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Developing Developing Business/InformationBusiness/InformationTechnology SolutionsTechnology Solutions

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• Use the systems development process outlined in this chapter, and the model of IS components from Chapter 1 as problem-solving frameworks to help propose information systems solutions to simple business problems.

1010 Learning ObjectivesLearning Objectives

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• Describe how you might use each of the steps of the information systems development cycle to develop and implement an e-business system.

• Explain how prototyping improves the process of systems development for end users and IS specialists.

1010 Learning Objectives (continued)Learning Objectives (continued)

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• Identify the activities involved in the implementation of new information systems.

• Describe evaluation factors that should be considered in evaluating the acquisition of hardware, software, and IS services.

1010 Learning Objectives (continued)Learning Objectives (continued)

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• Developing e-Business Systems

1010 Section ISection I

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• The systems approach to problem solving applied to the development of information system solutions to business problems.

1010 Information Systems DevelopmentInformation Systems Development

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• The systems approach to problem solving

– Recognize and define a problem or opportunity using systems thinking

– Develop and evaluate alternative system solutions

1010 The Systems ApproachThe Systems Approach

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• Systems approach to problem solving (continued)

– Select the system solution that best meets your requirements

– Design the selected system solution– Implement and evaluate the success of

the designed system

1010 The Systems Approach (continued)The Systems Approach (continued)

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• Systems Thinking– “seeing the forest AND the trees”

• Seeing “interrelationships” among “systems” rather than linear cause-and-effect chains when events occur

• Seeing “processes” of change among “systems” rather than discrete “snapshots” of change, whenever change occurs.

1010 The Systems Approach (continued)The Systems Approach (continued)

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– Systems thinking (continued)• Use a systems context

– Try to find systems, subsystems, and components of systems in any situation you are studying

1010 The Systems Approach (continued)The Systems Approach (continued)

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• Investigation

• Analysis

• Design

• Implementation

• Maintenance

1010 The Systems Development CycleThe Systems Development Cycle

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• The rapid development and testing of working models of new applications in an interactive, iterative process.

• Sometimes called rapid application design (RAD).

• Simplifies and accelerates systems design.

1010 PrototypingPrototyping

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• The prototyping process

1010 Prototyping (continued)Prototyping (continued)

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• Systems Investigation Phase– Feasibility studies

• Organizational feasibility• Economic feasibility• Technical feasibility• Operational feasibility

1010 Starting the Systems Development ProcessStarting the Systems Development Process

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1010Starting the Systems Development Process Starting the Systems Development Process (continued)(continued)

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1010Starting the Systems Development Process Starting the Systems Development Process (continued)(continued)

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– Cost/Benefit Analysis• Tangible costs• Intangible costs

• Tangible benefits• Intangible benefits

1010Starting the Systems Development Process Starting the Systems Development Process (continued)(continued)

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1010Starting the Systems Development Process (continued)

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• Systems analysis is an in-depth study of end user information needs that produces functional requirements.

1010 Systems AnalysisSystems Analysis

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• Traditionally involves a detailed study of…– Information needs of the company & end

users– Activities, resources, & products of one or

more of the present information systems– The IS capabilities required to meet

information needs of the company, the end users, and all business stakeholders that may use the system

1010 Systems Analysis (continued)Systems Analysis (continued)

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• Organizational analysis– Study

• Management structure• The people• Business activities• Environmental systems• The current information system

1010 Systems Analysis (continued)Systems Analysis (continued)

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• Analysis of the present system– Analyze how the present system..

• Uses hardware• Uses software• Is networked• Uses people resources to convert data

resources into information products.• How the IS activities of input, processing,

output, storage, and control are accomplished.

1010 Systems Analysis (continued)Systems Analysis (continued)

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• Functional requirements analysis– What type of information does each

business activity require?• Format, volume, frequency, response

times

– What are the information processing capabilities required?

• Input, processing, output, storage, control

1010 Systems Analysis (continued)Systems Analysis (continued)

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• Functional requirements analysis (continued)– Finally, develop functional

requirements• End user information requirements that are

not tied to the hardware, software, network, data, and people resources

– Goal – identify what should be done, not how to do it.

