MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS

Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC) In

MIS
3.1 Learning Outcomes
After complete this lesson, you would be able to:

Understand the concept about SDLC.

Describe the stages of SDLC.

Understand the roles of each stage in SDLC.

Know the tools we are using for system development.

3.2 Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC)

The structured analysis uses a series of phases to plan, analyze,

design, implement and support an information system.

Information requirements change as a company grows and reacts to

internal and external forces.

This is especially true in today's dynamic business environment,

where constant change is the norm.

To be successful a company needs information systems that can

handle a continuous stream of new demands.

The system development life cycle (SDLC) is a series of steps that

companies use to build an information system.

Although it is the most common development strategy, alternative

approaches do exist, such as prototyping.

SDLC consists of 5 phases: System Planning

System Analysis
System Design
System Implementation
System Operation, Support and Security

SDLC is a waterfall model, where each phase appears to be

connected by another phase by their inputs and outputs.
3.2.1 Phase 1: System Planning (Preliminary Investigation)

SDLC starts with a written request, called a system request, that

identifies the needs of an IS or describes the desired changes or
improvement by the management concern (the end user).

The request can be very significant or relatively minor.

A major request might involve the creation or an entire information

system to meet a new business need (manually to computerize) or
the replacement of an existing information system that can no
longer handle current requirements (computerize to computerize).

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A minor request might ask for adding a new report or changing an

existing calculation formula.
The purpose of the planning phase is to identify clearly the nature
and scope of the business opportunity or problem.
This requires a preliminary investigation, which is a critical step,
because the outcome will affect the entire development process.
The recommendation should be whether the proposal is to be
pursued further.
If management decides to proceed, the next step after the
preliminary investigation is the system analysis phase, else the
project will be terminated here.

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System Request

Phase 1
System
Planning

Preliminary
Investigation
Report

Stop
Project
Development

Phase 2
System
Analysis

System
Requirement
Document

Stop
Project
Development

Phase 3
System
Design

System
Design
Specification

Stop
Project
Development

Phase 4
System
Implementation

Complete
Functioning IS
Phase 5
System Operation,
Support and
Security

Operational
Information
System

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Phase Name:
Major Function:
Output:
Principal Tools:
Personnel and Tasks:

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PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION
To establish that a problem/opportunity
exists.
Authorization to conduct feasibility
study.
None.
A user or manager notifies an analyst that
a problem exists.

Feasibility Study

The preliminary investigation often is called the feasibility study.

It based on economic, technical and operational factors. A key
part of the preliminary investigation is the feasibility study.

The purpose of a feasibility study is to define the business

problem/opportunity and to decide whether or not a new system is
feasible, spending a minimum a mount of time and money in the
effort.

As a rule, a feasibility study is usually completed in less than one

month.

There are three aspects in the feasibility study portion of the

preliminary investigation:
1)

2)

3)

Technical Feasibility Can the work for the project be done

with current equipment, existing software technology, and
available personnel? If new technology is required, what is
the likelihood that it can be developed?
Economic Feasibility Are there sufficient benefits in
creating the system to make the costs available? Or, are the
costs of not creating the system so great that the project must
be undertaken?
Operational Feasibility Will the system be used if it is
developed and implemented? Will there be resistance from
users that will undermine the possible application benefits.

Normally, the feasibility study is carried out by a small group of

people (sometimes even one or two) who are familiar with
information system techniques, understand the part of the business
of organization that will be involved or affected by the project, and
are skilled in the system analysis and design process.

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Phase Name:
Major Function:

Output:
Principal Tools:
Personnel and Tasks:

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FEASIBILITY STUDY
To define problem/opportunity and
determine whether or not a new system is
feasible.
Feasibility study.
Fact-gathering
techniques
and
requirement estimation.
User should be heavily involved in the
process.
1. The analyst collects information about
the problem/opportunity.
2. The analyst develops rough estimates
of requirements for possible solutions.
3. The analyst develops more precise
estimates of requirements for the
analysis phase to follow.
4. Management decides whether or not
to continue the project.

3.2.2 Phase 2: System Analysis

The purpose of the system analysis phase is to learn exactly how

the current system operates, to determine and document what the
system should do and to recommend alternatives solutions.

