Systems Analysis and Design : An Active Approach

by Marakas, George M.

• ISBN13: 9780072976076
• ISBN10: 0072976071
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-12-13
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill/Irwin

Summary

This new book provides a concise text that teaches students first how to identify the problem, before analyzing and designing a solution. Marakas applies the structure method of SA&D with some coverage of object-oriented methods as an alternative. This text is accompanied by a web-based case simulation option that provides a realistic experience for students while automating administration for the instructor.

Table of Contents

Preface	xiv
Acknowledgments	xxi
The Systems Development Environment	1	(32)
Introduction	1	(2)
Definition	2	(1)
SAD---a Disciplined Approach	3	(1)
Methodologies	3	(1)
Tools	4	(1)
Techniques	4	(1)
Modern SAD	4	(4)
A Bit of History	4	(2)
Process-Centricity	6	(1)
Data-Centricity	7	(1)
The Need for Balance	7	(1)
Systems Analysis as a Profession	8	(5)
Careers and Job Opportunities	8	(1)
Typical Career Paths for Systems Analysts	8	(1)
Professional Societies and Standards of Practice	9	(2)
The Current and Future State of the Industry	11	(2)
The Roles and Responsibilities in Systems Development	13	(5)
Client and System Users	13	(1)
IS Management	13	(1)
Systems Analysts	13	(2)
Application Programmers	15	(1)
IS Support Personnel	15	(1)
Skill Set for Systems Analysis	16	(2)
Types of Information Systems and Systems Development	18	(4)
Transaction Processing Systems	19	(1)
Management Information Systems	19	(1)
Decision Support and Expert Systems	20	(1)
Executive Information Systems	20	(1)
Office Automation and Workgroup Management Systems	21	(1)
Web-Based Systems	21	(1)
The SDLC	22	(3)
Definition	22	(1)
Overview of Phases and Activities	22	(2)
Drawbacks to the SDLC	24	(1)
Alternative Approaches to Development	25	(1)
OOAD	25	(1)
RAD	25	(1)
Chapter Summary	25	(1)
Key Terminology	26	(3)
Questions for Review	29	(1)
For Further Discussion	29	(2)
ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Behavior	30	(1)
Software Engineering Code of Ethics and Professional Practice	31	(1)
References	31	(1)
Recommended Reading	32	(1)
So What Is the Problem?	33	(26)
Introduction	33	(1)
Problems versus Symptoms	34	(6)
Problems Defined	34	(1)
Symptoms Defined	35	(1)
Problem Recognition and Definition	36	(1)
Cause and Effect	36	(1)
PIECES Framework	37	(3)
Problem Statement	40	(1)
Bounded Rationality	40	(2)
The Concept of Systems	42	(4)
System Classifications	43	(2)
Living in an Open and Closed World	45	(1)
The Subsystem---Functional Decomposition	45	(1)
The SDLC	46	(6)
Preliminary Investigation Phase	47	(1)
Analysis Phase	48	(1)
Logical Design Phase	49	(1)
Physical Design Phase	49	(1)
Implementation Phase	50	(1)
Maintenance Phase	50	(2)
Systems Development Principles	52	(2)
Get the Users Involved	52	(1)
Systems Analysis Is Problem Solving	52	(1)
ISs Are Capital Assets	53	(1)
Good Ideas Can Become Bad Ideas	54	(1)
Document Now	54	(1)
Use the Divide-and-Conquer Approach	54	(1)
Chapter Summary	54	(1)
Key Terminology	55	(2)
Questions for Review	57	(1)
For Further Discussion	57	(1)
References	58	(1)
Recommended Reading	58	(1)
Identification and Selection of Development Projects	59	(20)
Introduction	59	(1)
The Geometric Truth about Systems Development Projects	60	(1)
Identifying Potential Systems Development Projects	60	(6)
Evaluating Project Potential	61	(4)
Project Selection	65	(1)
The Concept of Creeping Commitment	66	(1)
Information Systems Planning	66	(2)
The Corporate IS Plan	68	(1)
Project Initiation and Project Planning	68	(3)
Preliminary Project Feasibility Analysis	68	(3)
The Baseline Plan	71	(1)
The Role of the Steering Committee	72	(1)
The Project Flow Model	73	(1)
