systems life cycle
analysis
design
data capture forms
screen displays and printed reports
system flowcharts
verification
validation
file structures
design and testing strategy/plan
development and testing
development
testing strategies
implementation
documentation
user documentation
technical documentation
evaluation
analysis stage:
- research data from current system
- describe current system
- identify problems with current system
- agree the objectives with the clients
- identify and agree customer requirements
- interpret requirements
- produce a cost-benefit analysis
- identify suitable hardware and software
- produce a data flow diagram
research method
- observation: watching personnel using existing system to find out how it works
- questionnaires: distributing questionnaires for users to find out their point of views of existing systems and to find out how some of the key tasks are carried out
- interviews: involves a one-on-one question-and-answer session between the analyst and the employee. It's good ti find out a specific aspect of the system.
- looking at existing paperwork: allows analyst to see how the paper files are kept. It allows the analyst to get some idea of the scale of the problem
DFDs in general are used to describe:
the need to identif! inputs' outPllts allt1 Lrro'cssi'g of the current sYstem
the need to identifi'problems rvith the cllrrcnl slstem
the need to identift ih. ,r.r and information re rl'tire ments for the neu'
s)'Stem
svstem specifi.cations :
'identifi'andjustiflrsuitablehardrvarefbrtherle\'sYstelrl
' identifi' and justift nelt' soffivare for the ne\' svste 1r'
design:
design the data capture format forms,
design the screen layouts
design outputs in the form of screen displays and printed reports,
produce system flowcharts and/or other pseudo codes,
select validation rules that need to be used,
design on file structures,
produce any algorithms or program flowchart,
design a testing plan
paper-based forms need to:
have a heading
make it clear to the person filling in the form where they must place their answers
make use of text boxes
make use of character boxes
make use of printed text boxes
make sure there is space to write answers
use clear fonts and colors