Network Design and Implementation: Steps

1. Feasibility study
2. Network Project Plan
3. Description of the Current Network
4. New Network Requirements
5. Identifying Geographic Scope
6. Circuit Requirement Calculations
7. Network Security and Control Requirements
8. Network Configurations
9. Network Cost Calculations
10. Implementation
 1. Feasibility Study
The purpose of a feasibility study is to determine the
possibility of improving the current network or developing a
new network.
The primary purpose of the feasibility study is to identify the
problem which could be solved or an opportunity which
could be ceased by the network development project (clearly,
in writing).
The feasibility study can be based on
a needs assessment in the organization
competition
a business opportunity
inter-organizational relationships
globalization
.etc
 1. Feasibility Study continued...
The result of the phase is a Feasibility Study Report:
the problem or the opportunity described
objectives for the potential network development project (major,
intermediate, wishes)
potential solutions (one is never enough)
technical, operational, and economic feasibility of potential solutions
recommendation
The Feasibility Study usually results in a decision
start the network development project
extend the feasibility study (clarifications, new alternative solutions,
change of scope)
postpone the project
reject.
Some Examples of Objectives for NW dev.
implementing an electronic commerce business idea (e.g.,
electronic payment services for small businesses using EDI,
the WWW and the Internet)
competitive advantage
improving quality of service
faster delivery of information/digital products
implementing virtual teams
need to improve
communications channels
need to bust organizational boundaries
need to reengineer
improving the corporate infrastructure
cost containment
 2. Network Project Plan
The purpose of the Network Project Plan is to
describe project phases
produce project resource plans (people, hours, equipment, funding etc.)
describe the project organization
produce timetables
determine checkpoints
define deliverables
evaluation criteria for the network development project
The result of the Network Project Plan phase is a detailed
report which describes the concrete steps, timetables,
resources and funding requirements for reaching the
objectives defined in the feasibility study.
 3. Description of the Current Network
The purpose of the Description of the Current Network is to
gain complete understanding of the current situation in order
to design the network.
This translates into:
1. describing the current network
applications and their data transmission needs
nodes and their operating systems
networks (network types, operating systems, devices and circuits)
descriptions are presented in the organizational context (geographical
locations, organizational units, ranks and numbers of users, informal
organizations)
2. describing the information needs for the new network (see 1.)
 3. Description of the Current Network continued...
Techniques include
interviews
researching the applications and networks
estimating and sampling for volumes, timings and patterns
comparing the current network and existing alternatives.
The result of the phase is a Current Network
Description. It includes
organization charts
geographical network configurations
summaries of interviews
summaries of comparisons
data flow diagrams
4. New Network Requirements
The purpose of New Network Requirements phase is to
produce a list of requirements for the new network.
Requirements are derived from the objectives (see Feasibility
Study) and refined by the results obtained in previous phases.
Requirements are influenced by the the organization’s long
and short term plans (strategic plans, IT strategic plans,
plans of refocusing the business changes in products or
services, organizational change, growth, downsizing,
acquisitions, mergers, spin offs etc.)
The result of the Network Requirement Phase is a detailed
list of business requirements translated into technical
requirements (e.g., circuit capacities, processing times,
reliability, security, speed requirements).
Requirements can be mandatory, desirable or wished.
 5. Identify Geographic Scope
The purpose of Identifying Geographic Scope is to produce
an accurate, detailed geographic map of the new network.
The scope of the network can be:
international
country
city or state
local facility
Start with the highest level
Draw connections (lines, concentrator sites, multipoint
locations)
for international, country, city or state use maps
for local facilities use blue prints of the building
The result of the phase is detailed maps and drawings of the
 6. Circuit Requirement Calculations
The purpose of Circuit Requirement Calculations is to
produce a detailed estimate of the transmission capacity
required.
Circuit Requirement Calculations include
total characters transmitted per day (and/or hour) on each circuit
(average or peak circuit traffic)
message volumes (current and estimated) (accuracy often not major
concern)
response time criteria and evaluations
The result of the phase is traffic analysis reports. Circuit
requirements are added to the maps drawn in the previous
phase (5. Identify Geographic Scope).
7. Network Security and Control Requirements
The purpose of Network Security and Control Requirements
phase is to include all security and control mechanisms into
the new network plans.
