Lets use an example: designing a car.

9.1) Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
  
  6 Phases
  
  1) Preliminary Investigation
  2) Systems Analysis
  3) Systems Design
  4) Systems Development/Acquisition
  5) Systems Implementation
  6) Systems Maintenance
  
  Phases are not always distinct.  There are Cross-life cycle activities.
  
  Fact Finding
  Documentation
  Presentation
  Estimation
  Measurement
  Feasibility Analysis
  Project Management
  Process Management
  
Who Participates?

  Users - Systems should always be developed in consultation with users.
    If the system does not meet user requirements, is too difficult to use, or 
    does not supply enough features, the system is useless.
	
  Management - should be consulted about the system.  Managers also make 
    major decisions about changing the system and purchases.
	
  Technical Staff - Members of the company's IS department need to be involved
    so they can give advice about the system development and so they know how to
    maintain it when the time comes.
	
  Systems Analyst - the computer professional in charge of the SDLC.  Also 
    called a systems engineer or project leader.
	
9.2) Phase 1: Preliminary Investigation 

  State the objectives; define the nature and scope of the problem
  
  Propose alternative solutions
    - do nothing, leave the system as is
    - improve the existing system
    - develop a new system
	
	
  Describe costs and benefits to each solution
    
  Submit a preliminary plan
    - can be done in Powerpoint to impress managers
	
9.3) Phase 2: Detailed Analysis
  
  Gather Data (written documents, interviews, questionnaires...)
  Analyze the data using CASE (Computer Aided Software Engineer) tools,
    flow chats, systems connectivity charts	

  Write a report
  
9.4) Phase 3: Design the System  
  
  Preliminary Design using Case tools, prototypes, project management software..
  
  Detail Design - requirements for output, input, storage,
  and processing.
  
  Write a report
  
  
9.5) Phase 4: Develop/Acquire the System.

  Acquire the Software
  
  Acquire the Hardware
  
  Test the System
    - unit testing (test individual parts)
    - system testing (test the whole system)
	
9.6) Phase 5: Implement the system	
  
  Convert Hardware, software, and files using one of the following 4 methods
  
    Direct Implementation: The user simply stops using the
	  old system and starts using the new.
	  
	Parallel Implementation: The old and new systems are
	  used side by side until the new system is proved to be viable.
	
	Phased Implementation: parts of the new system are phased in separately.
	
	Pilot Implementation: The entire system is tried by a small group of users.
	
  Compile Final Documentation
  
  Train the Users
  
9.7) Phase 6: Maintenance	  
  
  Keep the system running through system audits and periodic evaluations.
  
  Audit - Check to make sure all data and records are as they should be.
    Usually done by an accountant.
	
  Evaluation - other method of checking out that the system is functional
    such as performing time tests.
     
  
  

  
		

Homework 9:
Due: 3/27 
in Interactive computing book
AC Ch. 2
Checked out during lab
AC 2.49 #1
You may use the same fields and records you handed in last time.