Term
| What is Information Systems Analysis and Design? |
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Definition
| The process of developing and maintaining an information system that perform basic business functions. The main goal is to improve organizational systems, typically through applying software – pg 4 |
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Term
| What is Application Software? |
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Definition
| Software designed to process data and support users in an organization. Examples include spreadsheets, word processors, etc. Its goal is to turn data into information – pg 4 |
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Term
| What is also called a system? |
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Definition
| Application Software – pg 4 |
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Term
| What are the components of a computer-based information system application? |
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Definition
| Hardware, documentation and training materials, specific job roles, controls to help prevent fraud and theft, and users of the system – pg 5 |
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Term
| What is made up of proven technologies, techniques, and tools? |
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Definition
| Software Engineering Process – pg 5 |
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Term
| What are methodologies in relation to the software engineering process? |
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Definition
| Sequence of step-by-step approaches that help develop your final product – pg 5 |
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Term
| What are techniques in relation to the software engineering process? |
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Definition
| Processes that an analyst follows to help ensure the work is well thought out, complete, and comprehensible to others – pg 5 |
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Term
| What are tools in relation to the software engineering process? |
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Definition
| They are computer programs that make it easy to use specific techniques – pg 5 |
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Term
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Definition
| A group of unrelated procedures used for a business function, with an identifiable boundary (to separate it from its environment), working together for some purpose. It has nine components – pg 6 |
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Term
| What are the nine characteristics of a system? |
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Definition
| Components, interrelated components, boundary, purpose, environment, interfaces, constraints, input, and output – pg 6 |
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Term
| What is a component in relation to a system? |
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Definition
| It is an irreducible part or an aggregate of parts, also called a subsystem – pg 7 |
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Term
| What is interrelated in relation to a system? |
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Definition
| Dependence of one part of the system on one or more other system parts – pg 7 |
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Term
| What is boundary in relation to a system? |
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Definition
| The limits of the system in which all components are contained. Systems within the boundary can be changed, whereas systems outside the boundary cannot be changed – pg 7 |
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Term
| What is purpose in relation to a system? |
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Definition
| The systems reason for existing– pg 7 |
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Term
| What is an environment in relation to a system? |
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Definition
| Everything external to a system that interacts with the system – pg 7 |
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Term
| What is an interface in relation to a system? |
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Definition
| Point of contact where a system meets its environment or where subsystems meet each other; it can also occur between two subsystems – pg 7 |
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Term
| What is a constraint in relation to a system? |
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Definition
| A limit to what a system can accomplish, some are outside the system and others are imposed by the environment – pg 7 |
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Term
| What is decomposition in relation to a system? |
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Definition
| The process of breaking the description of a system down into small components; also known as functional composition. Allows us to concentrate on one smaller particular part of a system – pg 8 |
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Term
| What is modularity in relation to a system? |
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Definition
| Dividing a system up into chunks or modules of a relatively uniform size. It is the direct result of decomposition – pg 8 |
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Term
| What is coupling in relation to a system? |
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Definition
| The extent to which subsystems depend on each other – pg 8 |
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Term
| Should subsystems be independent or dependant, as possible? |
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Definition
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Term
| What is cohesion in relation to a system? |
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Definition
| The extent to which a subsystem performs a single function – pg 8 |
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Term
| What is systems integration? |
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Definition
| Allows hardware and software from different vendors to work together in an application – pg 10 |
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Term
| Who is a systems analyst? |
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Definition
| The organizational role most responsible for the analysis and design of information systems – pg 11 |
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Term
| What is systems development methodology? |
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Definition
| A standard process followed in an organization to conduct all the steps necessary to analyze, design, implement, and maintain information systems – pg 12 |
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Term
| What is the systems development life cycle? |
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Definition
