Information Systems Chapter 8 – Flashcards
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stakeholders
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People who, either themselves or through the organization they represent, ultimately benefit from the systems development project.
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users
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People who will regularly interact with the system.
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systems analyst
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A professional who specializes in analyzing and designing business systems.
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programmer
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A specialist responsible for modifying or developing programs to satisfy user requirements.
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end-user systems development
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Any systems development project in which the primary effort is undertaken by a combination of business managers and users.
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information systems planning
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Translating strategic and organizational goals into systems development initiatives.
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systems investigation
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The system development phase during which problems and opportunities are identified and considered in light of the goals of the business.
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systems analysis
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The systems development phase involving the study of existing systems and work processes to identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement.
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systems design
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The systems development phase that defines how the information system will do what it must do an obtain a solution.
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systems implementation
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The systems development phase involving the creation or acquisition of various system components detailed in the systems design, assembling them, and placing the new or modified system into operation.
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systems maintenance and review
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The systems development phase that ensures the system operates and modifies the system so that it continues to meet changing business needs.
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prototyping
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An iterative approach to the systems development process in which at each iteration requirements and alternative solutions to a problem are identified and analyzed, new solutions are designed, and a portion of the system is implemented.
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rapid application development (RAD)
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A systems development approach that employs tools, techniques, and methodologies designed to speed application development.
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project scheudle
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A detailed description of what has to be done
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project milestone
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A critical date for the completion of a major part of the project.
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project deadline
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The date the entire project is to be completed and operational.
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critical path
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Activities that, if delayed, would delay the entire project
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Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT)
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A formalized approach that creates three times estimates for an activity to determine a single time estimate.
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Gantt chart
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A graphical tool used for planning, monitoring, and coordinating projects.
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computer-aided software engineering (CASE)
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Tools that automate many of the tasks required in a systems development effort and encourage adherence to the SDLC.
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object-oriented systems development (OOSD)
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An approach to systems development that combines the logic of systems development life cycle with the power of object-oriented modeling and programming.
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systems request form
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A document filled out by someone who wants the IS department to initiate systems investigation.
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feasibility analysis
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Assessment of the technical, economic, legal, operational, and schedule feasibility of a project.
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technical feasibility
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Assessment of whether the hardware, software, and other system components can be acquired or developed to solve the problem.
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economic feasibility
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The determination of whether the project makes financial sense and whether the predicted benefits offset the cost and time needed to obtain them.
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legal feasibility
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The determination of whether laws or regulations may prevent or limit a system development project.
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operational feasibility
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The measure of whether the project can be put into action or operation.
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schedule feasibility
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The determination of whether the project can be completed in a reasonable amount of time.
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systems investigation report
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A summary of the results of the systems investigation and the process of feasibility analysis and recommendation of a course of action.
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steering committee
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An advisory group consisting of senior management and user from the IS department and other functional areas.
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structured interview
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An interview in which the questions are written in advance.
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unstructured interview
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An interview in which the questions are not written in advance.
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direct observation
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Directly observing the existing system in action by one or more members of the analysis team.
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questionnaires
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A method of gathering data when the data sources are spread over a wide geographic area.
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data analysis
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The manipulation of collected data so that the development team members who are participating in systems analysis can use the data.
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data-flow diagram (DFD)
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A model of objects, associations, and activities that describes how data can flow between and around various objects.
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data-flow line
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A line with arrows that show the direction of data element movement.
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process symbol
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Representation of a function that is performed.
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entity symbol
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Representation either a source or destination of a data element.
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data store
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Representation of a storage location for data.
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requirements analysis
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The determination of user, stakeholder, and organizational needs.
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asking directly
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An approach to gather data that asks users, stakeholders and other managers about what they want and expect from the new or modified system.
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systems design
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The stage of the systems development that answers the question "How will the information system solve a problem?"
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logical design
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A description of functional requirements of a system.
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physical design
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The specification of the characteristics of the system of components necessary to put the logical design into action.
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environmental design
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Also called green design, it involves systems development efforts that slash power consumption, require less physical space, and result in systems that can be disposed of in a way that doesn't negatively affect the environment.
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request for proposal (RFP)
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A document that specifies in detail required resources such as hardware and software.
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preliminary evaluation
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An initial assessment whose purpose is to dismiss the unwanted proposals; begins after all proposals have been submitted.
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final evaluation
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A detailed investigation of the proposals offered by the vendors remaining after the preliminary evaluation.
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design report
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The primary result of systems design, reflecting the decisions made for systems design and preparing the way for systems implementation.
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systems implementation
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A stage of system development that includes, hardware acquisition, programming and software acquisition or development, user preparation, hiring and training of personnel, site and data preparation, installation, testing, start-up and user acceptance.
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make-or-buy decision
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The decision regarding whether to obtain the necessary software form internal or external sources.
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user preparation
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The process of readying managers, decision makers, employees, other users, and stakeholders for the new systems.
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site preparation
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Preparation of the location of a new system.
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data preparation, or data conversion
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Making sure that all files and database are ready to be used with new computer software and systems.
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installation
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The process of physically placing the computer equipment on the site and making it operational.
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unit testing
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Testing of individual programs
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system testing
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Testing the entire system of programs.
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volume testing
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Testing the application with a large amount of data.
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integration testing
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Testing all related systems together.
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acceptance testing
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Conducting any tests required by the user.
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start-up
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The process of making the final tested information system fully operational.
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direct conversion
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Stopping the old system and starting the new system on a given date; also called plunge or direct cutover.
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parallel start-up
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Running both the old and new systems for a period of time and comparing the output of the old system; any differences are reconciled. When users are comfortable that the new system is working correctly, the old system is eliminated.
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user acceptance document
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A formal agreement that the user signs stating that phase of the installation or the complete system is approved.
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systems operation
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Use of a new or modified system in all kinds of operating conditions.
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systems maintenance
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A stage of systems development that involves checking, changing, and enhancing the system to make it more useful in achieving user and organizational goals.
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systems review
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The final step of systems development, involving analyzing systems to make sure that they are operating as intended.
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system performance measurement
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Monitoring the system - the number of errors encountered, the amount of memory required, the amount of processing or CPU time needed, and other problems.
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system performance products
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Software that measures all components of the information system, including hardware, software, database, telecommunications, and network systems.