1010 Systems Analysis (continued)Systems Analysis (continued)

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• Specifies HOW the system will meet the information needs of users

• Focuses on three major products– User interface design– Data design

• Database structures

– Process design• Processing and control procedures

1010 Systems DesignSystems Design

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• User interface design– Focuses on supporting the interactions

between end users and the computer-based applications

• Display screens• Interactive user/computer dialogues• Audio responses• Forms, documents, and reports

1010 Systems Design (continued)Systems Design (continued)

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• System specifications– Formalizes the design of the

application’s user interface methods & products

– Formalizes database structures– Formalizes processing and control

procedures

1010 Systems Design (continued)Systems Design (continued)

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• IS professionals play a consulting role– Training in the use of application

packages– Assistance with the selection of

hardware and software– Assistance in gaining access to

organization databases– Assistance in the analysis, design, and

implementation of your application

1010 End User DevelopmentEnd User Development

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• The application development process– Output

• What information is needed and in what form?

– Input• What data are available? From what

sources? In what form?

1010 End User Development (continued)End User Development (continued)

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• The application development process (continued)

– Processing• What operations or transformation

processes will be required to convert available inputs into the desired output?

• What software package can best perform the required operations?

1010 End User Development (continued)End User Development (continued)

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• The application development process (continued)– Storage– Control

• How will you protect against accidental loss or damage to end user files?

1010 End User Development (continued)End User Development (continued)

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1010 End User Development (continued)End User Development (continued)

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• Implementing e-Business Systems

1010 Section IISection II

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• This is the actual deployment of the information technology system.

• Follows the investigation, analysis, and design stages of the systems development cycle.

1010 ImplementationImplementation

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1010 Implementing New SystemsImplementing New Systems

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• May require suppliers to present bids and proposals based on system specifications– Minimum acceptable physical & performance

characteristics for all hardware and software requirements are established

– Large businesses and government agencies formalize requirements by listing them in a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a Request for Quotation (RFQ)

1010 Evaluating Hardware, Software, & ServicesEvaluating Hardware, Software, & Services

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• May use a scoring system for evaluation– Determine evaluation factors and

assign points

• Performance of hardware and software must be demonstrated and evaluated– May use benchmark test programs

1010Evaluating Hardware, Software, and Services Evaluating Hardware, Software, and Services (continued)(continued)

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• Hardware evaluation factors– Performance

• Speed, capacity, throughput

– Cost• Lease or purchase price• Cost of operations and maintenance

1010Evaluating Hardware, Software, and Services Evaluating Hardware, Software, and Services (continued)(continued)

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• Hardware evaluation factors (continued)– Reliability

• Risk of malfunction & maintenance requirements

• Error control and diagnostic features

– Compatibility• With existing hardware and software?• With hardware & software provided by

competing suppliers?

1010Evaluating Hardware, Software, and Services Evaluating Hardware, Software, and Services (continued)(continued)

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• Hardware evaluation factors (continued)– Technology

• Year of product life cycle• Does it use a new, untested technology?• Does it run the risk of obsolescence?

– Ergonomics• “human factors engineered”?• User-friendly?• Safe, comfortable, easy to use?

1010Evaluating Hardware, Software, and Services Evaluating Hardware, Software, and Services (continued)(continued)

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• Hardware evaluation factors (continued)– Connectivity

• Easily connected to WANs and LANs that use different types of network technologies and bandwidth alternatives?

– Scalability• Can it handle the processing demands of

end users, transactions, queries, & other processing requirements?

1010Evaluating Hardware, Software, and Services Evaluating Hardware, Software, and Services (continued)(continued)

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• Hardware evaluation factors (continued)– Software

• Is system and application software available that can best use this hardware?

– Support• Is support available?

1010Evaluating Hardware, Software, and Services Evaluating Hardware, Software, and Services (continued)(continued)

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• Software evaluation factors– Quality

• Bug free?

– Efficiency• Well-developed system of program code

that does not use much CPU time, memory capacity, or disk space?

1010Evaluating Hardware, Software, and Services Evaluating Hardware, Software, and Services (continued)(continued)

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• Software evaluation factors (continued)– Flexibility

• Can it handle our processes easily without major modification?

– Security• Does it provide control procedures for

errors, malfunctions, and improper use?

1010Evaluating Hardware, Software, and Services Evaluating Hardware, Software, and Services (continued)(continued)

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• Software evaluation factors (continued)– Connectivity

• Web-enabled?

