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What is System Analysis?. What is System Analysis? A Formal Definition: Systems analysis is the dissection of a system into its component pieces for purposes of studying how those component pieces interact and work.
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What is System Analysis? • What is System Analysis? • A Formal Definition: • Systems analysis is the dissection of a system into its component pieces for purposes of studying how those component pieces interact and work. • Systems analysis is done for the purpose of subsequently performing a systems synthesis. • Systems synthesis is the re-assembly of a system’s component pieces back into a whole system – hopefully an improved system.
Systems Analysis Activities • Survey problems, opportunities, and directives • The purpose of this activity is to quickly survey and evaluate each identified problem, opportunity, and directive with respect to urgency, visibility, tangible benefits, and priority. • Negotiate project scope • The purpose of this activity is to define the boundary of the system and project. • The boundary should be defined as precisely as possible to minimize the impact of ‘creeping scope’. • Plan the project
Survey Phase
Systems Analysis Activities • Study the current system • Model the Current System • Purpose: • The purpose of this activity is to learn enough about the current system’s data, processes, interfaces, and geography to expand the understanding of scope, and to establish a common working vocabulary for that scope. • Draw system models. • The recommended sequence of models is (1) INTERFACE, (2) DATA, (3) PROCESS, and (4) GEOGRAPHY. • Verify the system models. • The goal is to reach consensus agreement on ‘what’ the current system is all about.
Systems Analysis Activities • Analyze business processes • Analyze problems and opportunities • The purpose of this activity is to: • (1) understand the underlying causes and effects of all perceived problems and opportunities, and • (2) understand the effects and potential side effects of all perceived opportunities. • Establish system improvement objectives and constraints
Modify project scope • Outline business system requirements • The purpose of this activity is to identify, in general terms, the business requirements for a new or improved information system. A classic input-process-output framework should prove sufficient to structure the activity Prepared by Kevin C. Dittman for Systems Analysis & Design Methods 4ed by J. L. Whitten & L. D. Bentley
Study Phase