MIS 140

• Systems development life cycle (SDLC) - a
• structured step-by-step approach for developing information systems

Also called a waterfall methodology

Scope creep - occurs when the scope of the project increases

Feature creep - occurs when developers add extra features that were not part of the initial requirements

Project manager - an individual who is an expert in project planning and management, defines and develops the project plan and tracks the plan to ensure all key project milestones are completed on time

• Rapid application development (RAD)
• (also called rapid prototyping) - emphasizes extensive user involvement in the rapid and evolutionary construction of working prototypes of a system to accelerate systems development

• Technical architecture - defines the hardware, software, and telecommunications equipment required to run the
• system

• Testing phase - verifies that the system works and
• meets all of the business requirements defined in the analysis phase

Two primary testing activities:

• 1.Write the test conditions
• Test conditions - the detailed steps the system must perform along with the expected results of each step

• 2.Perform
• the testing of the system

• äUnit
• testing
• – tests individual units of code

• äSystem
• testing
• – verifies that the units of code function correctly when integrated

• Integration testing
• – verifies that separate systems work together

User acceptance testing (UAT) – determines if the system satisfies the business requirements

Implementation phase - distribute the system to all of the knowledge workers and they begin using the system to perform their everyday jobs

Two primary implementation activities

1.Write detailed user documentation

User documentation - highlights how to use the system

• 2.Provide
• training for the system users

Online training- runs over the Internet or off a CD-ROM  Workshop training - is held in a classroom environment and lead by an instructor



äChoose the right implementation method

• äParallel
• implementation
• – use both the old and new system simultaneously

• Plunge implementation
• – discard the old system completely and use the new

Pilot implementation– start with small groups of people on the new system and gradually add more users

Phased implementation– implement the new system in phases

Component-based development (CBD) – focuses on building small self-contained blocks of code (components) that can be reused across a variety of applications

1.Using already-developed components

2.Building new components as needed

Rapid application development (RAD)

Extreme programming (XP)

Agile methodology

Selfsourcing (end-user development) – the development and support of IT systems by end users with little or no help from IT specialists

• Outsourcing– the delegation of specified work to a
• third party for a specified length of time, at a specified cost, and at a specified level of service

• Prototyping - the process of building a model that
• demonstrates the features of a proposed product, service, or system

The prototyping process involves four steps:

1.Identify basic requirements

2.Develop initial prototype

3.User review

4.Revise and enhance the prototype

• Advantages:
• Encourages active user participation 

Helps resolve discrepancies among users

Gives users a feel for the final system

Helps determine technical feasibility 

Helps sell the idea of a proposed system

• Disadvantages:
• Leads people to believe the final system
• will follow

• Gives no indication of performance under
• operational conditions

• Leads the project team to forgo proper
• testing and documentation

Proof-of-concept prototype -  prove the technical feasibility of a proposed system

Selling prototype - used to convince people of the worth of a proposed system

• The main reasons behind the rapid growth
• of the outsourcing industry include the following:

• Globalization
• The Internet
• Growing economy and low unemployment rate
• Technology
• Deregulation

1.Purchase existing software

2.Purchase existing software and pay the publisher to make certain modifications

3.Purchase existing software and pay the publisher for the right to make modifications yourself

4.Outsource the development of an entirely new and unique system for which no software exists

• Request for proposal (RFP) – formal document that describes in excruciating detail your logical requirements for a proposed system and invites outsourcing organizations to submit bids for
• its development

In outsourcing, you must tell another organization what you want developed; you do that with an RFP

          Therefore, the RFP must be very detailed

           Some RFPs can take years to develop

1.Onshore outsourcing- the process of engaging another company within the same country for services

2.Nearshore outsourcing- contracting an outsourcing arrangement with a company in a nearby country

3.Offshore outsourcing- contracting with a company that is geographically far away

Advantages:

Focus on unique core competencies

Exploit the intellect of another organization

Better predict future costs

Acquire leading-edge technology

Reduce costs

Improve performance accountability

Disadvantages:

Reduces technical know-how for future innovation

Reduces degree of control

Increases vulnerability of your strategic information

Increases dependency on other organizations