System Design and Analysis KEY TERMS 1. Business process reengineering(BPR) 2. Closed-ended questions 3. Disruptive technologies 4.

Informal system 5. Joint Application Design (JAD) 6. JAD session leader 7. Key business processes 8. Nominal Group Technique (NGT) 9. Open-ended-questions 10. Prototyping 11. Scribe 12. Formal system Match each of the key terms above with the definition that best fits it Open-ended questions-Questions in interviews that ask those responding to choose from among a set of specified responses Disruptive technologies Technologies that enable the breaking of long-held business rules that inhibit organization from making radical business changes Nominal Group Technique (NGT) A facilitated process that supports idea generation by groups. At the beginning of the process, group members work alone to generate ideas, which are then pooled under the guidance of a trained facilitator Key business processesThe structured, measured set of activities designed to produce a specific output for a particular customer or market PrototypingAn iterative process in which requirements are converted to a working system that is continually revised through organized user collaboration Formal systemThe official way a system works as described in organizational documentation Business process reengineering(BPR)The search for, and implementation of, radical change in business processes to achieve breakthrough improvements in products and services Informal systemThe way a system actually works JAD session leaderThe person who makes detailed notes of the happenings at a JAD session.

Scribe

Questions in interviews that have no pre-specified answers

Closed-ended questionsThe trained individual who plans and leads JAD sessions Joint Application Design (JAD) A structured process in which users, managers, and analysts work together for several days in a series of meetings to clarify or review requirements Review Questions
1. Describe systems analysis and the major activities that occur during this phase of the

systems development life cycle. Systems analysis is the part of the systems development life cycle in which you determine how the current information system functions and assess what users would like to see in a new system. The three primary systems analysis activities or subphases in analysis are as follows: 1. Requirements determination 2. Requirements structuring 3. Alternative generation and choice or selection During systems analysis, determine how the current information system functions and assess what users would like to see in a new system.

2. Describe four traditional techniques for collecting information during analysis. When

might one be better than another?

Traditional techniques for collecting requirements include interviewing and listening, administering questionnaires, observing users, and analyzing procedures and other documents. The four traditional techniques for collecting information during analysis are as follows: 1. Interviewing and listening- Involves talking with users individually or as a group to discover their views about the current and target systems; it also involves carefully preparing an interview outline and guide before conducting the interview. Interviews are best done when only a few people are involved, when you need openended questions or the questions vary from individual to individual, or when a more personal method is needed. Interviewing and listening involves speaking with users individually or as a group to discover their views about the current and target systems; it also involves carefully preparing an interview outline and guide before conducting the interview. Interviews are best done when only a few people are involved, when you use open-ended questions or the questions vary from individual to individual, or when a more personal method is needed.

2. Administering questionnaires- Involves designing a questionnaire and determining who should respond to it; this method is typically used when there are too many key users to interview individually. Questionnaires are best when many people are involved, each person is to answer roughly the same questions, and people are remote or do not need personal care. Administering questionnairesinvolves designing a questionnaire and determining who should respond to it; this method is typically used when there are too many key users to interview individually. Questionnaires are best when many people are involved, each person is to answer roughly the same questions, and people are remote or do not need personal care. 3. Directly observing users- involves watching how people work in order to uncover information users may not be consciously aware of. Direct observation is best when detailed or complicated procedures must be documented, when you do not want people to know they are giving you information you need, when only a few people are involved, and observational data are representative of all situations. Directly observing usersinvolves watching how people work in order to uncover information. Direct observation is best when detailed or complicated procedures must be documented, when you do not want people to know they are giving you information you need, when only a few people are involved, and observational data are representative of all situations. 4. Analyzing procedures and other documents- involves identifying and collecting written procedures, forms, reports, and other relevant documents in order to better identify data and processes that would be part of the current and target systems. Analyzing documents is the best technique when documents are complete and unbiased, when other forms of requirements determination are too obtrusive, and when history must be studied and people do not have first hand data about history. Analyzing procedures and other documents involves identifying and collecting written procedures, forms, reports, and other relevant documents in order to better identify data and processes that would be part of the current and target systems. Analyzing documents is the best technique when documents are complete and unbiased, when other forms of requirements determination are too obtrusive, and when history must be studied and people do not have firsthand data about history. Interviews provide large amounts of rich, detailed information, but they are expensive to conduct in terms of the time they demand. Questionnaires, on the other hand, can reach many people at once, making them relatively less costly than interviews, but the collected data is not as rich or as plentiful as is the case with interviews. Both techniques involve careful planning and execution to be successful. Deciding which technique to use depends on several factors, such as the size and complexity of the information system under study,

the size and complexity of the organization in which the system resides, available funding, and the expertise and preferences of the analysts.
3. What is JAD? How is it better than traditional information-gathering techniques? What are

its weaknesses?

