Systems Analysis

Aims

1. Understand the tasks involved in designing a new information system to meet an organisation’s specific requirements.
2. Create the major models used in the analysis and design of information systems.
3. Contribute towards the design of an organisation’s information system taking into consideration the technological and human aspects of the design.

Programme Content and Learning Objectives

After completing the programme the student should be able to:

1. Information Systems: Background and Theory.
   - Understand the development of systems analysis over the past century.
   - Understand how a system may be defined and its attributes identified.
   - Understand how information may be defined and its attributes identified.
2. The Systems Analysis and Design Framework.
   - Understand the need for, and the logic of, the Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC).
3. Structured Systems Analysis and Design.
   - Understand the need for a more thorough analysis of systems by the use of various structured approaches known under the generic term of Structured Systems Analysis (SSA).
4. Systems Analysis Tools and Techniques; the Process Model.
   - Understand the reason for, and the creation of, Data Flow Diagrams (DFD’s).
5. Systems Analysis Tools and Techniques; the Entity Model.
   - Understand the reason for, and the creation of, Entity Relationship Diagrams/Models (ERD’s/ERM’s).
6. Systems Analysis Tools and Techniques; CASE tools.
   - Understand the reason for, and the creation of, Entity Life Histories (ELH’s).
7. Systems Analysis Tools and Techniques; CASE tools.
   - Understand the need for Computer Aided Systems Engineering (CASE) tools in the work of a systems analyst.
   - Understand the use of prototyping techniques in the reduction of a system’s development time.
8. Cross Life Cycle Tasks.
   - Understand the need for tools and techniques of project management, fact finding, documentation, quality management, interpersonal and presentation skills.