Application
Application software Software designed to process data and support users in
an organization
Boundary the
line that marks the inside and outside of a system and that sets off one system
from other systems in the organization
Cohesion the
extent to which a system or subsystem performs a single function
Component an
irreducible part or aggregation of parts that makes up a system, or a subsystem
Constraint a
limit to what a system can accomplish
Coupling the
extent to which subsystems depend on each other
Data Raw
facts about people, objects, and events in an organization
Database a
shared collection of logically related data designed to meet the information
needs of multiple users in an organization
Data flow Data
in motion, moving from one place in a system to another
Data oriented approach a strategy of information systems development that
focuses on the ideal organization of data rather than on where and how they are
used
Decomposition
the process of breaking the description of a system down into small
components
End users non
information systems professionals in an organization
Environment everything
external to a system that interacts with the system
Information data
that have been processed and presented in a form suitable for human
interpretation, often with the purpose of revealing trends or patterns
Information systems analysis and design the process of developing and maintaining an
information system
Interfaces points
of contact where a system meets its environment or where subsystems meet each
other
Interrelated components dependence of one part of the system on one or more other
system part
JAD a
structured process in which users, managers and analysts work together for
several days in a series of intensive meetings to specify or review systems
requirements
Modularity dividing
a system into chunks or modules of equal size
PD a
system developed approach that originated in north
Process logic
the steps by which data are transformed or moved and a description of the
events that trigger these steps
Process oriented approach an approach to developing information systems that
focuses on how and when data are moved and changed
Prototyping building
a scaled down version of the desired information systems
Purpose the
overall goal or function of a system
System a
group of interrelated procedures used for a business functions, with an
identifiable boundary, working together for some purpose
Systems analysis phase of the SDLC in which the current system is studied and
alternative replacement systems are proposed
Systems analyst the organizational role most responsible for the analysis and design of
information systems
Systems design the phase of the SDLC in which the system chosen for development in
systems analysis is first described independent of any computer platform and is
then transformed into technology-specific details from which all programming
and system construction can be accomplished
SDLC the
series of steps used to mark the phases of development for an information
system
System development methodology a standard process followed in an organization to
conduct all the steps necessary to analyze, design, implement, and maintain
information systems
Systems implementation and operation final phase of the SDLC, in which the information
system is coded, tested, and installed in the organization, and in which the
information system is systematically repaired and improved
System planning and selection the first phase of the SDLC, in which an
organizations total information system needs are
analyzed and arranged, and in which a potential information systems project is
identified and an argument for continuing or not continuing with the project is
presented
Identifying and selecting systems development projects
is done by: 1. identifying
potential development projects, 2. classifying and ranking IS development
projects, selecting IS development projects
Baseline project plan BPP the major outcome and deliverable from the project
initiation and planning phase
Break even analysis a type of cost benefit analysis to identify at what
point benefits equal costs
Business case a written report that outlines the justification for an information
system
Discount rate - the interest rate used to computer the present value of future cash
flows
Economic feasibility a process of identifying the financial benefits and
costs associated with a development project
Electronic commerce
Electronic data interchange the use of telecommunications technologies to transfer
business documents directly between organizations
Extranet
Incremental commitment a strategy in systems analysis and design in which the
project is reviewed after each phase and continuation of the project is
rejustified in each of these reviews
Intangible benefit a benefit derived from the creation of an information
system that cannot be measured in dollars or with certainty
Intangible cost - a cost associated with an information system that cannot be easily
measured in dollars or with certainty
Internet
Intranet
Legal and contractual feasibility assessing potential legal and contractual
ramifications due to the construction of a system
One time cost a cost associated with project start up and development, or system
start up
Operational feasibility the process of assessing the degree to which a
proposed system solves business problems or takes advantage of business
opportunities
Political feasibility - the process of evaluating how key stakeholders within
the organization view the proposed system
Present value the current value of a future cash flow
Recurring cost a cost resulting from the ongoing evolution and use of a system
Schedule feasibility the process of assessing the degree to which the
potential time frame and completion dates for all major activities within a
project meet organizational deadlines and constraints for affecting change
Statement of work SOW a document prepared for the customer during project
initiation and planning that describes what the project will deliver and
outlines generally at a high level all work required to complete the project
Tangible benefit - a benefit derived from the creation of an information system that can
be measured in dollars and with certainty
Tangible cost a cost associated with an information system that can be easily
measured in dollars and with certainty
Technical feasibility the process of assessing the development
organizations ability to construct a proposed system
Time value of money TVM the process of comparing present cash outlays to
future expected returns
Walkthrough a
peer group review of any product created during the systems development process
Code generators - CASE tools that enable the automatic generation of program and database
definition code directly from the design documents, diagrams, forms and reports
stored in the repository
Cross life cycle CASE - CASE tools designed to support activities tat occur
across multiple phases of the systems development life cycle
Form and report generators - CASE tools designed to support the creation of system
forms and reports in order to prototype how systems will look and feel to users
I Case an
automated system development environment that provides numerous tools to create
diagrams, forms and reports
Lower CASE - CASE tools designed to support the systems implementation
and operation phase of the systems development life cycle
Repository a
centralized database that contains all diagrams, forms and report definitions,
data structure, data definions, process flows and
logic, and definitions of other organizational and system components
Upper case CASE
tools designed to support the systems planning and selection, systems analysis,
and systems design phases of the systems development life cycle