``What'' versus ``How''	74	(1)
Chapter Summary	75	(1)
Key Terminology	75	(2)
Questions for Review	77	(1)
For Further Discussion	77	(1)
References	78	(1)
Recommended Reading	78	(1)
System Requirements Determination	79	(36)
Introduction	79	(1)
Developing an Analysis Strategy	79	(1)
The Three Types of System Requirements	80	(1)
The Three ``I's'' of Requirements Determination	81	(1)
Impertinence	81	(1)
Impartiality	81	(1)
Insight	81	(1)
The Four Common Mistakes in Requirements Determination	82	(2)
Assuming a Functional System	82	(1)
Collecting Requirements from Each End User instead of All End Users	83	(1)
Asking the Wrong Questions	83	(1)
Failing to Allow Refinement through Trial and Error	84	(1)
Requirements Determination Deliverables	84	(3)
Good Requirement Characteristics	85	(2)
Requirements Determination Methods	87	(1)
Traditional Methods for Requirements Determination	87	(18)
Direct Interview	87	(4)
Questionnaires and Surveys	91	(8)
Direct Observation	99	(2)
Archival Document Analysis and External Research	101	(4)
Modern Methods for Requirements Determination	105	(2)
JAD	105	(1)
Iterative Prototyping	106	(1)
Chapter Summary	107	(1)
Key Terminology	108	(4)
Questions for Review	112	(1)
For Further Discussion	113	(1)
References	114	(1)
Recommended Reading	114	(1)
Modeling the Processes and Logic	115	(29)
Introduction	115	(1)
Logical Process Modeling	115	(2)
The ``What'' versus the ``How''	116	(1)
The DFD	117	(3)
DFD Components	118	(2)
DFD Hierarchy	120	(9)
Context-Level Diagram	121	(1)
Level-0 DFD	121	(1)
Level-1 through Level-n DFD	122	(1)
DFDs versus Flowcharts	123	(3)
The Rules of DFD Construction	126	(1)
DFD ``Gotchas'' and Traps to Avoid	126	(2)
Analyzing and Using the DFD	128	(1)
Modeling Process Logic	129	(9)
Logic Modeling Is Logical but . . .	129	(1)
Structured English	129	(1)
The Decision Table	130	(2)
The Decision Tree	132	(3)
The State-Transition Diagram	135	(1)
When Do I Use What?	136	(2)
Chapter Summary	138	(1)
Key Terminology	138	(2)
Questions for Review	140	(1)
For Further Discussion	141	(1)
References	142	(1)
Recommended Reading	143	(1)
Modeling the Data: Conceptual and Logical Data Modeling	144	(26)
Objectives of Data Modeling	144	(2)
Conceptual versus Logical---What's the Difference?	145	(1)
The ERD	146	(8)
Entities	146	(2)
Attributes	148	(1)
Key Attribute	148	(1)
Multivalued Attributes	149	(1)
Relationships	149	(1)
Cardinality and Optionality	150	(1)
Relationship Degree	150	(3)
Associative Entities	153	(1)
Interpreting and Understanding the ERD	154	(1)
What Data?	154	(2)
Logical Data Modeling	156	(1)
Characteristics of a Good Data Model	156	(1)
The Relational Data Model	156	(2)
Data Normalization	158	(6)
The Concept of Functional Dependency	158	(1)
First Normal Form	158	(1)
Second Normal Form	159	(1)
Third Normal Form	160	(2)
Denormalization	162	(1)
The Fully Normalized ERD	163	(1)
Chapter Summary	164	(1)
Key Terminology	165	(2)
Questions for Review	167	(1)
For Further Discussion	168	(1)
References	169	(1)
Recommended Reading	169	(1)
CASE Tools and Joint and Rapid Application Development	170	(28)
Introduction	170	(1)
CASE Tools	171	(1)
The Evolution and History of CASE Tools	171	(1)
Why Bother with CASE?	171	(13)
The Objectives of CASE	173	(1)
The Good News and the Bad News about CASE	174	(2)
The Components and Functions of Modern CASE Tools	176	(7)
The Concept of Integration	183	(1)
The Future of CASE	184	(2)
JAD and RAD	186	(8)
JAD	186	(3)
RAD	189	(5)
Chapter Summary	194	(1)
Key Terminology	194	(2)
Questions for Review	196	(1)
For Further Discussion	197	(1)
References	197	(1)
Recommended Reading	197	(1)
Moving from Analysis to Design	198	(30)
Introduction	198	(1)
Selection of the Design Strategy	199	(7)
Generating Alternative Design Strategies	199	(1)
Do Nothing	200	(1)
