Solution Manual for Dennis, Wixom, Roth Systems Analysis and Design, 8th
Edition
Chapter1:The Systems Analyst and
Information Systems Development
Answer to Your Turn 1-1: Being an Analyst
Student answers will vary, depending on their preferences regarding being a: 1) systems
analyst, 2) business analyst, 3) requirements analyst, 4) infrastructure analyst, or 5)
change management analyst. Verify that the student has correctly associated the skills
needed with the type of analyst for which they aspire and that the student has created a
plan to acquire those skills. The roles and the names used to describe them may vary
from organization to organization.
Answer to Your Turn 1-2: Implementing a Satellite Data Network
While answers may vary, answers might include the following:
1. A cost-benefit analysis, along with other financial processes (ROI, etc.) would
certainly reveal that a just-in-time (JIT) inventory can reduce inventory costs and
increase revenue. A standard communication line, encrypted or not, would not be
able to handle the high bandwidth needed for data, voice and video transmissions.
2. A competitor would be able to narrow the gap by adopting the JIT type of
inventory management. Voice and video are not necessary to keep the inventory
up to date on a timely basis, data transmissions alone would work well.
1-1
, Answer to Your Turn 1-3: Too Much Paper, Part 1
System Request
Element Description
Sponsor Document Manager.
Business Need Increase efficiency in storing, updating, and retrieving
information on employee injury claims.
Business Requirements Automated system which allows for electronic
submission of reports via a secure web site.
Business Value Reduce response time for employee inquiries, increase
effectiveness of storing, updating, and retrieving
employee injury claims. Reduce storage costs of paper
files.
Special Issues Must have someone who understands how to create and
maintain a secure web site. Must have resources to
migrate paper files to data storage. Must work within
HIPAA guidelines to ensure that medical documents
are treated according to regulations.
Answer to Your Turn 1-4: Too Much Paper, Part 2
1. Issues arising from digital signatures and electronic documents typically focus on
establishing validity for signatures and originators. As these issues can be
overcome using certificates and encryption, they don‘t necessarily affect the
project feasibility. However, they do need to be addressed.
2. Answers will vary. The project champion, organizational management, and
perhaps most importantly a subset of the stakeholders must believe in and show
support for the project. One solution would be to plan and provide for sufficient
training that demonstrates how their jobs might be easier to accomplish with the
automated system.
Answer to Concepts in Action 1-A: An Array of IT Failures
Qantas provides for an ―ice-breaker‖ discussion topic for the first class. Perhaps group
the students and have them discuss this company and then provide for class discussion
about the importance of IT project success.
Answer to Concepts in Action 1-B: BPI on the Farm
Efficiency gains are mentioned in this Concept in Action. What are the drawbacks to this
scenario? Is it as easy as it seems? Issues such as Wi-Fi coverage on a farm, perhaps even
cellular coverage can come into play as can weather, dust, and other issues inherent with
a farming enterprise.
1-2
, Answer to Concepts in Action 1-C: Interview with Don Hallacy, President,
Technology Services, Sprint Corporation
This is an opportune time to identify the responsibilities of the differing roles that an
analyst serves.
Answer to Concepts in Action 1-D: Intangible Value at Carlson Hospitality
Carlson Hospitality can use the information from the survey to determine whether the
one-point increase in market share revenue ($20 million per point) will offset costs
associated with increasing the level of services to high-quality customers which would
result in a 10% increase in customer satisfaction.
Answer to Concepts in Action 1-E: Return on Investment
1. One method for determining a return on investment is to complete a Cost-Benefit
Analysis using the Present Value Method. Many of the costs for server
virtualization are associated with the initial construction: physical manipulation of
the servers and software licensing. The ongoing costs of labor in updating and
accessing tables would be relatively small. Using this type of analysis would
allow the project sponsors to show how the benefits of the virtualization would be
realized on a long term basis.
2. Implementing a major change to a system should certainly include a systems
analyst. Systems analysts typically have a broad view of the system, and would be
able to ascertain how virtualizing the servers will affect the whole system.
Answers to End of Chapter Questions
1. List and describe the six general skills all project team members should have.
[1] Technical skills (knowledge of how to employ technology in development system
solutions). [2] Business skills (knowledge of how to apply IT to business problems to
achieve a valuable solution). [3] Analytical skills (ability to solve complex problems).
