Role of the Accountant in SAD

TOPIC 1INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION SYSTEM ANALYSIS AND DESIGN (SAD)Learning ObjectivesDefine information systems analysis and designDiscuss the modern approach to systems analysis and design that combines both process and data views of systemsDescribe the role of the systems analyst and accountant in information systems developmentCopyright 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall1.2Learning ObjectivesDescribe the information systems development life cycle (SDLC)List alternatives to the systems development life cycleIterative and Incremental DevelopmentCopyright 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice HallWhat is Information Systems Analysis and Design?A method used by companies to create and maintain systems that perform basic business functionsMain goal is to improve employee efficiency by applying software solutions to key business tasksA structured approach must be used in order to ensure successCopyright 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall1.6What is Information Systems Analysis and Design? (continued)Systems Analysts perform analysis and design based upon:Understanding of organizations objectives, structure and processesKnowledge of how to exploit information technology for advantageFig 1-1 illustrates the Systems Development Life Cycle, a four-phased approach used throughout this textCopyright 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall1.7Copyright 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall1.6

Systems Analysis and Design: Core ConceptsMajor goal: to improve organizational systems by developing or acquiring application software and training employees in its useApplication software, or a system, supports organizational functions or processesCopyright 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall1.7Systems Analysis and Design: Core Concepts (continued)System: Turns data into information and includes:Hardware and system softwareDocumentation and training materialsJob roles associated with the systemControls to prevent theft or fraudThe people who use the software to perform their jobsFigure 1.2 illustrates all the components of a systemCopyright 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall1.8Copyright 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall1.9

Software Engineering ProcessA process used to create an information systemConsists of:MethodologiesA sequence of step-by-step approaches that help develop the information systemTechniquesProcesses that the analyst follows to ensure thorough, complete, and comprehensive analysis and designToolsComputer programs that aid in applying techniquesCopyright 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall1.10Copyright 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall

1.11SystemA system is an interrelated set of business procedures used within one business unit working together for a purposeA system has nine characteristicsA system exists within an environmentA boundary separates a system from its environmentCopyright 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall1.12Characteristics of a SystemComponentsInterrelated ComponentsBoundaryPurposeEnvironmentInterfacesConstraintsInputOutput

Copyright 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall1.1313Copyright 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall1.14

Important System ConceptsDecompositionThe process of breaking down a system into smaller componentsAllows the systems analyst to:Break a system into small, manageable and understandable subsystemsFocus on one area at a time, without interference from other areasConcentrate on component pertinent to one group of users without confusing users with unnecessary detailsBuild different components at independent times and have the help of different analystsCopyright 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall1.15Copyright 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall1.16

Important System Concepts (continued)ModularityProcess of dividing a system into modules of a relatively uniform sizeModules simplify system designCouplingSubsystems that are dependent upon each other are coupledCohesionExtent to which a subsystem performs a single functionCopyright 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall1.17A Modern Approach to Systems Analysis and DesignSystems IntegrationAllows hardware and software from different vendors to work togetherEnables procedural language systems to work with visual programming systemsVisual programming environment uses client/server modelCopyright 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall1.18System Analyst Role in Systems DevelopmentStudy problems and needs of an organizationDetermine best approach to improving organization through use of:PeopleMethodsInformation technologyHelp system users and managers define their requirements for new or enhanced information systems

Copyright 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall1.19Role of the Accountant

How can accountants be involved in all stages of the SDLC?In the planning stage, accountants both provide some of the information used to evaluate the feasibility of the proposed project and participate in making that decision.Role of the AccountantIn the requirements analysis and design stages, accountants participate in identifying user information needs, developing the logical and physical models and specifying controls. Accountants with good IT skills may participate in the coding stage.

Role of the AccountantDuring the implementation stage, accountants are involved in testing the accuracy of the new database and the application programs that will use that data. Finally, accountants use the database system to process transactions.

Developing Information Systems and the Systems Development Life CycleSystems Development MethodologyA standard process followed in an organization to conduct all the steps necessary to analyze design implement and maintain information systems.Copyright 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall1.23Developing Information Systems and the Systems Development Life Cycle (continued)Systems Development Life CycleSeries of steps used to manage the phases of development for an information systemConsists of four phases:Planning and SelectionAnalysisDesignImplementation and OperationCopyright 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall1.24Developing Information Systems and the Systems Development Life Cycle (continued)Phases are not necessarily sequentialEach phase has a specific outcome and deliverableEvery company customizes the life-cycle model to its individual needs

Copyright 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall1.25Phases of the Systems Development Life Cycle1. Systems Planning and SelectionTwo Main ActivitiesIdentification of needInvestigation and determination of scope2. Systems AnalysisStudy of current procedures and information systemsDetermine requirementsGenerate alternative designsCompare alternativesRecommend best alternativeCopyright 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall1.26Phases of the Systems Development Life Cycle (continued)3. System DesignLogical DesignConcentrates on business aspects of the systemPhysical DesignTechnical specifications4. System Implementation and OperationImplementationHardware and software installationProgrammingUser TrainingDocumentationCopyright 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall1.27Phases of the Systems Development Life Cycle (continued)System Implementation and Operation (continued)System changed to reflect changing conditionsSystem obsolescence

Copyright 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall1.28Alternative Approaches to DevelopmentPrototypingJoint Application Design (JAD)Rapid Application Development (RAD)

Copyright 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall1.29ITERATIVE AND INCREMENTAL Iterative development is a way of breaking down the software development of a large application into smaller chunks. Initerativedevelopment, feature code is designed, developed and tested in repeated cycles. With each iteration, additional features can be designed, developed and tested until there is a fully functional software application ready to be deployed to customers.ITERATIVE AND INCREMENTAL Typically iterative development is used in conjunction with incremental development in which a longersoftware development cycleis split into smaller segments that build upon each other.The purpose of working iteratively is to allow more flexibility for changes. When requirements and design of a major application are done in the traditional method (sometimes referred to asBDUForBig Design Up Front), there can be unforeseen problems that dont surface until development begins. By working iteratively, the project team goes through a cycle where they evaluate with each iteration, and determine what changes are needed to produce a satisfactory end product.DISCUSS IN GROUPAlternative approaches of SAD methodologiesIterative and Incremental Development