Security and control requirements are derived from the
organization’s security policies.
The result of the Network Security and Control phase is a
detailed document of the security and control requirements
concerning the new network. This document refers to the
geographic maps and blue prints.
 8. Network Configurations
The purpose of Network Configurations phase is to configure
the circuits, hardware, and software between the computers
in the network.
The steps (iterative):
evaluating software (may limit hardware and network protocol choices)
evaluating hardware
designing the type and
placement of network circuits choosing network protocols (e.g.,
TCP/IP, SNA)
considerations: internetworking, expansion, inter-
organizational needs
(don’t forget diagnostics and maintenance tools)
use models and simulations where needed.
The result of Network Configurations phase is several
 9. Network Costs
The purpose of the Network Cost phase is to produce
cost/benefit analysis for the alternative configurations.
Sources of costs:
circuit costs
internetworking device costs (repeaters, bridges, gateways etc.)
other hardware costs (servers, cards, memory, printers, desktop
computers etc.)
software costs (network
operating system application software, middleware, protocol conversion
software, etc.)
network management costs (special hardware, software, and training
needed to develop a network management system)
personnel costs (network administrator, consultants, technicians etc.)
 9. Network Costs continued...
Types of costs:
initial versus recurring costs
direct versus indirect costs
the problem of identifying intangible benefits
The result of the Network Cost phase is a Request for
Proposal (RFP).
RFP is a detailed requirements document for vendors.
Its list of contents includes:
Organizational background information
Network Requirements
Service Requirements
Description of the Bidding Process
Information Required from Vendor
 10. Implementation
Implementation phase includes “making it work” and
evaluating the new network against the evaluation criteria.
Strategies:
a pilot project
chronological cutover
phased implementation
direct cutover (not recommended)
Follow-ups for several months.
The result of this phase is the new network in production
A feasibility study is usually conducted for a single application or small
group of related applications. The level of detail included in a feasibility
study sits between that of an information systems plan and the more
detailed requirements specifications. If an information systems plan
exists, a feasibility study should refine and build on the core work
products developed during the planning project. If a significant amount
of time has elapsed since the information systems plan was developed,
care should be taken to include any significant business changes that
may have occurred.
 FS1 Define Project Scope
FS2 Activity Analysis
FS3 Needs Analysis
FS4 Conceptual Modelling
FS5 Use Case Modelling
FS6 Identify Non-Functional Requirements
FS7 Identify Options
FS8 Select Option
The feasibility study generates a number of options for acquiring a new
application. These options are evaluated for technical and financial
feasibility
FS9 Plan Acquisition Strategy
FS10 Develop Business Case
a Business Case for the proposed acquisition is developed.
 THE FEASIBILITY STUDY
?Is it possible?, is it practicable?, can it be done
Not only economic feasibility, but also technical
feasibility, schedule feasibility, operational
.feasibility
Economic feasibility - are the benefits greater than
the costs? (see CBA)
Technical feasibility - do we ‘have the
? technology’?; if not, can we get it
Schedule feasibility - will the system be ready on
?time
Operational feasibility - do we have the resources
to build the system?, will the system be
?acceptable?, will people use it
FEASIBILITY ISSUES
We cannot properly answer many of these
questions at this stage.
For example, data on actual costs and benefits is
not available, we don’t know what resources will be
at our disposal.
The feasibility study is an educated guess. Often a
‘rough and ready’ approach’
Some elements of feasibility will be more important
than others and some may directly conflict.
Sometimes ‘external considerations’ are more
important than the narrow feasibility issues
discussed here.
OTHER QUESTIONS ADDRESSED IN THE FEASIBILITY
STUDY
What are the requirements of the users?
What data is needed? Where does it originate?
How much data is needed?
What are the main functions and characteristics of
the proposed system?
What are the design alternatives? ( e.g. simple v
sophisticated, manual v computer)
What are the development alternatives? ( which
methodology?, do we need prototyping or pilot
studies?)
Is all of this consistent with the business and IT
strategy?
THE FEASIBILITY REPORT
The feasibility study will normally be carried out by
analysts or consultants who interview potential
users and review documentation.
The feasibility report should include a description
of functional requirements and possible alternative
solutions.
It should cover the four aspects of economic,
technical, schedule and operational feasibility
together with recommendations on the best way to
proceed.