Through the process of fact-finding or requirement determination

(requirement modelling), you define all the functions performed by
the current system and determine what improvements are needed in
the proposed information system.

After gathering the facts, S/A will analyse them carefully. This
process is called requirements analysis.

Later, SA develops a specific plan or alternative plans to solve the

problems exist in the current system.

The end product for this phase is the system requirements

documents, which describe all management and users
requirements, alternative plan and the recommendation.

Management decision might be to develop a system in-house,

purchase a commercial package or modify an existing system.

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Phase Name:
Major Function:
Output:
Principal Tools:

Personnel and Tasks:

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ANALYSIS
To determine the requirements of a
proposed new system.
Problem specification.
Fact-gathering
techniques,
datadictionary, data flow diagrams, process
specifications, data models, system
models, prototyping, system flowcharts
and also Computer-Aided Software
Engineering (CASE) for implementing
these tools.
User must continue to be heavily
involved.
1. The analyst studies and documents the
current system in order to understand
both its flaws and its strong points.
2. The analyst prepares a list of
requirements for a new system.
3. The analyst diagrams the functions of
the new system without specifying
exactly how those functions are
performed.
4. The analyst may prepare a prototype
of the system.

3.2.3 Phase 3: System Design

Purpose of system design is to develop a design (blueprint) that

satisfied all requirements specified.

This phase will identify all necessary outputs, inputs, files,

application programs and even the manual procedures.

In addition, this phase might include designing of internal and

external controls, such as computer-based and manual features to
guarantee that the system will be reliable, accurate, maintainable
and secure.

The design is documented in the system design specification and

presented to management and users for their review and approval.

Management and user involvement is critical to avoid any

misunderstanding about what the new system will does, how it will
do it and what it will cost.

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Phase Name:
Major Function:
Output:
Principal Tools:

Personnel and Tasks:

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DESIGN
To design a new system that fulfills the
requirement of users and management.
Design specification.
Data dictionary, data flow diagrams,
process specifications, data models,
system models, prototyping, system
flowcharts, structure charts, HIPO charts,
and input and output design forms. Also
Computer-Aided Software Engineering
(CASE) for implementing these tools.
User must continue to be heavily
involved.
1. The analyst decides on and orders all
necessary hardware and software.
2. The analyst transforms the functional
diagrams of the analysis phase into the
hierarchical diagrams of the design
phase.
3. The analyst incorporates security
measures into the system design.
4. The analyst designs the user interface,
including input and output formats.
5. The analyst determines staffing
requirements and designs procedures
and work flow.
6. The database designer designs an
appropriate database.
7. Users, managers, and analyst review
the design specifications for accuracy
and completeness.

3.2.4 Phase 4: System Implementation

During systems implementation, the IS is being constructed and

put in place.

Application programs are written, tested and documented;

operational documentation and procedures are completed; and
approval is obtained from users and management.

The objective of the implementation phase is to deliver a

completely functioning and documented information system that
has been reviewed and approved.
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Final preparations include the users and performing the actual

transition (conversion) from the old system to the new one and
training users.
At the conclusion of this phase, the system is ready for use.
Once the new system is operational, conduct an assessment, called
post-implementation system evaluation to assess the overall quality
of the information system.
E.g. post-implementation systems evaluation uses to determine
whether the system operates properly and if costs and benefits are
within expectations.

Phase Name:
Major Function:

Output:

Principal Tools:

IMPLEMENTATION
To write and test the computer programs.
To convert from the old system
(computerized or manual) to the new
system.
Coded and tested programs that have
been verified by the users and user
documentation and training materials.
Various programmers tools, structured
walkthroughs,
testing
procedures,
automated
regression
testing,
documentation procedures, application
generators, fourth-generation languages,
and various CASE products.

Personnel and Tasks:

1. The analyst oversees preparation of the site and installation of
the necessary equipment.
2. The analyst and supervises the writing, testing, and correction
of the programs and /or prototype.
3. The programmer writes the new programs and, if necessary,
modifies any purchased programs.
4. The analyst plans the testing programs.
5. The testing team tests the programs.
6. The users verify that the system functions as intended.
7. The analyst supervises the preparation of user documentation
and the training of users.
8. The analyst plans and supervises conversion.
9. The programmers install the software.
10. The data entry staff enters new data into the new system.

