Systems Development

Name:

Module:

Systems Development

Course:

FdSc Internet Technology in Business

Year 1: 2004/2005

Hand In:

22nd April 2005

Module Leader:

Assignment Reference:

System Development Life Cycle (SD2)

Content Page

INTRODUCTION 4

WHAT IS THE SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT LIFE CYCLE? 5

ADVANTAGES: SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT LIFE CYCLE 5

POTENTIAL DIS-ADVANTAGES: SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT LIFE CYCLE 6

THE SEVEN STAGES OF THE SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT LIFE CYCLE 7

STAGE 1: PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION 8

PROBLEM 1: 8

PROBLEM 2: 8

PROBLEM 3: 8

STAGE 2: INITIAL FEASIBILITY 10

WHAT IS A FEASIBILITY STUDY? 10

WHY CONDUCT A FEASIBILITY STUDY? 11

IMPORTANT FEATURES OF A FEASIBILITY STUDY? 12

STAGE 3: SYSTEMS INVESTIGATION 14

INTERVIEWS 15

UNSTRUCTURED INTERVIEWS: 17

STRUCTURED INTERVIEWS: 18

INTERVIEW PLANNING: 19

THE INTERVIEW ITSELF: 19

QUESTIONNAIRES 20

HAND OUT: 21

SIT & COMPLETE: 21

DOCUMENTATION INSPECTION 25

OBSERVATION 27

SSADM CATALOGUES 29

USER CATALOGUE 29

INFORMATION CATALOGUE 30

FUNCTIONAL & NON-FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS 30

FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS 30

NON-FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS 30

QUANTIFYING REQUIREMENTS 31

STAGE 4: SYSTEMS ANALYSIS 32

STAGE 5: SYSTEMS DESIGN 33

JACKSON STRUCTURED DIAGRAMS 33

MODELING STAGE 34

NETWORK STAGE 35

IMPLEMENTATION STAGE 35

UML (UNIFIED MODELING LANGUAGE) 36

WHAT IS THE UNIFIED MODELING LANGUAGE? 36

WHY WAS THE UML LANGUAGE CREATED? 36

WHAT IS OBJECT-ORIENTED PROGRAMMING? 37

UML DIAGRAMS 39

STAGE 6: SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION 42

NOTIFYING USERS OF NEW IMPLEMENTATION 43

EXECUTE TRAINING PLAN 43

SYSTEM REPLACEMENT OR UPDATE 43

POST-IMPLEMENTATION REVIEW 44

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION & FACTS (DELIVERABLES) 44

DELIVERED SYSTEM 44

CHANGE IMPLEMENTATION NOTICE 44

VERSION DESCRIPTION DOCUMENT 45

ISSUES AND PROBLEMS FOR FUTURE CONSIDERATION 45

STAGE 7: SYSTEMS MAINTENANCE 46

CORRECTIVE MAINTENANCE 46

PERFECTIVE MAINTENANCE 46

ADAPTIVE MAINTENANCE 46

MAINTENANCE CAUSES 47

Introduction

The assignment has instructed me that I must complete a full explanation of the systems development life cycle. I must do this assignment with the view that the life cycle is for the development of a ecommerce website.

I have to clearly describe and run through the different processes and stages of the systems development life cycle. To do this I have decided that I will split the essay up into sections, the sections will be named after the stage of the cycle, for example Problem identification.

As part of the assignment I am to write the essay in the view of a company who are looking to develop an ecommerce website to expand the company sales and reputation.

What is the Systems Development Life Cycle?

The development life cycle is an overall process of developing and information system. This can be done in all areas of business and not just IT or in this case the development of an ecommerce website.

The cycle itself is a multi step process that covers the initial investigation all the way down to the system maintenance. There are many different models and methodologies, but generally the system consists of a number or different steps or stages. These steps or stages start from the first investigation through analysis, design, implementation and the maintenance of the final system.

The systems development life cycle acts as a structure that can be followed when a company decides that it is time for change and wants to bring in a new system or change an old one. The cycle cannot be completed with any of the stages or steps missing. Every stage is just as important as the other although there are views that certain stages have more importance than others, however without all of the stages complete the system may either have major errors or not work at all.

The systems development life cycle has both pros and con's these are just some of those listed below:

Advantages: Systems Development Life Cycle

Firstly the systems development life cycle brings