[4] Interpersonal skills (oral and written communication skills with both technical and
non-technical audiences). [5] Management skills (ability to manage others and cope
with an uncertain environment). [6] Ethical skills (ability to deal with others honestly
and ethically).
2. What are the major roles on a project team?
1-3
, Business analyst – emphasis on the business issues addressed by the system: value of
new system; identification of problems and opportunities; revision of business
processes and policies.
Systems analyst – emphasis on IS issues of the system: how IT can be used to
support business processes; design of new business process and IS; and enforcement
of IS standards.
Infrastructure analyst – technical issues associated with integrating new system
components to existing technical infrastructure.
Requirements analyst – eliciting the requirements of the new system from all
stakeholders. They understand the business well, are excellent communicators, and
are highly skilled in obtaining system requirements.
Change management analyst – emphasis on facilitating organizational adaptation to
new system. Helping to identify and overcome resistance to change and assuring
adequate training and documentation of new system.
Project manager – ensuring that progress is made on the project; time schedules and
budgets are met; supervision of project team; and manage relations with project
sponsor and users.
3. Compare and contrast the role of a systems analyst, business analyst, and
infrastructure analyst.
These three roles emphasize different perspectives on the system. The business
analyst represents the sponsor/users interests, while the systems analyst knows how to
apply IS to support business needs. Together, the systems analyst and the business
analyst can design a system that conforms to the IS standards while adding value to
the business. The infrastructure analyst has more technical knowledge and provides
the team with technical constraints, or identifies infrastructure changes that the new
system will require.
4. Compare and contrast the role of requirements analyst, change management analyst,
and project manager.
These three roles also emphasize different perspectives on the system. The
requirements analyst focuses on eliciting the requirements from the system
stakeholders. The change management analyst focuses on people and managing
issues surrounding the installation of the system. The project manager ensures that the
project is completed on time and within budget and that the system delivers the
expected value to the organization.
5. Describe the major phases in the systems development life cycle (SDLC).
The planning phase focuses on determining if there is justification to build an
information system and developing a plan to accomplish the development project.
The analysis phase is focused on understanding the existing situation and determining
the needs and requirements expected from the new system. The design phase refines
the system requirements (from analysis) and develops specifications for how the new
1-4
Edition
Chapter1:The Systems Analyst and
Information Systems Development
Answer to Your Turn 1-1: Being an Analyst
Student answers will vary, depending on their preferences regarding being a: 1) systems
analyst, 2) business analyst, 3) requirements analyst, 4) infrastructure analyst, or 5)
change management analyst. Verify that the student has correctly associated the skills
needed with the type of analyst for which they aspire and that the student has created a
plan to acquire those skills. The roles and the names used to describe them may vary
from organization to organization.
Answer to Your Turn 1-2: Implementing a Satellite Data Network
While answers may vary, answers might include the following:
1. A cost-benefit analysis, along with other financial processes (ROI, etc.) would
certainly reveal that a just-in-time (JIT) inventory can reduce inventory costs and
increase revenue. A standard communication line, encrypted or not, would not be
able to handle the high bandwidth needed for data, voice and video transmissions.
2. A competitor would be able to narrow the gap by adopting the JIT type of
inventory management. Voice and video are not necessary to keep the inventory
up to date on a timely basis, data transmissions alone would work well.
1-1
, Answer to Your Turn 1-3: Too Much Paper, Part 1
System Request
Element Description
Sponsor Document Manager.
Business Need Increase efficiency in storing, updating, and retrieving
information on employee injury claims.
Business Requirements Automated system which allows for electronic
submission of reports via a secure web site.
Business Value Reduce response time for employee inquiries, increase
effectiveness of storing, updating, and retrieving
employee injury claims. Reduce storage costs of paper
files.
Special Issues Must have someone who understands how to create and
maintain a secure web site. Must have resources to
migrate paper files to data storage. Must work within
HIPAA guidelines to ensure that medical documents
are treated according to regulations.
Answer to Your Turn 1-4: Too Much Paper, Part 2
1. Issues arising from digital signatures and electronic documents typically focus on
establishing validity for signatures and originators. As these issues can be
overcome using certificates and encryption, they don‘t necessarily affect the
project feasibility. However, they do need to be addressed.
2. Answers will vary. The project champion, organizational management, and
perhaps most importantly a subset of the stakeholders must believe in and show
support for the project. One solution would be to plan and provide for sufficient
training that demonstrates how their jobs might be easier to accomplish with the
automated system.
