysis_&_design_notes. BEST FOR EXAM.

Objectives of Chapter 1  Explain the key role of a system analyst in business.  Describe the various types of system and technology an analyst might use.  Explain the importance of technical skills, people skills and business skills for an analyst.  Explain why ethical behaviour is crucial for a system analyst’s career.  Describe various job titles in the field and places of employment where analysis and design work is done.  Discuss the analyst's role in strategic planning for an organization.  Describe the analyst’s role in systems development projects. Let me just say before I go into these notes that I find subjects like these extremely amusing & frustrating because of the disparity between the theoretical and the actual implementations in the “working world”. That being said, passing this course is a requirement for my degree. Key Words & Definitions for the Chapter  System Analysis – the process of understanding and specifying in detail what the information system should accomplish  System Design – the process of specifying in detail how the many components of the information system should be physically implemented.  System Analyst – a business professional who uses analysis and design techniques to solve business problems using information system.  Information System – a collection of interrelated components that collect, process, store, and provide as output the information needed to complete the business tasks.  System – a collection of interrelated components that function together to achieve some outcome.  Subsystem – a system that is part of a larger system.  Functional Decomposition – dividing a system into components based on subsystems that are further divided into smaller subsystems.  System Boundary – the separation between a system and its environment that inputs and outputs must cross.  Automation Boundary – the separation between the automated part of a system and the manual part of a system. (Different Systems)  CRM (Customer Relationship Management) – a system that supports marketing, sales, and service operations involving direct and indirect customer interaction.  SCM (Supply Chain Management) – a system that seamlessly integrates product development, product acquisition, manufacturing, and inventory management.  AFM (Accounting & Financial Management) – a system that records accounting information needed to produce financial statements and other reports used by investors and creditors.  HRM (Human Resource Management) – a system that supports employee-related tasks such as payroll, benefits, hiring, and training.  Manufacturing Management System – a system that controls internal production processes that turn raw materials into finished goods.  Knowledge Management System – a system that supports the storage of and access to documents from all parts of the organization.  Collaboration Support System – a system that enabled geographically distributed personnel to collaborate on projects and tasks.  Business Intelligence System – a system that supports strategic planning and executive decision making.  ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) – a process in which an organization commits to using an integrated set of software packages for key information systems.  Database – a centrally managed collection of data that is accessible to many users and systems at the same time.  Tools – software products used to help develop analysis and design specifications and completed system components.  Techniques – strategies for completing specific system development activities.  Soft Skills – skills in nontechnical areas such as interviewing, team management, and leadership.  Hard Skills – skills in technical areas such as database design, programming, and telecommunications.  Strategic Planning – a process during which executives try to answer questions about the company, such as where the business is now, where they want to be, and what they have to do to get there.  Information Systems Strategic Planning – the plan during the technology and applications that the information systems function needs to support the organization’s strategic plan.  Business Process Reengineering – a technique that seeks to alter the nature of the work done in a business function, with the objective of radically improving performance.  Application Architecture Plan - a description of the integrated information systems that the organization needs to carry out its business functions.  Technology Architecture Plan – a description of the hardware, software, and communications networks required to implement planned information systems. The Analyst as a Business Problem Solver System analysis and design focuses on understanding the business problem and underlining the approach to be taken to solve it. The challenge of the analyst is to select the best solution with the fewest risks and most benefits. A system analyst can best be described as someone who uses information technology to solve business problems. A typical decision process followed is outlined below…