Systems Analysis and

Design, and Modeling

MGS567 –Analysis Modeling and Design
Professor Rajiv Kishore
Systems Analysis and Design
Ê Systems Analysis
Ê understand and specify an information system (existing or proposed)
Ê the “PROBLEM” domain
Ê the “WHAT” of the information system
Ê the “ESSENCE” of the information system

Ê Systems Design
Ê design and specify an information system (usually proposed system only)
Ê the “SOLUTION” domain
Ê the “HOW” of the information system
Ê the “IMPLEMENTATION” of the information system

Ê The “Mouse” Example

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The Layering of What and How
What Level 1

How Level 2 What

What Level 3 How

How Level 4

Level …

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Systems Development Life Cycle

Ê The entire process consisting of all activities required to

build, launch, and maintain an information system
Ê Identify the problem or need and obtain approval
Ê Plan and monitor the project
Ê Discover and understand the details of the problem or need
Ê Design the system components that solve the problem or
satisfy the need
Ê Build, test, and integrate system components
Ê Complete system tests and then deploy the solution

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Iterative and Agile Systems Development
Lifecycle (SDLC)

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But what is a system?
 The Systems View Initial Thinking:
Von Bertalanffy, Herbert Simon, and others, circa 1960s

Environment

System System
Boundary
Inputs
System
Components

Outputs

Assets (Resources)

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Explaining Systems using the Systems
View

Ê Healthcare System

Ê Transportation System

Ê University System

Ê Information System

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 The IPOD Model of Information Systems
System Interface (Boundary)

Process
Inputs Outputs

Data Information
Programs
I- Input
P- Process
O -Output
D-Data Store

Data
Store

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The Automation Boundary

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Information Systems and Subsystems

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Information Systems and Component
Parts

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Information Systems and Computer Apps

Ê Computer application (app) – a computer

software program that executes on a computing
device to carry out a specific set of functions
Ê Modest scope

Ê Information system – a set of interrelated

components that collects, processes, stores,
and provides as output the information needed
to complete business tasks
Ê Broader in scope than “app”
Ê Includes database and related manual processes

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Systems Analyst Skills
Knowledge and Skills of a Systems
Analyst

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Business Knowledge and Skills
Ê What business functions do organizations perform?

Ê How are organizations structured?

Ê How are organizations managed?

Ê What type of work goes on in organizations (finance, manufacturing,

marketing, customer service, etc.)?

Ê What does the specific organization do?

Ê What makes it successful?

Ê What are the strategies and plans of a specific organization?

Ê What are the traditions and values of a specific organization?

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People Knowledge and Skills
Ê Interpersonal skills
Ê because analysts rely on others, including managers, users, programmers,
technical specialists, customers, and vendors, to take a system from initial
idea to final implementation

Ê The analyst must

Ê develop rapport with users who may be resistant to change
Ê negotiate with management for such resources as budget, time, and
personnel, and
Ê manage development personnel with many different skills, capabilities,
and attitudes

Ê The analyst must be an effective teacher, mentor, confidant,

collaborator, manager, and leader, shifting easily among those roles
many times over the course of a typical work day

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Technical Knowledge and Skills

Ê Computers and how do they work

Ê File, database, and storage hardware and software

Ê Input and output hardware and software

Ê Computer networks and protocols

Ê Programming languages, operating systems, and utilities

Ê Communication and collaboration technology such as digital

telephones, videoconferencing, and Web-based document
management systems
Business Systems Analysts need only high level technical knowledge and skills

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Making Assumptions as an Analyst

Ê Do NOT make unnecessary assumptions in analysis work

without knowing they are assumptions
Ê If unclear about something, ask the domain experts – the users

Ê Solve the problem below WITHOUT making unnecessary

assumptions:

Ê There were six apples in a basket and six girls in a room.

Each girl took one apple, yet one apple remained in the
basket! How come?

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Systems Modeling
System Models and Systems Modeling

Ê How do we define/specify system requirements?

Ê After collecting information, create models

Ê Model
Ê a representation of some aspect of the system being built

Ê Types of Models
Ê Textual model– something written down, described
Ê Graphical models– diagram, schematic
Ê Mathematical models– formulas, statistics, algorithms

Ê Unified Modeling Language (UML)

Ê Standard graphical modeling symbols/terminology used for modeling
information systems

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Types of Models

Ê Textual
Ê Line

Ê Graphical

Ê Mathematical
Ê y = mx + c

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Some UML Models

þ þ

þ þ þ

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Reasons for Systems Modeling
Ê Precise and accurate specification of system requirements
Ê Removing ambiguity from system requirements specifications

Ê Identifying gaps in information gathering

Ê Remember, no assumption making

Ê Reducing complexity by abstraction

Ê Removing unnecessary details

Ê Learning from the modeling process

Ê Asking the right questions is tough, systems modeling helps

Ê Communicating with others

Ê Both programmers and users

Ê Documenting the system for future maintenance/enhancement

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Summary and Recap
Ê Systems Analysis and Systems Design
Ê Systems Development Life Cycle

Ê The Systems View

Ê Information Systems
Ê The IPOD Model of Information Systems
Ê The Automation Boundary

Ê Systems Analysts
Ê Do NOT make assumptions

Ê Systems Modeling

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