Answer to Concepts in Action 1-A: An Array of IT Failures
Qantas provides for an ―ice-breaker‖ discussion topic for the first class. Perhaps group
the students and have them discuss this company and then provide for class discussion
about the importance of IT project success.
Answer to Concepts in Action 1-B: BPI on the Farm
Efficiency gains are mentioned in this Concept in Action. What are the drawbacks to this
scenario? Is it as easy as it seems? Issues such as Wi-Fi coverage on a farm, perhaps even
cellular coverage can come into play as can weather, dust, and other issues inherent with
a farming enterprise.
1-2
, Answer to Concepts in Action 1-C: Interview with Don Hallacy, President,
Technology Services, Sprint Corporation
This is an opportune time to identify the responsibilities of the differing roles that an
analyst serves.
Answer to Concepts in Action 1-D: Intangible Value at Carlson Hospitality
Carlson Hospitality can use the information from the survey to determine whether the
one-point increase in market share revenue ($20 million per point) will offset costs
associated with increasing the level of services to high-quality customers which would
result in a 10% increase in customer satisfaction.
Answer to Concepts in Action 1-E: Return on Investment
1. One method for determining a return on investment is to complete a Cost-Benefit
Analysis using the Present Value Method. Many of the costs for server
virtualization are associated with the initial construction: physical manipulation of
the servers and software licensing. The ongoing costs of labor in updating and
accessing tables would be relatively small. Using this type of analysis would
allow the project sponsors to show how the benefits of the virtualization would be
realized on a long term basis.
2. Implementing a major change to a system should certainly include a systems
analyst. Systems analysts typically have a broad view of the system, and would be
able to ascertain how virtualizing the servers will affect the whole system.
Answers to End of Chapter Questions
1. List and describe the six general skills all project team members should have.
[1] Technical skills (knowledge of how to employ technology in development system
solutions). [2] Business skills (knowledge of how to apply IT to business problems to
achieve a valuable solution). [3] Analytical skills (ability to solve complex problems).
[4] Interpersonal skills (oral and written communication skills with both technical and
non-technical audiences). [5] Management skills (ability to manage others and cope
with an uncertain environment). [6] Ethical skills (ability to deal with others honestly
and ethically).
2. What are the major roles on a project team?
1-3
, Business analyst – emphasis on the business issues addressed by the system: value of
new system; identification of problems and opportunities; revision of business
processes and policies.
Systems analyst – emphasis on IS issues of the system: how IT can be used to
support business processes; design of new business process and IS; and enforcement
of IS standards.
Infrastructure analyst – technical issues associated with integrating new system
components to existing technical infrastructure.
Requirements analyst – eliciting the requirements of the new system from all
stakeholders. They understand the business well, are excellent communicators, and
are highly skilled in obtaining system requirements.
Change management analyst – emphasis on facilitating organizational adaptation to
new system. Helping to identify and overcome resistance to change and assuring
adequate training and documentation of new system.
Project manager – ensuring that progress is made on the project; time schedules and
budgets are met; supervision of project team; and manage relations with project
sponsor and users.
3. Compare and contrast the role of a systems analyst, business analyst, and
infrastructure analyst.
These three roles emphasize different perspectives on the system. The business
analyst represents the sponsor/users interests, while the systems analyst knows how to
apply IS to support business needs. Together, the systems analyst and the business
analyst can design a system that conforms to the IS standards while adding value to
the business. The infrastructure analyst has more technical knowledge and provides
the team with technical constraints, or identifies infrastructure changes that the new
system will require.
4. Compare and contrast the role of requirements analyst, change management analyst,
and project manager.
These three roles also emphasize different perspectives on the system. The
requirements analyst focuses on eliciting the requirements from the system
stakeholders. The change management analyst focuses on people and managing
issues surrounding the installation of the system. The project manager ensures that the
project is completed on time and within budget and that the system delivers the
expected value to the organization.
5. Describe the major phases in the systems development life cycle (SDLC).
The planning phase focuses on determining if there is justification to build an
information system and developing a plan to accomplish the development project.
The analysis phase is focused on understanding the existing situation and determining
the needs and requirements expected from the new system. The design phase refines
the system requirements (from analysis) and develops specifications for how the new
1-4
