Chapter 1 - Basic concepts and System development lifecycle

Question 1

Difference between increasing the topline and decreasing the bottom line?

Answer 1

Increasing the topline -> generate additional revenue by creating new services and entering new markets

Decreasing the bottom line -> Using IT to decrease costs and be more efficient

Question 2

What’s the relevance of IT and IS?

Answer 2

IT and IS are crucial elements for the success of an organization and need careful management -> requires specific knowledge and tools
IT and IS are the most important tools organizations have at their disposal to support, automate, rationalize, streamline and coordinate their operational and decision making processes and become more efficient and effective (decrease bottomline and increase topline)
The existence of organizations depend on IT and IS

Question 3

What is informatics?

Answer 3

The science/study of information processing

Question 4

What is an information system?

Answer 4

IS is used to process information, for example an evolution towards paperless organization
IS uses IT but also uses other components

Uses all or some of :
People, hardware, software, communication networks, data resources, policies and procedures
that stores, retrieves, transforms or processes and disseminates information to end-users in an organization in a controlled manner

Question 5

What is information technology?

Answer 5

IT concerns one aspect of IS
IT is the technological components required for an IS to function:
computer hardware, computer software, telecommunication
Technology to manage and manipulate data resources

Question 6

What is a system?

Answer 6

It is a clearly delineated set of interrelated components cooperating to realize a set of common objectives
Ex: cell, human, planet

Question 7

What is the use of IS in an organization?

Answer 7

To increase efficiency and effectiveness in business processes and management decision making, and collaboration in support of product development and customer support. thus the need for process modeling and data modeling

Question 8

What is the difference between data and information?

Answer 8

Data is information that can be captured and stored as a sequence of zeros and ones, and as such anything that can be stored a bit-sequence. Information is data with utility (useor value) to the receiver.

Question 9

What is a model?

Answer 9

A model is a simplified and/or idealized representation of (part of) reality. A model is some representation of a system. Models are are an essential part on he constrcution of software systems. The output of a methodology consists of a set of model that are used as input in the later stages. A modle is written using a notation, such as UML or BPMN.
A model is not the thing it is describing, but a representation of it. But in some real sense, it looks like the thing.

Question 10

Why do we build models?

Answer 10

A model is a tool to assist in analysis and decision making, communication, planning, simulation and optimization.

Question 11

What is a simulation?

Answer 11

A model helps to simulate the workings of a system and analyze the system’s behaviour under varying circumstances. Helps in answering complex business questions and optimize decision making.

Question 12

What are the 4 elements in the development of IS?

Answer 12

organization -> the plot where development takes place is the organization that carries out the development
process development -> a good development depends on the process development by which software and IS are developed
architecture is the structure of the product that is being constructed
notation provides the means of communication and the roof under which the development takes place.
Success depends on the harmonization of all 4 elements

Question 13

What is a process?

Answer 13

A process is the development of an Information system. The input are time, energy and money. Consists of different shareholders and activities but has a clear end objective.
A formal approach or methodology is needed in the success of an IS development project.

Question 14

What is SDLC?

Answer 14

Systems development lifecycle is a high-reigning methodology. It is a number of clearly defined and distinct work phases used by systems engineers and systems developers to plan for, design, build, test and deliver information systems.
Business analyst domain is the problem domain -> investigation and analysis
IT analyst domain is the solution domain -> design, implementation and maintenance.

Question 15

what are the objectives of SDLC?

Answer 15

To produce high quality systems
That meet or exceed customer expectations
Based on customer requirements
By delivering systems which move through each distinct phases
Within scheduled time frames and cost estimates.

Question 16

what are some SDLC methodologies?

Answer 16

Waterfall, agile … etc

Question 17

What are SDLC phases and stages?

Answer 17

Business analyst -> problem oriented 
Investigation 
Analysis 
IT expert -> solution oriented 
Design 
Implementation 
Maintenance

Question 18

Define phase 1 of SDLC

Answer 18

Systems investigation -> identification problem/scope and feasibility 
Identification problem/ objective 
-	Problems with system as is 
-	Are there any business opportunities 
-	Do we have business priorities 
Feasibility
-	Operational 
-	Economic 
-	Technical 
-	Human factors 
-	Legal

Question 19

Define phase 2 of SDLC

Answer 19

Systems Analysis
Detailed study of:
- What are the information needs of a company and end-users?
- What are the activities, resources and products of current IS in use?
- IS capabilitity of meeting the information needs of users and shareholders

Produce different models or deliverables that are used ss the basis for the design of a new information system, such as description o the functional requirements.

Question 20

what are systems analysis deliverables?

Answer 20

Organizational model
- Contextual information -> model of the organization including
o People
o Management structure
o Environmental systems
o Current IS
Conceptual process model
- describes the information needs across business processes that are supported by the system
- determines the information processing each system activity needs to meet the business information needs.

Conceptual data model
- determines what type of information each business activity requires.

Question 21

what are the functional requirements and non-functional requirements of systems analysis?

Answer 21

Functional

• What the system must do: functions behaviors
• Functional requirement categories: users, interface, storage, processing

Non-functional

• How the system does it
• Non-functional categories: execution qualities (usability, security) and evolution qualities (maintainability, testability)

Question 22

describe phase 3

Answer 22

System design

Focus on how (from a technical aspect) will realize the requirements determined in the previous phase
Choices are made with respect to hardware, software, network, data storage

Question 23

describe phase 4

Answer 23

System implementation -> physical or implementation models and testing

Question 24

describe phase 5

Answer 24

System maintenance

• Corrective -> fix bugs and logical errors
• Adaptive -> add new functionality to accommodate changes in business or environment
• Perfective -> improve performance
• Preventive -> reduce chances of failure