– Language• Is the programming language familiar to

internal software developers?

1010Evaluating Hardware, Software, and Services Evaluating Hardware, Software, and Services (continued)(continued)

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• Software evaluation factors (continued)– Documentation

• Well-documented? Help screens and helpful software agents?

– Hardware• Does existing hardware have the features

required to best use this software?

1010Evaluating Hardware, Software, and Services Evaluating Hardware, Software, and Services (continued)(continued)

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• Software evaluation factors (continued)– Other factors

• Performance, cost, reliability, availability, compatibility, modularity, technology, ergonomics, scalability, and support characteristics

1010Evaluating Hardware, Software, and Services Evaluating Hardware, Software, and Services (continued)(continued)

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• Evaluating IS Services– Performance

• Past performance in view of past promises

– Systems development• Are website and other e-business

developers available? Quality and cost

1010Evaluating Hardware, Software, and Services Evaluating Hardware, Software, and Services (continued)(continued)

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• Evaluating IS services (continued)– Maintenance

• Is equipment maintenance provided? Quality and cost

– Conversion• What systems development & installation

services will they provide during the conversion period?

1010Evaluating Hardware, Software, and Services Evaluating Hardware, Software, and Services (continued)(continued)

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• Evaluating IS services (continued)– Training

• Provided? Quality and cost

– Backup• Are similar computer facilities available

nearby for emergency backup purposes?

1010Evaluating Hardware, Software, and Services Evaluating Hardware, Software, and Services (continued)(continued)

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• Evaluating IS services (continued)– Accessibility

• Services from local or regional sites?• Customer support center?• Customer hot line?

– Business position• Financially strong with good industry

market prospects?

1010Evaluating Hardware, Software, and Services Evaluating Hardware, Software, and Services (continued)(continued)

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• Evaluating IS services (continued)– Hardware

• Provide a wide selection of compatible hardware devices and accessories?

– Software• Offer a variety of useful e-business

software and application packages?

1010Evaluating Hardware, Software, and Services Evaluating Hardware, Software, and Services (continued)(continued)

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• Testing– May involve website performance

testing– Testing and debugging software– Testing new hardware– Reviewing prototypes of displays,

reports, and other output– Should occur throughout the

development process

1010 Other Implementation ActivitiesOther Implementation Activities

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• Documentation– Sample data entry screens, forms, and

reports are examples.– Serves as a method of communication among

the people responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining the system

– A detailed record of the system’s design– Important in diagnosing errors & making

changes

1010 Other Implementation Activities (continued)Other Implementation Activities (continued)

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• Training– End users must be trained to operate a new

e-business system or implementation will fail– May be limited in scope or may involve all

aspects of the proper use of the new system– Managers and end users must be educated in

how the new technology impacts business operations and management

1010 Other Implementation Activities (continued)Other Implementation Activities (continued)

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• Conversion methods– Parallel

• Both old and new systems are operated until the project development team and end users agree to switch completely

– Phased• Only parts of the new application or only a

few locations at a time are converted

1010 Other Implementation Activities (continued)Other Implementation Activities (continued)

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• Conversion methods (continued)– Pilot

• One department or other work site serves as a test site

– Plunge• A direct cutover to the newly developed

system

1010 Other Implementation Activities (continued)

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1010 Other Implementation Activities (continued)Other Implementation Activities (continued)

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• IS Maintenance– Systems maintenance

– Postimplementation review

1010 Other Implementation Activities (continued)Other Implementation Activities (continued)

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• Why has prototyping become a popular way to develop e-business applications. What are prototyping’s advantages and disadvantages?

• What are the three most important factors you would use in evaluating computer hardware? Computer software?

1010 Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions

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• Assume that in your first week on a new job you are asked to use a type of business software that you have never used before. What kind of user training should your company provide to you before you start?

• What is the difference between the parallel, plunge, phased, and pilot forms of IS conversion? Which strategy is best?

1010 Discussion Questions (continued)Discussion Questions (continued)

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• What are several key factors in designing a successful e-commerce or internet website?

1010 Discussion Questions (continued)Discussion Questions (continued)

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ReferencesReferences

• James A. O'Brien; George M. Marakas. Management Information Systems: Managing Information Technology in the Business Enterprise 6th Ed., Boston: McGraw-Hill/ Irwin,2004

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