Information Systems Analysis & Design; Advanced Programming

Structured Systems Analysis and Design

• ISAD1
  Review of conventional systems analysis and design methodology in terms of the life cycle approach, the stages, techniques, limitations and weaknesses. Common problems associated with computer projects conducted under conventional methodologies and their underlying causes. General aims of information systems development methodologies. The emergence of structured methodologies in analysis and design.
  
• ISAD2
  SSADM version 4: concepts and organisation; a hierarchical and prescriptive methodology; the modules, stages and steps in SSADM; the task as a unit of work; the logical and physical models; the user view of SSADM; information system project activities which fall outside the scope of SSADM. Detailed knowledge of stages: Feasibility, Investigation of Current Environment, Business System Options, and Requirements Specification. Outline knowledge of stages: Technical System Options, Logical Design, and Physical Design. The benefits and limitations of SSADM.
  
• ISAD3
  Techniques employed in SSADM. General techniques such as fact finding, documentation, reviews, cross-referencing, and structure diagrams. Specific techniques in terms of purpose and practical application: data flow modelling by analysis of function, decomposition from the context level to more detailed data flow diagrams; symbology; logical data modelling by analysis of data, entities and relationships, the degree and optionality of relationships, building, validating and enhancing the logical data model; the data store/entity cross-reference, the process/entity cross-reference and the detection of anomalies; entity-event modelling in terms of its broad objectives; the three complementary views of an information system; relational data analysis and its role in enhancing the logical data model. Broad appreciation of other techniques in SSADM: requirements definition, dialogue design, business system options, function definition, technical system options.
  
• ISAD4
  Case Studies in Systems Analysis and Design. Practical application of techniques to libraries, stock control, order processing, invoicing, office administration, reservation and ticketing systems.
  

Advanced Programming

• ISAD5
  Object-oriented Programming. Concepts and advantages; comparison with structured programming techniques. Classes, objects and methods (functions or procedures), inheritance, encapsulation; class libraries. Practical exercises to reinforce the theory .
• ISAD6
  Programming Languages. Detailed practical knowledge of Java (recommended), Pascal or ‘C': types, declarations, assignments, flow control, functions, procedures, parameters, scope, recursion, input-output, files; simple graphical and animation techniques; event handling; programming for graphic user interfaces .
• ISAD7
  Data Structures and Algorithms: simple and compound data structures including arrays, stacks, queues, trees and lists; techniques for storing data structures in main memory and on backing store; the creation of algorithms for processes such as searching, sorting; stack and queue operations; tree processes such as insertion, and traversal. Linked list operations and uses of stacks and queues. Implications for process time and storage requirements as the data volume increases. The implementation of data structures in Java, Pascal or `C`.
• ISAD8
  Database Systems. General database concepts. Practical analysis, design, implementation and development. Examples in SQL using Access, Visual FoxPro, SQL7, or Oracle.