System Development – Risk and Reward

1. System Development – Risk and Reward

2. System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) • Planning • Identify management information requirements and business needs • Consider issues in developing for different environments • Incorporate adaptive, data-driven risk management • Analysis • Design • Implementation • Support and Maintenance

3. Identifying Management Information Requirements • Management Information Systems (MIS) involve: • Information • Technology • People

4. Management Information Mantras • Ensure info is readily available to users. • Ensure the best system, e.g., fastest, most cost-effective, most robust, most universal, most expandable. • Get the right info to the right people at the right time in the right way.

5. Identifying Business Need To identify business need: • Observe • Listen • Brainstorm • Analyze • Interact with focus groups • Interview • Survey

6. Business Need Identified? 2 From: http://blog.bksanders.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/sdlc-big.jpg (free of charge)

7. Example of Identifying Management Info Requirements and Business Need Business need: A central database at Success HS to streamline data processing - reduce overlap, incorporate automated check-balance system, and provide online accessibility for data entry and review. • Process Flow for Central Database at Success: • APPLICATION - Online application auto-generates email to AP and populates database with record tagged “applicant” • APPROVAL/DENIAL/HOLD - AP reviews application to approve/deny/hold; auto-generated email notifies applicant and, if approved, schedules orientation and notifies Academic Counselor • OBTAIN TRANSCRIPT - Upon notification, Academic Counselor appends applicant’s record with transcript information • ORIENTATION - Various forms completed, “applicant” status changed to “student” and data added to student record; auto-generated email submits request for computer account • SCHEDULING - Student is assigned schedule; Schedule Card is printed for student • PGP - Advisor with student completes PGP (through the database), prints, and sends it home with student for signatures; once returned signed, advisor submits signed copy to Counselor and Counselor updates student record with “PGP? Yes” • ATTENDANCE - Teachers, Support Staff, Counselors, APs/Coordinators log students in upon arrival to class/meeting , enter comments as applicable, and log students out upon departure • COURSE COMPLETIONS - Teachers enter grades for completed courses, print and submit signed record to Registrar; auto-generated email notifies Academic Counselor, Advisor, and Registrar; student visits Counselor for assignment of new class • SIP - SIPs are created and updated as needed • PROGRESS REPORTS - Progress reports reviewing courses completed, TAKS/EOC results, courses enrolled in, absences, SIPs, and progress comments for the period are printed every 3 weeks for students to take home • LEAVE OF ABSENCE (LOA) - LOAs are recorded as needed/approved • TRANSFER/WITHDRAWAL - Transfers/withdrawals are recorded as applicable • GRADUATION - Graduation date/code entered upon successful completion of all requirements to graduate; auto-generated email requests deactivation of computer account; congratulatory letters and important instructions are printed from database, e.g., how to obtain high school diploma • ANNOUNCEMENTS/INVITATIONS - Students may print graduation announcements/invitations from database if desired

8. Advantages of system development: • Increased Access to Resources– access from anywhere any time, especially valuable for individuals with special needs or who live in rural areas or developing countries. 1 • Interactivity - access to information through videos, podcasts, and other interactive media for a more engaging experience. 1 • Customer-Centered - more control regarding time and method of delivery. 1 • Cost savings – e.g., merging audio-visual, building management, and telephone networks with the computer network system in a unified system of cabling, signal distribution, and management. 1 • Working Smarter - cloud computing enables companies to work smarter, with more agile and cost-effective access to technology and info. This also boosts productivity. 1 • Consolidation- provides added benefits in collaboration, messaging, calendaring, instant messaging, audio, video, and Web conferencing.1 System Development – Risk and Reward

9. Disadvantages of system development: Machine vs Human Contact / Impersonalization – unavailability of live person can cause communication barriers, time wasted, and frustration. Distracting Usage / Interference – over-use or inconsiderate use can cause distractions and a sense of disregard / system overload can cause issues too. Training – many are unfamiliar with using ICTs and are resistant to incorporating the technologies. To succeed, use of ICTs needs to be supported by well-trained individuals. Cost– implementing ICTs can be costly regarding updating existing infrastructures, training, and developing quality training materials. 1 Uncertain Success Rates – if no large-scale studies have been conducted that show whether the use of ICTs will result in a measurable increase in profitability, investment in these technologies may be considered too great a risk. 1 Complexity/Incompatibility Issues – keeping up with quickly-changing technology and human resources familiar with the ever-changing system is a challenge as well as establishing compatibility with pre-existing and new systems. System Development – Risk and Reward

10. Issues of Development for Different Environments • Hardware and infrastructure capability/compatibility (Can the existing system handle the upgrade?) • Software compatibility (Will new/old software function properly after the upgrade?) • Versatility and capability vs speed (Which is more important - bells and whistles or speed? Or both? If both, what is most important regarding each and where do you draw the line?) • Sleek design vs utilitarian for adverse conditions (Which is more important? Or what is important regarding each?) • Accessibility vs security (Is easy access important … or should access be limited for greater security?) • Local vs Global – language/cultural differences (Who will the upgrade serve and what limits/capabilities are needed to ensure universal compatibility? Sometimes a system must be simplified to serve the greater good.) • User skill-level – skilled vs unskilled (How simple and/or in-depth do instructions and processes need to be?) • Support – internal vs outsourced, limited vs full-service, live vs automated? • Cost limitations? (What is the budget … start-up and ongoing?) • ADA compliance requirements • Planned obsolescence vs reliability • Patents? (Pre-existing or needed?) • Competitive timeliness vs quality Can you think of others?

11. Hit “Escape” to exit “presentation” mode. • In the table below, enter a recommendation for improving the information system/ICT at Success HS. • Identify and enter 3 risks and 3 rewards of implementing the improvement. • Identify and enter a management information requirement and/or business need at Success HS that your recommendation addresses. • Once completed, show your teacher. • Refer to the previous slide. In the space below, identify and briefly explain 3 issues of developing for different environments as they relate to your proposed recommendation. Reflection

12. Works Cited 1 Wikipedia on 9/17/11: Information and communications technology at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_and_communications_technology 2 “SDLC 2010 – I Call It Recursive Idiocy” Offered, free of charge by BK Sanders, posted at: http://blog.bksanders.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/sdlc-big.jpg (return to last slide viewed)