AIS Development Strategies – Chapter 21 – Flashcards
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1. Development requests backlogged for years 2. new AIS does not meet user needs 3. Development takes a long time 4. Users do not specify needs well enough 5. Changes are difficult to make after requirements are frozen
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Difficulties when developing an AIS
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1. Purchasing Software 2. Developing software in house 3. Hiring a company to develop and operate the system
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Three ways to obtain an AIS
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1. Business process redesign 2. Prototyping 3. Computer Aided Software Engineering Tools
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Three ways to improve the development process
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Canned Software
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Programs for sale on the open market to a broad range of users with similar needs May not meet all information needs
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Turnkey systems
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Software and hardware sold as a package
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Application service providers (ASP's)
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Company that delivers software via the internet Automates software upgrades Can reduce software costs and administrative overhead
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1. Select a vendor 2. Acquire hardware and software 3. Evaluate proposals and select a system
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Steps to take when purchasing an AIS
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1. Saves time 2. Simplifies the decision making process 3. Reduces errors 4. Avoids potential for disagreement
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Why is using a request for proposal (RFP) important?
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Benchmark Problem
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Comparing systems by executing an input, processing, and output task on different computer systems and evaluating the results.
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Point Scoring
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Evaluating the overall merits of vendor proposals by assigning a weight to each evaluation criterion based on its importance
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Requirement costing
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Comparing systems based on the cost of all required features; when software does not meet all requirements, the cost of developing unavailable features is estimated and added to its cost
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Cost of acquiring the system + cost of developing the unavailable features
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Total AIS costs
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Custom software
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Software developed and written in-house to meet the unique needs of a particular company Provides a significant competitive advantage
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A lot of time required Complex systems Poor requirements Insufficient planning Inadequate communication and cooperation Lack of qualified staff Poor top-management support
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The hurdles that must be overcome to develop quality software
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1. In house 2. Outside developer
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Where is custom software created?
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1. Carefully choose a developer 2. Sign a contract that places responsibility for meeting requirements on the developer 3. Plan the project in detail 4. Communicate frequently and effectively 5. Control all costs and minimize cash outflows
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How does a company maintain control when using an outside developer for custom software?
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End user computing (EUC)
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The hands on development, use, and control of computer-based information systems by users People using IT to meet their information needs rather than relying on systems professionals
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1. Produce simple reports or answer one-time queries 2. Perform what-if sensitivity 3. Develop applications using software such as Excel 4. Preparing schedules, such as depreciation
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Examples of appropriate end-user development
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1. User creation, control, and implementation 2. Systems that meet user needs 3. Timeliness 4. Freeing up of systems resources 5. Versatility and ease of use
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Advantages of EUC
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1. Logic and development errors 2. Inadequately tested applications 3. Inefficient systems 4. Poorly controlled and documented systems 5. System incompatibilities 6. Duplication of systems and data; wasted resources 7. Increased costs
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Disadvantages to EUC
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Help desk
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Controls access to and sharing of corporate data among end users, while ensuring that the data are not duplicated and that access to confidential data remains restricted
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Outsourcing
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Hiring an outside company to handle all or part of an organization's data processing activities
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1. A business solution 2. Asset utilization 3. Access to greater expertise and better technology 4. Lower costs 5. Less development time 6. Elimination of peaks-and-valleys usage 7. Facilitation of downsizing
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Advantages to outsourcing
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1. Failure to prepare properly 2. Blind imitation of competitors 3. Thinking that outsourcing will solve deeper problems 4. Entering into ill-defined aggrements
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What are outsourcing failures caused by?
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1. Inflexibility 2. Loss of control 3. Reduced Competitive Advantage 4. Locked-in system 5. Unfulfilled goals 6. Poor service 7. Increased risk
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Disadvantages of outsourcing
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Business process reengineering (BPR)
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The thorough analysis and redesign of business processes and information systems to achieve dramatic performance improvements Often a drastic, one-time event Has a low success rate
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Business process management (BPM)
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A systematic approach to continuously improving and optimizing and organization's business processes More gradual and ongoing process Good way to introduce both a human and a technological change capability into an organization Evolved from BPR
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1. Business processes can produce competitive advantages 2. Business processes must be managed end to end 3. Business processes should be agile 4. Business processes must be aligned with organizational strategy and needs
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Important principles underlying BPM
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Business process management systems (BPMS)
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Systems that automates and facilitates business process improvements throughout the SDLC Can improve communication and collaboration, automate activities, and integrate with other systems Claim that BPMS is the bridge between IT and business
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1. Process engine 2. Business analytics 3. Callaboration tools 4. Content manager
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Major components of a BPMS
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Process engine
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Part of a BPMS - Models and executes applications
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Business analytics
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Part of a BPMS - Helps identify and react to business issues, trends, and opportunities
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Collaboration tools
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Part of a BPMS - Remove communication barriers
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Content manager
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Part of a BPMS - Store and secure electronic payments
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1. Improve internal controls 2. Improve segregation of duties 3. Strengthen application controls 4. Built in audit trail
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Advantages of BPMS
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Prototyping
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An approach to systems design in which a simplified working model of an IS is developed Helps capture user needs and helps developers and user make conceptual and physical design decisions
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1. Meet with users to decided WHAT the system should and should not include 2. Develop an initial prototype - low cost and rapid development 3. Use feedback to modify the system and return it to the users 4. Use the system
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Four steps when developing a prototype
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1. Operational 2. Nonoperational (throwaway)
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Two types of prototypes
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Operational prototype
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Prototypes that are further developed into fully functional systems
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Throwaway prototype
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Prototypes that are discarded, but the system requirements identified from the prototypes re used to develop a new system
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High level of uncertainty Unclear what questions to ask AIS cannot be clearly visualized High likelihood of failure Less appropriate for large or complex systems
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When is it appropriate to use prototyping?
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decision support systems executive information systems expert systems information retrieval systems
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Good candidates for prototyping
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Better definition of user needs Higher user involvement and satisfaction Faster development time Fewer errors More opportunity for changes Less costly
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Advantages of prototyping
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Significant user time Less efficient use of system resources Inadequate testing and documentation Negative behavioral reactions Never-ending development
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Disadvantages of prototyping
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Computer aided software (systems) engineering (CASE)
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Integrated package of tools that skilled designers use to help plan, analyze, design, program, and maintain an IS
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1. Improved productivity - generate bug free code and automate repetitive tasks 2. Improved program quality 3. Cost savings 4. Improved control procedures 5. Automatically documents the system as the development progresses
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Advantages of CASE
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Incompatibility Cost - technology is expensive Unmet expectations
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Problems with CASE
