A DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION COURSE FRAMEWORK:A CURRICULUM PROPOSAL FOR AN EXPERIENTIAL APPROACH

TO THESYSTEMS ANALYSIS AND DESIGN AND THE

PROJECTS IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY COURSE SEQUENCE

IN THE INFORMATION SYSTEMS MAJOR

James Wynne, VCU

Gerry Saunders, VCU

Roland Weistroffer, VCU

Harry Reif, JMU

IS Curriculum Requirements:• Core Requirements:

– Hardware/Software Design

– Programming Languages

– Data Communications– Systems Analysis &

Systems Design– Database Systems– IS Projects

• Specialty Tracks:– Application

Development

– Information Engineering

– Network Administration

18 Credit Hours 9 Credit Hours

Systems Analysis & Design: INFO 361

– SDLC

– Object Oriented Paradigm• UML

• Unified Process

• Graphical Tools (Rational Rose)

– Pedagogical Approach• Lecture/Exercises

• Assignments

• Project

• Tests

INFO 361: Unified Process

• OO Methodology– Incremental & Iterative Life Cycle

– Phases:• Inception Phase—purpose & feasibility

• Elaboration Phase—initial requirements & specifications

• Construction Phase—build/buy operational model

• Transition Phase—ensuring user requirements are met

– Workflows:• Requirements, Analysis, Design, Implementation, Testing

INFO 361

• Primary Focus: Inception & Elaboration Phases– Iterative Refinements of Workflows

• UML Modeling– Use Cases– Class Diagrams– Sequence & Collaboration Diagrams– Activity Diagrams– State Charts

• Reinforcement of Concepts through Assignments

Projects in Information Systems: INFO 465• Primary Focus:

• Elaboration & Construction Phases– Refining Analysis Workflow– Defining Design Specifications– Building Prototypes

– Control Classes– Interface Classes– Boundary Classes

– Testing

INFO 361/465 FrameworkINFO 361

INFO 465

The Unified Process Phases and Workflows and the INFO 361 and 465 Course Sequence

Implementing Framework:

• e-Business Framework• Project “Engine”

– Predefined Core Classes (Entity, Boundary, Control, Interface)

– Library of Working Class Objects Database

• Prototyping– Visual Basic.NET

• Incremental & Iterative Process

Courseware Supports :

• Basic Requirements Prototyping

• Adding Order Entry, Accounting, & Reporting Functions

• Creating Screen Interfaces to Provide EDI Trading Functions (ANSI AX.12)—Catalog Sales, Invoicing, Purchasing, Payment

• Various e-Business Enterprise Domains

Framework Strengths:• Learn current systems development tools

• Learn the UML system design paradigm

• Experience the complete SDLC

• Integrate real business process concepts

• Learn e-business modeling concepts

• Simulate real-world project team participation

• Simulate the iterative process of SDLC

• Learn Project Management skills and tools

• Integrate programming, database management, data communications, & hardware/software skills

FRAMEWORK LIMITATIONS & CONSTRAINTS: • Hardware/software requirements

• Technical orientation

• New case development required each year

• Part-time students participation