Outline the structured specification produced by DeMarco’s systems analysis method.
What do you think are the main advantages of specifying a computer-based system by means of such a structured specification?
How adequately, do you think, does this method deal with the human aspects of information systems changes?
According to DeMarco’s structured analysis, it is a study of a problem leading to the specification of a new system prior to implementation of that system. DeMarco also makes it very clear in his book (The Structured Analysis and System Specification – a Yourdon Book) that the most important product of the analysis phase of the life cycle is the specification document. Different organizations are using different terms for this document: Functional Specification, Design Specification, Memo of Rationale, Requirements Document, etc. But DeMarco introduced a new term called the Target Document. The analyst is the third person or the middleman between the user and the development team. The user decides what has to be done and the development team makes it possible. With the Target Document, the analyst will bridge the gap between the user and the development team. The process of putting this document together and getting it accepted by all parties is called specification. Whether the whole specification process leads to a successful result or not will depend on its product which is the target document. As planned, if the Target Document is capable of performing its task, to serve as a model of the new system, that shows the success of the specification process.
The Structured Specification has several components:
1. Data Flow Diagram (DFD): Depicts processes and the flow of...
... middle of paper ...
... the world. Organizations use more and more computers. Almost every employee knows how to use a computer these days. The techniques discussed in DeMarco’s book the Structured Analysis and System Specification are still applicable and it can be used with the modern technology to achieve the effectiveness. This approach can always be altered to fit (combined with the modern technologies) to the human aspects of information systems changes.
Reference:
01. Structured Analysis and System Specification – Tom DeMarco
02. The Digital Firm – Laudon K.C and J.P Laudon
03. The Study Guide – Information Systems Development and Management (The American University of London)
On the Internet
04. www.dorsethouse.com
05. www.cs.may.ie/~pgibson/Research/Publications/E-Copies/ESM99b.ps
06. www.nmt.edu
Saunders, C. S., & Pearlson, K. E. (2009). Managing and Using Information Systems. John Wiley&Sons, Incorporated.
University of Idaho. (2014). Information Technology Services: Appendix 1: ITS Analysis of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. Retrieved from http://www.uidaho.edu/its/strategic-plan/appendix-i.
Asemi observe that Management Information System (MIS) is one of the information systems that is computer based. Besides, Asemi defines MIS as “an organizational method of providing past, present and project information related to internal operations and external intelligences. It supports the planning, control and operation functions of an organization by furnishing uniform information in the proper time frame to assist the decision makers,” (2011). The aim of MIS is to satisfy the general information need of the entire manager in an organization. Before the advent of computers, the process of decision-making was one that was full of built-in advantages and ad hoc methods. Computers technologies have changed the landscape of the decision-making process completely by making the process less demanding and easy to undertake. The reason for this situation is that information technology has made access to information more automated, efficient, effective, timely, and less ambiguous. Consequently, the ordinary t...
Keri E. Pearlson and Carol S. Saunders (2010). Strategic Management of Information Systems, 4th Edition. John Wiley & Sons, New York
In the business world today, technology is becoming an essential staple. Every big business relies on it one way or another. More importantly than just technology itself, the use of management information systems is what guides a company in terms of catering to its customers and knowing what moves to make next. Management information systems (MIS) can be defined is the study of people, technology, and organizations (What is MIS?). However, that is a very general definition because there is a lot more that comes out of the use of these MIS systems.
Systems approach is based on the fundamental principle that all aspects of a human problem should be treated together in a rational manner (Healy, 2005). I have divided this essay into relevant sections that cover an overview of systems ideas, general systems theory and ecological systems theory. This assignment will also include Germain and Gittermans life model, and it will be related back to the case study that has been provided. Limitations of systems theory will also be discussed.
providing output from the system to the actor, for example is stored information or derived results.
Haag, S. & Cummings, M. (2008). Management information systems for the information age (Laureate Education, Inc., custom ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.
The purpose of the new system that I will develop is to improve on the
MidSouth Chamber of Commerce is an organization that rely heavily on their information systems. Lassiter, Hedges and Kovecki who has no information technology background were taken into computing operations. Introducing a new system is not an easy task until an organization has senior IT professionals and backup plans. In the end, it was the lack of proper management and lacked intimate knowledge of information systems made them depend on outside persons to make decisions that caused all these problems.
The Unified Modeling Language is a standard language for specifying, visualizing, constructing, and documenting the artifacts of software systems, as well as for business modeling and other non-software systems. The key is to organize the design process in a way that clients, analysts, programmers and other involved in system development can understand and agree on. The UML provides the organization. The UML was released in 1997 as a method to diagram software design, by some of the best minds in object oriented analysis and design. It is by far the most exciting thin to happen to the software industry in recent years. Every other engineering discipline has a standard method of documentation. Electronic engineers have schematic diagrams; architects and mechanical engineers have blueprints and mechanical diagrams. The software industry now has UML.
obect orientated programming has many advantages, one of these is the fact that the objects created : Jeffrey L. Popyack (2012) "can easily be reused in other programs." The Saylor Foundation also states that object orientated programming allows “Improved software-development productivity" and "Improved software maintainability” through the modular structure of the development.
Perry, B., 2005, Organisational Management and Information Systems. [e-book] Oxford; Elsevier. Available at: Google Books . [Accessed 14 November 2013]
My interest in Information Systems Management was drawn when I was working on my final year project at Maharashtra Institute of Technology under the able guidance of the head of the Computer Engineering department. Professor R. K. Bedi’s support provided a much needed boost to my confidence in my programming skills. This new found confidence, in conjunction with the organization management skills I had acquired through active participation in extracurricular activities like “Tesla”, in inter college programming fest, made me realize I wanted to pursue a program that had comprised a blend of both the computer science and management disciplines.
Palvia P., Palvia S. & E. Roche (1996) Global Information Technology and Systems Management. Ivy League Publishing