CORE 1:PROJECTMANAGEMENTPlanning

In the second stage of the traditional SDLC the aim is to decide which solution, if any, should be developed.

Once this is decided this stage also determines HOW it should be developed and managed.

Put simply, the feasibility of developing a new system is analysed to create a Feasibility study report (the second major consumable from the SDLC).

PLANNING

A Feasibility Study:A feasibility study is based on assessing whether a possible solution is appropriate in terms of four criteria.

• Technical Feasibility• Economic Feasibility• Schedule Feasibility• Operational Feasibility

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// FEASIBILITY STUDY

Technical Feasibility

The technical feasibility of a solution is concerned with the availability of the required hardware and software.

Questions to determine a solutions technical feasibility might include…

- Do we possess the necessary tech?- Is the tech readily available?- Will tech continue to be supported

in future?

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// FEASIBILITY STUDY

- TECHNICAL F

Economic Feasibility

The economic feasibility of each solution is determined by performing a “Cost-benefit analysis”. This involves calculating and considering all costs involved in development and implementation of the solution.

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// FEASIBILITY STUDY

- TECHNICAL F- ECONOMIC F

Economic Feasibility Contd…

A cost benefit analysis considers total cost and total benefits:

Cost – Considers initial setup cost and ongoing support/maintenance cost.

Benefit – Considers tangible benefits whereby one can assign a value to the benefit: e.g. “We saved $2000 with this benefit”. Also considers intangible feasibility; this is when there is a benefit that cannot have a set value assigned to it. It is a required effect such as increased interest or morale.

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// FEASIBILITY STUDY

- TECHNICAL F- ECONOMIC F

Schedule Feasibility

This considers whether the solution can be completed on time or not. Gantt charts are useful in this stage. Can deadlines be met?

Typical questions to ask at this stage include…

- How long will it take to retrain team members

- How long will it take the implement the new system?

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// FEASIBILITY STUDY

- TECHNICAL F- ECONOMIC F- SCHEDULE F

Operational Feasibility

Operational feasibility considers whether a solution will work in practice opposed to it working theoretically. It considers the participants and users of the system and if they have the ability to use the new system.

Typically a solution is operationally feasible if it meets the needs of the users and participants of the system.

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// FEASIBILITY STUDY

- TECHNICAL F- ECONOMIC F- SCHEDULE F- OPERATIONAL F

Choosing a Development Approach

There are a number of system dev. approaches that can be used in isolation, combined or integrated into a system development method appropriate for developing almost any system.

We will explore the following…

Traditional, Outsourcing, Prototyping, Customisation, Participant Development and Agile Methods.

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// CHOOSING A DEVELOPMENT APPROACH

For each of the following

Traditional, Outsourcing, Prototyping, Customisation, Participant Development and Agile Methods.

Complete the following table using your text pge. 53 – 59

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// CHOOSING A DEVELOPMENT APPROACH

APPROACH DEFINITION EXAMPLETraditional The tradition structure

of a system approach involves: UPDIT

Database upgrade for a small business.

APPROACH DEFINITION EXAMPLETraditional

Outsourcing

Prototyping

Customization

Participant Development

Agile Methods

Determine how the project will be managed and Update Req. Report

Once a particular solution has been identified and a suitable development approach has been determine, the projects development can begin. This means coming up with a management plan for the development using Gantt charts, journals, funding management and communications management.

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// UPDATE REQUIREMENT REPORT

Areas that are likely to affect project management decisions are:

• Participants (should be identified and considered)

• IT (should be identified and tested to see if it can support the new system)

• Data inputs and outputs (should be identified)

• Meeting needs and requirements of uers

These areas are often documenting in the requirements report.

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// UPDATE REQUIREMENT REPORT