software solution
Management Information Systems – Week 7 Lecture 2
Development & Improvement Chapter 13 Systems Development: Design, Implementation, Maintenance, and Review You have learned about information systems and seen a little about how the project is run to create a new system. This week you will focus on the actual systems design process. This will help you whether you become a programmer, systems analyst or are a department manager. There are countless articles on this subject on the internet and some great YouTube videos so take a moment to do some extra research and learn more about systems development.
When an IS manager sits down to design a system they look at several areas and have many special tools at their disposal.
A systems engineer or senior developer will first look at the logical design. This usually means that they look at the user request and determine what they really mean! Once they have clarification they will create a physical design. This might be object-oriented (using code that has already been created) or mock ups showing interface design and controls. This is sometimes called storyboarding. This image is an example of creating a new user interface:
System design time is an investment for the business, it will help by preventing, detecting, and correcting errors prior to the application software being written. It will generate systems design alternatives. One alternative is to ask software developers to create the application for the business, this is done by creating a request for proposal (RFP). Software vendors will then propose several options at various price points. The business can then review the proposals, do a cost benefit analysis and select an appropriate plan of action.
Once a project has started it is a good idea to freezing design specifications using a contract, and even a design report called a Functional Design Document. This process is intended to allow the development team to focus on creating a specific application and not have to try to hit a constantly moving target. As the application is being developed it is also time to acquire the hardware that will be needed. If the application requires a headset with microphone for voice input or a super-fast computer, this is the time to make sure the application will be functional when it is implemented.
Types of IS hardware vendors include: General computer manufacturers
Small computer manufacturers
Peripheral equipment manufacturers
Computer dealers and distributors
Chip makers
While the application is being developed and the hardware acquired, in a perfect world the personnel will be hired and trained and any preparations will be done for the site and data requirements (additional disk drives for databases or could computing). One of the phases of software development is the testing phase. It really cannot be considered the final stage because it may result in some additional planning, programming or other modifications. It can be considered to be the last step in the cycle.
Forms of testing: Unit testing
System testing
Volume testing
Integration testing
Acceptance testing
Alpha testing
Beta testing
Once the testing and modifications are complete the user is presented with the product. In some methodologies such as Agile development, the user is presented with several smaller implementations rather than one large one at the end. If the development phase. Once the user has implemented the application, the development team is finished with their work. A maintenance team is assigned to fix any errors or add enhancements that are required over time. Of course in smaller organizations there is no hand off, the development team and the maintenance team may in fact be the same people.
The maintenance phase is sort of like the senior citizen phase of an application’s life cycle. If the development team did a nice job and the user requested the correct features in the application, the solution may last for a long time with few maintenance patches or fixes. The good news is that if they are needed, the maintenance team is there to help.