| The series of steps used to mark the phases of development for an information system – pg 12 |
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Term
| What are the four steps of SDLC? |
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Definition
| Planning and selection, analysis, design, and implementation. The steps are not meant to be followed sequentially, but can be repeated until all are satisfied – pg 13 |
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Term
| What is systems planning and selection in relation to SDLC? |
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Definition
| The first phase of SDLC, in which the organizations total information system needs are analyzed and arranged, and in which a potential information systems project is identified and an argument for continuing or not continuing with the project is presented – pg 14 |
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Term
| What are the two primary activities of systems planning and selection in relation to SDLC? |
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Definition
| The identification of a new or enhanced system and investigate the system and determine the proposed systems scope – pg 14 |
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Term
| What is and when should a feasibility study be done in relation to SDLC? |
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Definition
| Before second phase of SDLC and is used to determine the economic and organizational impact of the system – pg 14 |
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Term
| What is systems analysis in relation to SDLC? |
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Definition
| Second phase of SDLC in which the current system is studied and alternative replacement systems are proposed – pg 14 |
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Term
| What are the subphases of systems analysis in relation to SDLC? |
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Definition
| Determine the requirements of the system, study the requirements and structure them according to their interrelationships, eliminating any redundancies. Then you compare them to see which one best fits cost, labor, and technical levels the organization is willing to commit – pg 15 |
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Term
| What is systems design in relation to SDLC? |
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Definition
| Third phase in which the system chosen for development in systems analysis is first described independently of any computer platform. (logical design) and is then transformed into technology-specific details (physical design) from which all programming and system construction can be accomplished – pg 15 |
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Term
| What is systems implementation and operation in relation to SDLC? |
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Definition
| Fourth phase in SDLC, which is divided into two parts. The first part is the information system is coded, tested, and installed in the organization, and in which the information system is systematically repaired and improved. Also includes initial user support such as the finalization of documentation, training programs, and ongoing user assistance. The second part is operation, in which programmers make changes or modifications. – pg 17 |
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Term
| What are the alternative approaches to development? |
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Definition
| Prototyping, computer-aided software engineering (CASE), joint application design (JAD), rapid application development (RAD), participatory design (PD), and the use of Agile Methodologies – pg 18 |
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Term
| What is prototyping in relation to alternative approaches to development? |
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Definition
| Building a scaled down version of the desired information system. The key advantages are in involves the user in analysis and design and it captures requirements in concrete form – pg 18 |
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Term
| What is Computer-aided software engineering (CASE) in relation to alternative approaches to development? |
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Definition
| Software tools that provide automated support for some portion of the systems development process. The general types of case tools are diagramming tools, report generators, analysis tools, central repository, documentation generators, and code generators – pg 19 |
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Term
| What is a repository in relation to CASE? |
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Definition
| A centralized database that contains all diagrams, forms and report definitions, data structures, data definitions, process flows and logic, and definitions of other organizational and system components. It provides a set of mechanisms and structure to achieve seamless date-to-tool and data-to-data integration – pg 19 |
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Term
| What is Joint application design (JAD) in relation to alternative approaches to development? |
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Definition
| 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 – pg 19 |
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Term
| What is Rapid application development (RAD) in relation to alternative approaches to development? |
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Definition
| Systems development methodology created to radically decrease the time needed to design and implement information systems. The fundamental principal is to delay producing detailed system design documents until after user requirements are clear – pg 19 |
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Term
| What is Participatory Design in relation to alternative approaches to development? |
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Definition
| A systems development approach that originated in northern Europe, in which users and the improvement of their work lives are the central focus, users have a big voice – pg 21 |
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Term
| What is Agile Methodologies in relation to alternative approaches to development? |
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Definition
| A family of development methodologies characterized by short iterative cycles and extensive testing: active involvement of users for establishing, prioritizing, and verifying requirements; and a focus on small teams of talents, experienced programmers, developed in 2001 – pg 21 |
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Term
| What are the three principles of agile methodologies? |
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Definition
| A focus on adaptive rather than predictive technologies, a focus on people rather than roles, and a self-adaptive process – pg 21 |
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