fact finding
DESCRIPTION
FACT Finding Techniques in Software EngineeringTRANSCRIPT
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Systems Analysis & Design
7thEdition
Chapter 3
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Phase Description
Systems analysis is the second of five phases
in the systems development life cycle (SDLC)
Uses requirements modeling and data and
process modeling to represent the newsystem
Before proceeding to the next phase, systems
design, you will consider system development
strategies
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Chapter Objectives
Describe systems analysis phase activities andthe end product of the systems analysis phase
Explain joint application development (JAD)and rapid application development (RAD)
Understand how systems analysts use afunctional decomposition diagram (FDD)
Describe the Unified Modeling Language
(UML) and explain use case diagrams andsequence diagrams
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Chapter Objectives
List and describe system requirements,
including outputs, inputs, processes,
performance, and controls
Explain the importance of scalability insystem design
Use fact-finding techniques, including
interviews, documentation review,
observation, questionnaires, sampling, and
research
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Chapter Objectives
Define total cost of ownership (TCO) and
explain the concept
Conduct a successful interview
Develop effective documentation methods touse during systems development
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Introduction
This chapter describes requirements
modeling techniques and team-based
methods that systems analysts use to
visualize and document new systems The chapter then discusses system
requirements and fact-finding techniques,
which include interviewing, documentation
review, observation, surveys andquestionnaires, sampling, and research
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Systems Analysis Phase Overview
The overall objective is to understand the
proposed project, ensure that it will support
business requirements, and build a solid
foundation for system development You use a models and other documentation
tools to visualize and describe the proposed
system
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Systems Analysis Phase Overview
Systems Analysis Activities
Requirements modeling
Outputs
Inputs Processes
Performance
Security
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Systems Analysis Phase Overview
Systems Analysis
Activities
Data and process
modeling Development
Strategies
System requirements
document
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Systems Analysis Phase Overview
Systems Analysis Skills
Analytical skills
Interpersonal skills
Team-Oriented Methods and Techniques
Joint application development (JAD)
Rapid application development (RAD)
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Joint Application Development
User Involvement
Users have a vital stake in an information
system and they should participate fully
Successful systems must be user-orientedand users need to be involved
One popular strategy for user involvement is
a JAD team approach
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Joint Application Development
JAD Participants and Roles
JAD participants should be insulated from
the distraction of day-to-day operations
Objective is to analyze the existing system,obtain user input and expectations, and
document user requirements for the new
system
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Joint Application Development
JAD Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
Allows key users to participate effectively
When properly used, JAD can result in a moreaccurate statement of system requirements, a betterunderstanding of common goals, and a strongercommitment to the success of the new system
Disadvantages
More expensive and can be cumbersome if thegroup is too large relative to the size of the project
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Rapid Application Development
Is a team-based technique that speeds up
information systems development and
produces a functioning information system
Relies heavily on prototyping and userinvolvement
Process continues until the system is
completely developed and users are satisfied
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Rapid Application Development
RAD Phases and Activities
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Rapid Application Development
RAD Objectives
To cut development time and expense byinvolving the users in every phase of systemsdevelopment
Successful RAD team must have ITresources, skills, and management support
Helps a development team design a system
that requires a highly interactive or complexuser interface
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Rapid Application Development
RAD Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
Systems can be developed more quickly with
significant cost savings Disadvantages
RAD stresses the mechanics of the system itself
and does not emphasize the companys strategic
business needs Might allow less time to develop quality,
consistency, and design standards
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Modeling Tools and Techniques
CASE Tools
Functional
Decomposition
Diagrams Also called
structure charts
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Modeling Tools and Techniques
Data Flow Diagrams
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Modeling Tools and Techniques
Unified Modeling Language
Widely used method of visualizing and
documenting software systems design
Use case diagrams
Actor
Sequence diagrams
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System Requirements Checklist
System requirement
Five general categories
Outputs
Inputs
Processes
Performance
Controls
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System Requirements Checklist
Outputs
The Web site must report online volume
statistics every four hours, and hourly during
peak periods The inventory system must produce a daily
report showing the part number, description,
quantity on hand, quantity allocated, quantity
available, and unit cost of all sorted by partnumber
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System Requirements Checklist
Inputs
Manufacturing employees must swipe their
ID cards into online data collection terminals
that record labor costs and calculateproduction efficiency
The department head must enter overtime
hours on a separate screen
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System Requirements Checklist
Processes
The student records system must calculate
the GPA at the end of each semester
As the final step in year-end processing, the
payroll system must update employee
salaries, bonuses, and benefits and produce
tax data required by the IRS
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System Requirements Checklist
Performance
The system must support 25 users online
simultaneously
Response time must not exceed four seconds
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System Requirements Checklist
Controls
The system must provide log-on security at
the operating system level and at the
application level An employee record must be added,
changed, or deleted only by a member of the
human resources department
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Future Growth, Costs, and Benefits
Scalability
A scalable system offers a better return on
the initial investment
To evaluate, you need information about
projected future volume for all outputs,
inputs, and processes
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Future Growth, Costs, and Benefits
Total Cost of Ownership
Total cost of ownership (TCO) is especially
important if the development team is
evaluating several alternatives One problem is that cost estimates tend to
understate indirect costs
Rapid Economic Justification (REJ)
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Fact-Finding
Fact-Finding Overview
The first step is to identify the information
you need
Develop a fact-finding plan
Who, What, Where, When, How, and Why?