Explore All Possible Nonautomated Solutions	201	(1)
Software: Buy versus Make	202	(4)
Hardware Design Strategy Issues	206	(1)
From ``What'' to ``How''	206	(2)
The Feasible Solution	206	(1)
Facts, Faith, and Fear	207	(1)
The Dimensions of System Feasibility	208	(15)
Technical Feasibility	208	(1)
Operational Feasibility	209	(1)
Human-Factors Feasibility	210	(1)
Legal and Political Feasibility	211	(1)
Economic Feasibility	212	(9)
Risk Assessment	221	(2)
Chapter Summary	223	(1)
Key Terminology	223	(3)
Questions for Review	226	(1)
For Further Discussion	226	(1)
References	227	(1)
Recommended Reading	227	(1)
Designing Systems for Diverse Environments	228	(37)
Introduction	229	(1)
Typical Is Not So Typical Anymore	229	(1)
The Distributed IS	230	(7)
The Drive to Distribute	230	(1)
The Pros and Cons of Distributed Computing	231	(1)
Types of Distribution	232	(1)
Connectivity Diagramming	233	(1)
Basic Connection Topologies	234	(3)
Managing the Distributed Data	237	(3)
Data Replication	238	(1)
Data Partitioning	239	(1)
Designing for Distributed Systems	240	(3)
Separation	242	(1)
Diversity	242	(1)
Federalism and Concurrency	243	(1)
Designing for Specialized Domains and Environments	243	(1)
Designing for Collaboration	243	(3)
Individual Work as well as Collaboration	243	(1)
Mutual Intelligibility	244	(1)
Simultaneous, Fine-Granularity Access	244	(1)
Collaborative Wearable Computers	245	(1)
Designing for Enterprise Resource Planning	246	(3)
How Does ERP Work?	247	(1)
Implementing ERP Systems	247	(1)
COTS versus Best-in-Class ERP	248	(1)
Designing for Intranets	249	(4)
Effective Design	251	(1)
Virtual Workgroups	251	(1)
Intranet Design Myths	252	(1)
Designing for Data Warehouses	253	(6)
Stores, Warehouses, and Marts	253	(1)
Data Warehouse Architecture	254	(2)
DW Typology	256	(1)
Implementing the DW	257	(2)
Chapter Summary	259	(1)
Key Terminology	259	(4)
Questions for Review	263	(1)
For Further Discussion	263	(1)
References	263	(1)
Recommended Reading	264	(1)
Designing the Files and Databases	265	(23)
Introduction	265	(1)
File and Database Design	266	(1)
Designing and Specifying Fields	266	(6)
Field Types	266	(1)
Data Types	267	(1)
Field Representation	267	(1)
Calculated Field Values	268	(1)
Data Integrity	269	(3)
Designing and Specifying Physical Records	272	(3)
Variable-Length and Fixed-Length Records	272	(2)
Paging and Blocking	274	(1)
Designing and Specifying Files	275	(5)
File Access Methods	276	(1)
Organization Techniques	277	(1)
File Volumetrics	278	(2)
Designing Databases	280	(2)
Database Architectures	280	(2)
Chapter Summary	282	(1)
Key Terminology	283	(2)
Questions for Review	285	(1)
For Further Discussion	286	(1)
References	287	(1)
Designing the System Output	288	(20)
Introduction	288	(1)
The Process of Designing System Output	289	(1)
The Characteristics of System Output	289	(5)
Purpose	289	(1)
Recipient	290	(1)
Frequency	290	(1)
Distribution	290	(1)
Data Sources	290	(1)
Media	291	(1)
Format	291	(2)
Controls	293	(1)
Types of Output	294	(1)
External Output	294	(1)
Internal Output	295	(1)
Media Type and Output Technology	295	(7)
Hard Copy	297	(1)
Screen Output	297	(1)
Audio and Video Output	297	(2)
COM Output	299	(1)
Robotic Output	299	(1)
Output Bias Issues	300	(1)
Range and Value Limits	300	(1)
Sorting and Sequence Bias	301	(1)
Graphical Bias	301	(1)
Backup and Recovery	302	(2)
Data Backup and Retention Strategies	302	(2)
Chapter Summary	304	(1)
Key Terminology	304	(2)
Questions for Review	306	(1)
For Further Discussion	306	(1)
References	307	(1)
Recommended Reading	307	(1)
Designing the Inputs and User Interface	308	(28)
Introduction	308	(1)
User Interaction Methods	309	(5)
Command Dialogue	309	(1)
Menus	309	(2)
Icons and Buttons	311	(1)
Input Screens and Forms	311	(1)
Voice Recognition	311	(3)
Common Input Devices	314	(4)