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11. The operation staff begins using the new system on the day of
the changeover.
12. Once the new system is operational, IT staffs must perform two
additional tasks: prepare a post-implementation evaluation and
deliver a final report to management.

3.2.5 Phase 5: System Operation And Support (Maintenance)

After the implementation stage, the information system is ready to

be used.

During systems operation, maintenance and enhancements

sometimes are requested to resolve problems identified by users.

Information systems need to be replaced after several years of

operation.

Maintenance changes are made to correct errors or to conform to

government or users requirements.

Enhancements are modifications that increase capability, such as

providing new information in an existing report or adding a new
report are save of these examples.
Phase Name:
Major Function:
Output:
Principal Tools:

MAINTENANCE
To repair and upgrade the system as
necessary
Updated system and user documentation
and revised programs.
Incremental models consisting of data
dictionary, data flow diagrams, process
specifications, data models, system
models, system flowcharts, structure
charts, HIPO charts, and input and output
design forms. Also CASE products,
application generators, and fourthgeneration languages.

Personnel and Tasks:

1.
A user or manager notifies an analyst of a problem or a
proposed change to the system.
2.
The analyst prepares an incremental model assessing the
impact of the modification.
3.
Management or a change control board decides whether or
not to implement the change.
4.
If the change is approved, the analyst modifies all system
documentation to reflect the change.
5.
The programmers modify the programs.
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6.
7.

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The testing team tests the modified programs.

The operations staffs begin using the modified system.

3.3 General Considerations In Building An Information System

Complete the phases in sequence

Follow the SDLC phases in order by completing one phase

before you start the next phase.

When phases are bypassed or rushed, you can expect

problems with the developed information system.

By understanding all the requirements, it will create a better

design, and a good design helps avoid problems in later
phases, such as during construction.

It is cost effective to complete one phase before moving to

the next phase, so to reduce the chances of rework.

Completing the phase in sequence, however, does not mean

that you must restrict all your thoughts to just the current
phase.

As you work on a particular phase, you also should consider

the impact of your decisions on later phases.

If you plan carefully, tasks from later phases sometimes can

begin before the completion of the prior phase.

The ability to overlap phases is especially important when

you are working on a system that must be developed rapidly.

Powerful project management tools and techniques are

available to help you to manage multiple tasks in system
development process.
Focus on end products

Each end product or deliverable represents milestones or

checkpoint in the system development and these marks the
completion of a specific phase.

Management uses these checkpoints to assess the status of

the project and decide what should happen next.

Possible choices are to proceed to the next phase, redo

portions of the work that have just completed, return to an
earlier phase, or terminate the project entirely.

One major factor that influence or help in management's

decision is the quality of the end product.

Thus, the document should strive for strong content and high
quality.

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Estimate required resources

Management needs to know the cost of developing and

operating the proposed information system.

At the start of each phase, you must provide a more specific

cost estimates for that phase, for all succeeding phases, and
for the operation of the information.

Sound business decisions require accurate cost projections,

so your figures must be reliable.

This will also helps you to best delegate the task among the
development team members.
3.4 Automated Tools For System Development

Use of software tools can help in performing many of the required

development activities.

These tools increase the productivity and result in better quality

applications.

Software tools include general-purpose applications, such as word

processing for preparing memos and documents, spreadsheet
programs for calculating net present value and return on investment
and graphics packages for drawing company organization charts
and designing presentations.

Other tools are more specialized, including data dictionaries, report

writers, screen generators, program generators, fourth-generation
languages and graphical tools that can create data flow diagrams,
systems flowcharts and entity-relationship diagrams.

When you define a system's requirements during the analysis

phase, you can use software tools to develop a prototype of the
information system.

A prototype is an early working version of the information system.

The prototype can serve as a model of user requirements or as the

initial version of an information system. Thus, it can speed up the
SDLC process significantly.

Computer-aided software engineering (CASE) is another valuable

and powerful software tools that can be used to help in developing
and maintaining information systems.
Review Questions
1.
What is SDLC?
2.
Describe the stages of SDLC.
3.
What are the tools using for system development?

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