systems analysis

202 Pages·2001·0.94 MB·English

Diploma
in

Business Administration

Study Manual
SYSTEMS ANALYSIS
The Association of Business Executives
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ABE Diploma in Business Administration
Study Manual
SYSTEMS ANALYSIS
Contents
Study Title Page
Unit

Syllabus i

1 Information and Systems 1
Information and Data 3
Information Needs 3
Types of Information 5
Management Information 8
Systems Theory 10
Objectives of a System 12
A Basic Information System 13
Decision Support Systems 14

2 Computing within Organisations 16
The Development Life Cycle 18
Systems Analysis – Feasibility Study 20
Systems Analysis - Data Collection 25

3 Systems Development and Project Management
Approaches to System Development 31
“Hard” and “Soft” Systems 36
Characteristics of a “Good” Systems Analysis Methodology 38
Selecting an Appropriate Methodology 41
Management of Change 41
Project Management 44
Problems During Development 46
Rules of Project Management 48
Specific Development Controls 49
Control Techniques 50
4 System Specification
The Development Life Cycle 59
Specification of Requirements 62
The Personnel Involved 65
Systems Investigation 71
The Feasibility or Initial Study 79
Using Consultants 84

5 System Design
Logical and Physical Design 88
The Design Stage 89
System Design Specification 92
Design Considerations 93
Human-Computer Interface 96

6 Approaches to Systems Analysis and Design
Structured Systems Analysis and Design Methodology 102
Working with Users 105
Rapid Application Development (RAD) 110
Joint Application Development (JAD) 110
Skilled Small Team Development 112
Prototyping 112
Computer Aided Software Engineering (CASE) 114

7 Data Flow Diagrams
System Definition 118
Structured Systems Analysis and Design Methodology (SSADM) 118
Data Flow Diagrams (DFDs) 119
Drawing Data Flow Diagrams 123
Advantages and Disadvantages of DFDS 124
Worked Examples 125

8 Data Modelling
Entity-Relationship Models (Or Logical Data Structures) 128
Worked Example 131
Data Dictionaries 133
Case Tools 135
Normalisation 136
Fitting The Techniques Together 138

9 Entity Life Histories
ELH Notation 142
Interrelationship Between The DFD, Entity-Relationship Model 148
And The ELH.
Worked Example 148
10 Standards and Documentation
The Role and Scope of Standards 152
The Standards Manual 155
Other Documentation 156
Using Standard Forms 158

11 Systems Implementation
The Implementation Process 162
User Involvement 165
Changeover Strategies 165
Post-Implementation Reviews 171
Training 175

12 System Maintenance and Security
Monitoring 180
Systems Maintenance 181
Database Maintenance 182
System Enhancements 183
Need for System Security 184
Security Measures 187

i
Diploma in Business Administration – Part 2
Systems Analysis
Syllabus

Aims
1. To give students an understanding of the tasks involved in designing a new information system
to meet an organisation’s specific requirements.
2. To enable students to create the major models used in the analysis and design of information
systems.
3. To enable students to contribute towards the design of an organisation’s information system
taking into consideration the technological and human aspects of the design.

Programme Content and Learning Objectives
After completing the programme, the student should be able to:
1. Information systems: background and theory
(cid:1) Understand the development of systems analysis over the past century.
(cid:1) Understand how a system may be defined and its attributes identified.
(cid:1) Understand how information may be defined and its attributes identified.
2. The systems analysis and design framework
(cid:1) Understand the need for and the logic of the Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC).
3. Structures systems analysis and design
(cid:1) Understand the need for a more thorough analysis of systems by the use of various
structured approaches known under the generic term of Structured Systems Analysis
(SSA).
4. Systems analysis tools and techniques: the process model
(cid:1) Understand the reason for, and creation of, Data Flow Diagrams (DFDs).
5. Systems analysis tools and techniques: the entity model
(cid:1) Understand the reason for, and creation of, entity relationship diagrams/models
(ERDs/ERMs).
6. Systems analysis tools and techniques: the behavioural model.
(cid:1) Understand the reason for, and creation of, Entity Life Histories (ELHs).

© Copyright ABE
ii
7. Systems analysis tools and techniques: CASE tools
(cid:1) Understand the need for Computer Aided Systems Engineering (CASE) tools in the work
of a systems analyst.
(cid:1) Understand the use of prototyping techniques in the reduction of a system’s development
time.
8. Cross life cycle tasks
(cid:1) Understand the need for the tools and techniques of project management, fact finding,
documentation, quality management, interpersonal and presentation skills.

Method of Assessment
By written examination. The pass mark is 40%. Time allowed 3 hours.
The question paper will contain:
Eight questions from which the candidate will be required to answer any four. All questions carry 25
marks.

Reading List
Essential Reading
(cid:1) Yeates, D., Shields, M. and Helmy, D. Systems Analysis and Design; Pitman Publishing
(cid:1) Robinson, B. and Prior, M. System Analysis Techniques; International Thomson Computer
Press
Additional Reading
(cid:1) Lucey, T. Management Information Systems, 8th Edition; DP Publications
(cid:1) Weaver, P. L. Practical SSADM V4; Pitman Publishing
(cid:1) Laudon, K. J. C. and Laudon, J. P. Management Information Systems, 5th Edition; Prentice
Hall (see chapter 11 in particular)

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1
Study Unit 1
Information and Systems
Contents Page
A. Information and Data 3
B. Information Needs 3
Role of Managers 3
How Much Detail is Needed? 4
Timeliness 4
Accuracy 4
Rarity 5
Quality of Information 5
C. Types of Information 5
Operating Information 6
Management Information 7
Trigger Information 7
Background Information 8
D. Management Information 8
Regular Reports 8
On-Demand Reports 8
Ad-Hoc Reports 8
Exception Reports 9
Analyses 9
Forecasting 9
E. Systems Theory 10
System Properties 10
Probabilistic and Deterministic 11
Open and Closed 11
Quantitative and Qualitative 12
(Continued over)
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2 Information and Systems
F. Objectives of a System 12
Necessity for an Overriding Objective 12
Objectives of a Wider Context 12
How Objectives are Created 13
G. A Basic Information System 13
H. Decision Support Systems 14
Decision Theory 14
Role of Computer Systems 14
MIS, EIS and DSS 15
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