System Development refers to the process of Examining a business situation, With the intent of improving it, Through better

tter procedures and methods. System Development is having two major component Systems Analysis: understanding and specifying in detail what an information system should do System Design: specifying in detail how the parts of an information system should be implemented

Systems Analysis and Design is a systematic approach to identifying problems, opportunities, and objectives; analyzing the information flows in organizations; and designing computerized information systems to solve a problem. Systems Analysts act as outside consultants to businesses, as supporting experts within a business, and as change agents. Analysts are problem solvers, and require good communication skills.

Provides overall framework for managing systems development process Predictive approach assumes project can be planned out in advance Adaptive approach more flexible, assumes project cannot be planned out in advance

In an organization System Development Object can be achieved by following steps:

Preliminary Investigation Requirements analysis or system analysis Design of System System Testing Implementation and Maintenance

Preliminary Investigation object can be achieved in following steps:

Request Clarification Feasibility study Estimating Costs and Benefits Request Approvals

Defining the Scope and Objective of Request: As mentioned in the objectives of System development objective earlier, an analyst has to define for which objective a request for development is submitted.

Conducting the Investigation This is nothing but the Collection of data / inputs by: x x Reviewing internal documents (i.e Organizational Charts, operating procedures etc. Conducting interviews of User, Supervisory Personal and Managers

Evaluation of alternative systems through cost and benefit analysis:

Technical Feasibility: Hardware and software availability, Technical Guarantee of Accuracy, Reliability, Easy to Access, Data security, technical capacity to hold data and future expansion. Economical Feasibility: Evaluation of cost & Benefits expected. Operational Feasibility: Finding views of workers, employees, customers & suppliers about the use of new system. Schedule Feasibility: Estimation of time to take new system to become operational.

COSTS:

Development Costs: This includes cost of testing, training, start up costs, salary to designers, acquisition cost of hardware & software. Operation Costs: This includes operator salary, maintenance costs, etc. Intangible Costs: Loss of employee productivity, self confidence etc. Tangible Benefits:

BENEFITS:

  

Increase in sales / Contribution / Profits Decrease in investment, operating and processing cost. Improved information availability, analysis, Management Decision skill Increase in Goodwill / Improved Image of Business

Intangible Benefits: x

After the selection of a request for development analyst study in depth the Present and Proposed New System. This is the study of weakness & Problems in the present system and management requirements of new system. This phase of System Development is being completed in following step:
 Collection of data and facts  Analysis of Present System  Analysis of Proposed system

Every system is built to meets some set of needs and to assess these needs, the analyst often interact extensively with the people, who will be benefited from the system In order to determine the requirement of those peoples he can use following facts finding techniques:

Documents: This includes the Manuals, diagrams, forms, organizational charts etc. It should be ensured that all documents are accurate & up to date Questionnaires: These are skillfully drafted group of standard question which can be given to all personal and can be analyze quickly. Interviews: To get a complete picture of problems and opportunities. Observation: Surprise Visit of users work palace to get a clear picture of users environment.

Detailed investigation of the present system involves collecting, organizing and evaluating facts about the present system and the environment in which it operates by studying following areas in depth:
       

Review of Historical Aspects of organization Analyze Present inputs to the system Review of all data file maintained irrespective of online or offline Review methods, procedures & data communications Analyze Present outputs of system Review internal controls Model the existing physical system and logical system Undertake overall analysis of present system

After each functional area of present system is defined the purposed system specification must be defined. These specification will be based on the strength and weakness of present system. System Specification which should be in conformity with the Project Objective and Areas Covered should be following:

Output / Reports Maintenance of Database Data Inputting Process Methods and Procedures to show the relationship between Input and Output Work volume including peak period work volume

The purpose of the systems design phase is to develop an information system design that satisfies all documented requirements, whether the system design developed inhouse or purchased a package. During systems design you make a logical determination of what the system must do, not how it will done. The design is documented in the system design specification and presented to management and users for their review and approval

Before actually implementing the new system into operations, a best run of the system is done by removing all the bugs, if any, its an important phase of a successful system. A test plan should be developed and run on a given set of test data. The output of test data should match the expected results. Unit testing :-divided into units or modules.. System testing :- test the system completely and it is executed on actual data.

As the final Phase of the System Development it gives the results of the whole process and handover the new system to end users. To complete this phase a developer has to complete the following functions successfully:

Equipment Installation Training Personnel: Conversion Procedure: Post Implementation Evaluation (Feedback)

This includes following functions:

Site Preparation: Preparing the site for installation and mobilizing all required equipments and personnel at the site. Equipment Installation: Assembling and commissioning of the equipments (hardware) and installation of software Equipment Checkout: Organize test runs of the system with sample actual data and thereafter if it performs satisfactory than with the live actual data.

Since user are not familiar with the New System, System Development Process includes training of System Operators: IT personnel who will handle the system maintenance in the future. Users (Operators): The final user who will work on the system. If there are deficiencies in Training, these may translate into reduction in user Productivity Levels

This is the time when organization switch over from old system to new developed system. Following are the Strategies / Methods for conversion / Changeover of old system to new system.
 Direct Changeover: Direct closing the old system and starting the new one.  Parallel Changeover: for sometime operating both system simultaneously.  Gradual Changeover: Department wise switch over to new systems.  Distributed Changeover: Any other method which management feels good for organization.

Analysis of Satisfaction of Users or checking whether system is Operating Properly or whether Objectives of System Development is achieved or not, is the most important function in whole System Development process. This is also important for development of new system in future since each development gives some experiences and lists some things to be taken care off. Post Implementation Evaluation includes following area:
 Development Evaluation: Check whether development was done within schedule and budgets.  Operation Evaluation: Check whether system is capable for handling the duties and objective of development is achieved  Information Evaluation: Check Satisfaction of users etc.