Chapter 1 The Systems Development Environment 1
Chapter 1
The Systems Development Environment
Chapter Overview
Chapter 1 is a foundation chapter, introducing students to basic, core systems analysis
and design concepts. These basic concepts include a definition of information systems
analysis and design, an overview of systems analysis and design core concepts, a
discussion of a system and its parts, an introduction to the modern approach to systems
analysis and design, an overview of the systems analyst’s role in systems development,
and a review of the types of information systems and systems development. The
chapter concludes with an introduction to the systems development life cycle, its four
phases, and alternative approaches to development.
Instructional Objectives
Specific student learning objectives are included at the beginning of the chapter. From
an instructor’s point of view, the objectives of this chapter are to:
1. Define information systems analysis and design.
2. Define and discuss the modern approach to systems analysis and design.
3. Illustrate how systems development extends to different types of information systems
and not just transaction processing systems.
4. Introduce the traditional information systems development life cycle, which serves as
the basis for the organization of the material in this book.
5. Show students that the life cycle is a flexible basis for systems analysis and design
and that it can support many different tools and techniques, such as prototyping and
JAD.
6. Discuss the importance and role of CASE in systems development.
7. Discuss information systems development options, including IT services firms,
packaged software producers, enterprise-wide solutions, open-source software, and
in-house developers.
8. Discuss the different approaches to systems development, including prototyping,
CASE tools, joint application development, rapid application development,
participatory design, and Agile Methodologies.

Chapter 1 The Systems Development Environment 2
Classroom Ideas
1. Emphasize the differences between methodologies, techniques, and tools. Such
differences are not obvious to students; often they think of methodologies as just a
set of techniques and that techniques and tools are synonymous.
2. Give concrete examples during class discussion of the following types of IS:
transaction processing systems, management information systems, and decision
support systems. Ask students to talk about the information systems with which
they are familiar.
3. When discussing different types of information systems, discuss the differences
between systems that support back room operations, such as basic accounting
functions, and systems that directly affect the bottom line. If students are aware of
such systems, they usually are not aware of how these systems provide competitive
advantage. Discussing different types of systems provides a chance to talk about
the differences between these two categories of systems.
4. When introducing the life cycle model in the text, you may want to introduce other
life cycle models from other textbook authors or in other forms. This shows
students that there is no one standard life cycle model and that the model they will
rely on when they begin work as a systems analyst will likely differ from the life
cycle model in the text. The point is to show them they can use the life cycle as an
archetype to understand other models, and they should understand there is no one
“correct” life cycle model. The life cycle represents activities that must be done, and
the phases are a way to introduce, in an organized way, the methods, techniques,
tools, and skills necessary for successful systems analysis and design.
5. Give a brief overview of the activities and outputs from each of the four life cycle
phases, based on your own experience or from your reading of the rest of the book.
Table 1–4 identifies the products of the four SDLC phases.
6. Although prototyping and joint application design are covered in more depth later in
the book, you can provide a more in-depth introduction to these techniques than
discussed in Chapter 1. Figure 1–13 is a good point of departure for a discussion of
prototyping and what it adds to structured development techniques.
7. Participatory Design is briefly introduced in this chapter but can be discussed in
more depth. A brief overview of the Participatory Design concept is available at
http://www.cpsr.org/issues/pd/index_html. Several books are available on this topic,
as well as numerous Web sites. You can also ask your students to find recent
articles about this topic.
8. Spend a few minutes discussing the importance of analytical, technical, managerial,
and interpersonal skills for a systems analyst. Ask students to identify which of the
skills categories they think is the most important and why.
9. Figure 1–2 is an excellent tool for illustrating the basic system components.

Loading page 4...

Loading page 5...

Loading page 6...

Loading page 7...

Loading page 8...

Loading page 9...

Loading page 10...

Loading page 11...

Loading page 12...

Loading page 13...

Loading page 14...

Loading page 15...

Loading page 16...

Loading page 17...

Loading page 18...

Loading page 19...

Loading page 20...

Loading page 21...

Loading page 22...

Loading page 23...

Loading page 24...

Loading page 25...

Loading page 26...

Loading page 27...

Loading page 28...

Loading page 29...

Loading page 30...

Loading page 31...

Solution Manual for Essentials of System Analysis and Design, 4th Edition

Study Now!

Document Details

Related Documents

VCP-DCV for vSphere 7.x Exam 2V0-21.20 Official Cert Guide, 4th edition (2021)

A+ Guide to Hardware, 9th Edition Test Bank

Test Bank for Managing and Using Information Systems: A Strategic Approach, 7th Edition (Chapters 1-13)

Test Bank for Introduction to Android Application Development Android Essentials, 5th Edition

Test Bank for Essentials of MIS, 12th Edition

Solution Manual for Systems Analysis and Design, 7th Edition

Solution Manual for Introduction to Information Systems: People, Technology and Processes, 3rd Edition

Solution Manual for Fluency With Information Technology, 7th Edition

Guide To Networking Essentials, 7th Edition Solution Manual

Solution Manual for Concepts of Programming Languages, 12th Edition