Biometric Input Devices	314	(1)
Optical Input Devices	315	(2)
Smart Cards	317	(1)
Guidelines for Input and Interface Design	318	(9)
HCI Metaphors	319	(2)
Data Entry Issues	321	(2)
User Feedback	323	(2)
Dialogue Design	325	(1)
Usability Assessment	326	(1)
Designing Input Controls	327	(4)
Data Controls	328	(2)
Access Controls	330	(1)
Chapter Summary	331	(1)
Key Terminology	331	(3)
Questions for Review	334	(1)
For Further Discussion	334	(1)
References	335	(1)
Recommended Reading	335	(1)
Designing the System Internals	336	(20)
Introduction	336	(1)
Making It All Work	337	(1)
Principles of Good Internal Design	337	(5)
System Factoring	337	(1)
Module Span	338	(1)
Module Cohesion	338	(3)
Module Coupling	341	(1)
Hierarchical Structure Diagrams	342	(9)
DFDs versus Structure Charts	342	(3)
Deriving the Hierarchical Structure Diagram	345	(4)
Advantages and Disadvantages of Hierarchical Structure Diagrams	349	(2)
Chapter Summary	351	(1)
Key Terminology	351	(2)
Questions for Review	353	(1)
For Further Discussion	354	(1)
References	355	(1)
Recommended Reading	355	(1)
Implementing and Maintaining the System	356	(27)
Introduction	356	(1)
What Is System Implementation?	357	(1)
Application Testing	357	(7)
Code Inspection	358	(1)
Structured Walk-Through	358	(1)
The Desk Check	358	(2)
Module Testing	360	(1)
Integration Testing	360	(3)
System Testing	363	(1)
User Acceptance Testing	364	(1)
System Installation	365	(8)
Conversion	365	(3)
Documentation	368	(4)
User Training and Support	372	(1)
Postimplementation Activities	373	(5)
Change Requests	374	(1)
Categories of Systems Maintenance	374	(2)
Systems Maintenance Costs	376	(1)
Cost Estimation of Downtime	377	(1)
Chapter Summary	378	(1)
Key Terminology	378	(3)
Questions for Review	381	(1)
For Further Discussion	382	(1)
References	382	(1)
Recommended Reading	382	(1)
Appendixes
Appendix A Project Management: Process, Techniques, and Tools	383	(21)
Introduction	383	(1)
Prioritization and Projects	384	(1)
What Is a Project?	385	(1)
The Five Phases of the Project Management Process	385	(6)
Initiating/Defining	385	(2)
Planning	387	(2)
Executing	389	(1)
Controlling	389	(2)
Closing	391	(1)
Project Management Techniques: Identifying and Documenting Project Activities	391	(5)
WBS Identifying Tasks	391	(1)
Simple Precedence Network Diagram	392	(1)
PERT/CPM	393	(1)
Gantt Chart	394	(2)
Project Management Tools: Automating Project Management	396	(2)
What Tools Can Do	397	(1)
What Tools Cannot Do	397	(1)
Five Common Mistakes in Project Management	398	(1)
Failing to Communicate	398	(1)
Failing to Create a Realistic Plan	398	(1)
Proceeding without Project Buy-In	398	(1)
Allowing Scope Creep to Escalate	398	(1)
Throwing Resources at a Project Problem	398	(1)
Essentials Skills for the Project Manager	399	(1)
Time Management	399	(1)
Communication Skills	399	(1)
Conclusion	399	(1)
Appendix Summary	399	(1)
Key Terminology	400	(1)
Questions for Review	401	(1)
For Further Discussion	401	(1)
Professional Organizations	401	(1)
The Project Management Institute (PMI)	401	(1)
International Project Management Association (IPMA)	402	(1)
References	402	(1)
Project Management--Related Web Sites	402	(1)
Recommended Reading	402	(2)
Appendix B Object-Oriented Analysis and Design	404	(25)
Introduction	404	(1)
The Concepts of Object Orientation	405	(7)
Objects	406	(2)
Class	408	(1)
Objects versus Classes	409	(1)
Hierarchical Inheritance	410	(1)
Messages	411	(1)
The Unified Modeling Language	412	(12)
Use-Case Model	414	(2)
Class Diagram	416	(3)
Statechart Diagram	419	(2)
Interaction Diagram	421	(1)
Implementation Diagram	422	(2)
Advantages and Disadvantages of the Object-Oriented Approach	424	(1)
Appendix Summary	424	(1)
Key Terminology	425	(2)
References	427	(1)
Recommended Reading	427	(2)
Index	429