Difference between asking what is being
done and what could or should be done
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Fact-Finding
The Zachman Framework
Zachman Framework for Enterprise
Architecture
Helps managers and users understand themodel and assures that overall business goals
translate into successful IT projects
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Interviews
Systems analysts spend a
great deal of time talking
with people
Much of that time isspent conducting
interviews
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Interview
Step 1: Determine the People to Interview
Informal structures
Step 2: Establish Objectives for the Interview
Determine the general areas to be discussed
List the facts you want to gather
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Interviews
Step 3: Develop Interview Questions
Creating a standard list of interview
questions helps to keep you on track and
avoid unnecessary tangents Avoid leading questions
Open-ended questions
Closed-ended questions
Range-of-response questions
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Interviews
Step 4: Prepare for the Interview
Careful preparation is essential because
interview is an important meeting and not
just a casual chat Limit the interview to no more than one hour
Send a list of topics
Ask the interviewee to have samples
available
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Interviews
Step 5: Conduct the Interview
Develop a specific plan for the meeting
Begin by introducing yourself, describingthe project, and explaining interviewobjectives
Use engaged listening
Allow the person enough time to think about
the question After interview, summarize the session and
seek a confirmation
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Interviews
Step 6: Document the Interview
Note taking should be kept to a minimum
After the interview, record the information
quickly After the interview, send memo expressing
appreciation, including the main points
discussed so the interviewee has a written
summary and can offer additions or
corrections
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Interviews
Step 7: Evaluate the Interview
In addition to recording the facts obtained in
an interview, try to identify any possible
biases Unsuccessful Interviews
No matter how well you prepare for
interviews, some are not successful
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Other Fact-Finding Techniques
Document Review
Observation
Seeing the system in action gives
you additional perspective and a
better understanding of the
system procedures
Plan your observations in
advance
Hawthorne Effect
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Other Fact-Finding Techniques
Questionnaires and Surveys
When designing a questionnaire, the most
important rule of all is to make sure that your
questions collect the right data in a form thatyou can use to further your fact-finding
Fill-in form
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Other Fact-Finding Techniques
Sampling
Systematic sample
Stratified sample
Random sample
Main objective of a sample is to ensure that
it represents the overall population
accurately
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Other Fact-Finding Techniques
Research
Can include the Internet, IT magazines, and
books to obtain background information,
technical material, and news about industrytrends and developments
Site visit
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Other Fact-Finding Techniques
Interviews versus Questionnaires Interview is more familiar and personal
Questionnaire gives many people theopportunity to provide input and suggestions
Brainstorming
Structured brainstorming
Unstructured brainstorming
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Documentation
The Need for Recording the Facts
Record information as soon as you obtain it
Use the simplest recording method
Record your findings in such a way that theycan be understood by someone else
Organize your documentation so related
material is located easily
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Documentation
Software Tools
CASE Tools
Productivity Software
Word processing, spreadsheets, databasemanagement, presentation graphics programs
Histogram
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Documentation
Software Tools
Graphics modeling software
Personal information managers
Personal information manager (PIM) Handheld computers
Personal digital assistants (PDAs)
Wireless communication devices
P i f D d P
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Preview of Data and ProcessModeling
At the conclusion of requirements modeling,systems developers should have clear
understanding of business processes and
system requirements
The next step is to model the logical design of
the system
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Chapter Summary
The systems analysis phase includes threeactivities: requirements modeling, data and
process modeling, and consideration of
development strategies
The main objective is to understand the
proposed project, ensure that it will support
business requirements, and build a solid
foundation for the systems design phase
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Chapter Summary
The fact-finding process includes interviewing,document review, observation, questionnaires,
sampling, and research
Systems analysts should carefully record anddocument factual information as it is collected,
and various software tools can help an analyst
visualize and describe an information system
Chapter 3 complete