EDEXCEL BTEC LEVEL 3 90 CREDIT DIPLOMA IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
HAZEL RAVEN
Assignment 1
What is Systems Analysis?
Joel Black
24/11/2016
,Contents
List of Figures.........................................................................................................................................1
Task 1 – The Principles of Systems Analysis: (P1)...................................................................................2
The Benefits of Structured Analysis: (P3)...............................................................................................3
Task 2 - The Stages of a Development Lifecycle: (P2).............................................................................3
The Waterfall Model:.........................................................................................................................3
Appropriate uses of Different Development Lifecycle Models: (M1).....................................................4
Agile:..................................................................................................................................................4
Rapid Application Development (RAD):.............................................................................................5
List of Figures
Joel Black Page 1
, Task 1 – The Principles of Systems Analysis: (P1)
Firstly, systems analysis is the examination of a system to analyse its goals and to see if it meets the
needed requirements. There could be three outcomes of a system analysis. Either the system may
need upgrading, the system may need replacing altogether, or nothing may need to be done. For a
system analysis to take place some key drivers need to have occurred. Key drivers are basically just
something that happens to be a reason to change. An example of a key drivers could be a need to
expand. This could be because they need to compete with other businesses or competitors or
because they need to expand their own business. Productivity may also need to be increased. Better
or more systems may be needed. For this to occur, systems analysis needs to happen. Another key
driver may be to reduce overall costs. If the company has old, inefficient systems then new or
upgraded ones may be needed. Legal requirements may also require a business to have to upgrade
their systems. Certain requirements may be needed and if a business doesn’t have those
specifications then an upgrade may have to occur.
If a systems analyst is going to analyse a system, then they need to find out what is wrong with the
old system first. They can do this by getting in contact with the regular users of the system and asking
them, giving the users a questionnaire or by looking at the system themselves. The analyst can then
evaluate this information and identify any problems. With the problems identifies, the analyst now
needs to know what to users need the new system to be able to do. This could require a simple
upgrade in some software or a completely new computer. However, the system’s analyst has to keep
in mind that they can’t just recommend something because it is what they prefer. The system has to
be specific for the users, not the analyst. For example, if the systems analyst prefers one operating
system then they can’t just recommend that one straight away. They have to look into what would be
best suited for the needs of the people who are using the systems. On the other hand, if a user really
prefers one operating system but the analyst thinks it would genuinely be a good idea to upgrade to
a newer version or a different one, then they need to explain that and convince the customer to why
they it would be a good idea to upgrade.
Systems analysts can use developments tools like data flow diagrams or activity diagrams. Data flow
diagrams are graphical interpretations of how information flows throughout a system. A data flow
diagram is created so it can be analysed and the analyst can find out how improvements can be
made to the current system. Activity diagrams are ways of showing processes and activities using a
variety of shapes. Different shapes represent different actions like diamonds for decisions or rounded
rectangles for processes/actions. Similar to the DFDs (Data flow diagrams), the activity diagrams can
be used by analysts to investigate the full system and find out what is best. The analyst can
graphically see all the processes and see what needs to specifically be done.
Development life cycles can be performed by systems analysts to ensure it is all planned and is worth
the time and effort put into the process. They set out different stages so the full project can be
undertaken efficiently. Each model is slightly different and all have different benefits and drawbacks.
These are explained in more detail in the next sections.
Joel Black Page 2
HAZEL RAVEN
Assignment 1
What is Systems Analysis?
Joel Black
24/11/2016
,Contents
List of Figures.........................................................................................................................................1
Task 1 – The Principles of Systems Analysis: (P1)...................................................................................2
The Benefits of Structured Analysis: (P3)...............................................................................................3
Task 2 - The Stages of a Development Lifecycle: (P2).............................................................................3
The Waterfall Model:.........................................................................................................................3
Appropriate uses of Different Development Lifecycle Models: (M1).....................................................4
Agile:..................................................................................................................................................4
Rapid Application Development (RAD):.............................................................................................5
List of Figures
Joel Black Page 1
, Task 1 – The Principles of Systems Analysis: (P1)
Firstly, systems analysis is the examination of a system to analyse its goals and to see if it meets the
needed requirements. There could be three outcomes of a system analysis. Either the system may
need upgrading, the system may need replacing altogether, or nothing may need to be done. For a
system analysis to take place some key drivers need to have occurred. Key drivers are basically just
something that happens to be a reason to change. An example of a key drivers could be a need to
expand. This could be because they need to compete with other businesses or competitors or
because they need to expand their own business. Productivity may also need to be increased. Better
or more systems may be needed. For this to occur, systems analysis needs to happen. Another key
driver may be to reduce overall costs. If the company has old, inefficient systems then new or
upgraded ones may be needed. Legal requirements may also require a business to have to upgrade
their systems. Certain requirements may be needed and if a business doesn’t have those
specifications then an upgrade may have to occur.
If a systems analyst is going to analyse a system, then they need to find out what is wrong with the
old system first. They can do this by getting in contact with the regular users of the system and asking
them, giving the users a questionnaire or by looking at the system themselves. The analyst can then
evaluate this information and identify any problems. With the problems identifies, the analyst now
needs to know what to users need the new system to be able to do. This could require a simple
upgrade in some software or a completely new computer. However, the system’s analyst has to keep
in mind that they can’t just recommend something because it is what they prefer. The system has to
be specific for the users, not the analyst. For example, if the systems analyst prefers one operating
system then they can’t just recommend that one straight away. They have to look into what would be
best suited for the needs of the people who are using the systems. On the other hand, if a user really
prefers one operating system but the analyst thinks it would genuinely be a good idea to upgrade to
a newer version or a different one, then they need to explain that and convince the customer to why
they it would be a good idea to upgrade.
Systems analysts can use developments tools like data flow diagrams or activity diagrams. Data flow
diagrams are graphical interpretations of how information flows throughout a system. A data flow
diagram is created so it can be analysed and the analyst can find out how improvements can be
made to the current system. Activity diagrams are ways of showing processes and activities using a
variety of shapes. Different shapes represent different actions like diamonds for decisions or rounded
rectangles for processes/actions. Similar to the DFDs (Data flow diagrams), the activity diagrams can
be used by analysts to investigate the full system and find out what is best. The analyst can
graphically see all the processes and see what needs to specifically be done.
Development life cycles can be performed by systems analysts to ensure it is all planned and is worth
the time and effort put into the process. They set out different stages so the full project can be
undertaken efficiently. Each model is slightly different and all have different benefits and drawbacks.
These are explained in more detail in the next sections.
Joel Black Page 2