Joint Application Design or JAD is a structured process in which users, managers, and analysts work together for several days in a series of intensive meetings to specify or review system requirements. Its better than traditional techniques because you have all key personnel in one place at one time, savingeveryone time and resulting in high levels of system ownership as more people have more of a role in the development process. Weaknesses include the level of commitment necessary to make the JAD work, the high degree of required planning, and the typical lack of computer support. JAD is better than traditional techniques because you have all key personnel in one place at one time, saving everyone time and resulting in high levels of system ownership as more people have more of a role in the development process. Weaknesses include the level of commitment necessary to make the JAD work, the high degree of required planning, and the typical lack of computer support.
4. How has computing been used to support requirements determination?

Computing has been used to support requirements determination in the form of CASE tools, group support systems, and prototyping.
5.

How can NGT be used for requirements determination?

The Nominal Group Technique is a facilitated process that supports idea generation by groups. NGT encourages individuals to identify and prioritize problems with an existing system or requirements for a new system.
6. How can CASE tools be used to support requirements determination? Which type of CASE

tools are appropriate for use during requirements determination? CASE tools can support requirements determination by supporting JAD and prototyping with diagramming, form and report design, repository access, and prototyping tools. The bestsuited CASE tools are upper CASE tools.
7. Describe how prototyping can be used during requirements determination. How is it

better or worse than traditional methods?

Prototyping can be used during requirements determination to collect user requirements and present them in the form of a working system prototype. Users can look at, play with, and compare the prototype to their system requirements. Analysts can then adjust the prototype to better fit what the users have in mind. Prototyping is better than traditional methods

where system requirements are not well understood, where few users that are stakeholders are involved, where designs may be complex, where there have been past communication problems, and where the necessary tools are readily available. Prototyping may be worse than traditional methods where formal requirements are not documented, where prototypes become idiosyncratic to the initial user, where issues of data sharing and integration with other systems are ignored, and where SDLC checks are bypassed.
8. When conducting a business process reengineering study, what should you look for when

trying to identify business processes to change? Why?

As part of the BPR effort, key business processes should be identified. Key business processes are the structured, measured set of activities designed to produce a specific output for a particular customer or market. Once these key business processes have been identified, those activities that can be radically improved should be identified. Primary candidates include those activities that are viewed as important, changeable, or dysfunctional. Benefits of BPR include radical improvements in speed, quality, and customer satisfaction.
9. What are disruptive technologies and how do they enable organization to radically

change their business processes?

Disruptive technologies enable the breaking of long-held business rules that inhibit organizations from making radical business changes. Disruptive technologies enable companies to apply information technology innovatively. Consider the concept of a virtual university. Is this an acceptable application of a disruptive technology? Group support systems provide unique benefits for group requirements determination by providing everyone the opportunity for equal participation through typing instead of talking, and anonymity allows the shy and those afraid of criticism to participate.
10. Why is continual user involvement a useful way to discover system requirements? Under

what conditions it might be used? Under what conditions might it not be used?

As part of the BPR effort, key business processes should be identified. Key business processes are the structured, measured set of activities designed to produce a specific output for a particular customer or market. Once these key business processes have been identified, activities that can be radically improved should be identified. Primary candidates include activities that are viewed as important, changeable, or dysfunctional. BPR benefits include radical improvements in speed, quality, and customer satisfaction.
11. Describe Agile Usage-Centered Design. Describe the Planning Game. Compare and

contrast these two requirements determination techniques.

Disruptive technologies enable the breaking of long-held business rules that inhibit organizations from making radical business changes. Disruptive technologies enable companies to innovatively apply information technology. As a point of discussion, ask

students to discuss the concept of a virtual university. Is this an acceptable application of disruptive technology?
12. What are characteristics that a good systems analyst should have for gathering

requirements?

The characteristics that a good systems analyst should have for gathering requirements statements represents the impartiality characteristic of a good systems analystYour role is to find the best solution to a business problem or opportunity. Analysts gathering information from as many sources as possible about what the new system should do is indicative ofrequirements determination The statements represents the impertinence characteristic of a good systems analyst is you should question everything. The statements represents the reframing characteristic of a good systems analyst is you must challenge yourself to look at the organization in new ways
13. Contrast the formal and informal systems while analyzing business procedures, and

explain how both are important. In contrast, to the formal system the informal system is the way a system actually works is referred to as and the formal system refers to the official way a system works as described in organizational documentation..