Chapter 10Systems Implementation and

OperationThis lecture is based on materials in Essentials of Systems Analysis and Design by Valacich, George, and Hoffer and the summary slides available on their website. However, some material herein also represents the perspective of Gregory Rose of Washington State University. Where materials are taken verbatim from the textbook slides, they represent the views of the book and are copyrighted by the authors and the publisher. Where the sequence or content differ, the content is considered the work of Gregory Rose with all copyrights reserved.

Implementation and Maintenance Eight major activities (in 4 groupings)

1. Getting it built and loaded Coding Testing Installation

2. Getting it usable Documentation Training Support

3. At this point you deal with Project Closedown

4. Maintenance (basically is next SDLC)

1. The Process of Coding, Testing and Installation

Getting it built and loadedCoding

Physical design specifications are turned into working computer code

Testing Tests are performed using various strategies Testing can be performed in parallel with coding

Installation Process during which current system is replaced

by new system

The Process of Coding, Testing and Installation:

DeliverablesAction Deliverable

a. Coding Code Program Documentation

b. Testing Test scenarios (test plan) and test data Results of program and system testing

c. Installation User guides User training plans Installation and conversion plan

You know what (1.a.) coding is. So we will move on to testing…

1.b. Software Application Testing

A test plan is developed during analysis phaseDuring design phase, a unit test plan and a system test plan are developedThe actual testing is done during implementationTest plans provide improved communication among all parties involved in testing Serve as checklists

Software Application TestingThe Testing Process

The purpose of testing is confirming that system satisfies requirements

Testing must be planned

Needs Test Cases Specific scenario of transactions, queries or navigation

paths that represent a typical, critical or abnormal use of system

Test cases and results should be thoroughly documented so they can be repeated for each revision of an application

Software Application TestingTypes of Testing

Review Syntax Mistakes1. Syntax Checking (automated w/o code

execution) 2. Inspection (manual w/o code execution)

A testing technique in which participants examine program code for predictable language-specific errors

In both of these, the output and logic aren’t inspected. We are looking for common syntax errors

Software Application TestingTypes of Testing

Looking for outcome errors, not syntax 3. Desk Checking (manual with code execution)

Someone is manually figuring out what each line of code should generate as an outcome

Then each line of code is run and verified against manual output

4. Walkthrough (manual with code execution) A peer group review of any product created during

systems development process; also called a structured walkthrough

Programmer presents code to a group of experts to seek out problems

Various “test cases” are run to verify correct outcomes

Software Application TestingTypes of Testing

Automated tests with code execution (in increased order of integration)5. Unit Testing

Each module is tested alone in an attempt to discover any errors in its code, also called module testing

6. Integration Testing The process of bringing together all of modules that a program

comprises for testing purposes. Modules are typically integrated in a top-down, incremental fashion

7. System Testing The bringing together of all programs that a system comprises for

testing purposes. Programs are typically integrated in a top-down, incremental fashion

Requires “stub testing”…

Software Application TestingTypes of Testing

Cont. Stub Testing

A technique used in testing, especially where modules are written and tested in a top-down fashion, where a few lines of code are used to substitute for subordinate modules

Allows system and module testing as you go even if all modulates aren’t done at same time

Software Application TestingAcceptance Testing by Users

Alpha and Beta tests: actual users test a completed information system, end result of which is users’ acceptance of itAlpha Testing

User testing of a completed information system using simulated data Recovery testing – break it and see if it recovers right Security testing – test it vs. attacks Stress testing – test to make it fail Performance testing – stress it out and see if it bogs down

Beta Testing User testing of a completed information system using real data in

real user environment

1.c. Installation

Four install choices:1. Firm-wide rollout vs.

“single location installation” rollout

2. Entire application installation vs. “phased installation”

3. “Direct installation” vs. “parallel installation”

4. Insource vs. Outsource (usually transitional)

2. Process of Documenting System, Training Users and Supporting Users

Getting it usable Documentation Training Support

2. Process of Documenting System, Training Users and Supporting Users

Deliverables Documentation User training User support plan

2.a. Documenting The SystemSystem documentation- For the techies Detailed information about a system’s design

specifications, its internal workings and its functionality Internal documentation

System documentation that is part of program source code or is generated at compile time

External documentation System documentation that includes outcome of structured

diagramming techniques such as data flow and entity relationship diagrams

User Documentation- For the non-techies Written or other visual information about an application

system, how it works, and how to use it

2.b. Training

Potential training topics (which ones included varies by type of system and skill set or knowledge of users)

Use of system General computer concepts Information system concepts Organizational concepts System management System installation

2.b. Training

Training methods Resident expert Computer-aided instruction Formal courses Software help components Tutorials Interactive training manuals External sources, such as vendors

2.c. Support

Two layers Information center Help desk

2.c. Support Information CenterInformation Center

An organizational unit whose mission is to support users in exploiting information technology

Staff might perform following tasks Install new hardware or software and set up user accounts Consult with users writing programs in fourth-generation

languages Extract data from organizational databases onto personal

computers Answer basic on-demand questions Provide a demonstration site for viewing hardware and

software Work with users to submit system change requests

2.c. SupportHelp DeskHelp Desk

A single point of contact for all user inquiries and problems about a particular information system or for all users in a particular department

3. Project Close Down

Evaluate team Reassign members to other projects

Notify all affected parties that development project is ending and that you are switching to operation and maintenance mode

Conduct post-project reviews

Close out customer contract Formal signoff

Reward team with celebration

4. Maintenance Process of returning to beginning of SDLC and repeating development steps focusing on system change until change is implementedFour major activities1.Obtaining maintenance requests2.Transforming requests into changes3.Designing changes4. Implementing changes

Is basically same as whole SDLC just a smaller scale version

4. Maintenance

Deliverables and Outcomes Development of an updated “version” of

software and new versions of all design documents created or modified during maintenance effort

(e.g., version 1.1 & “what’s new” document, etc.)

Conducting System MaintenanceOften included in purchase price of software

Corrective maintenance Changes made to a system to repair flaws in its design, coding,

or implementation Always important if work around cannot be found but timing of

fixes based on severity

Usually only for a fee Adaptive maintenance

Changes made to a system to evolve its functionality to changing business needs or technologies

If real, can be important. May be added as feature in next release if off the shelf software

Enhancement maintenance Changes made to a system to add new features or to improve

performance Usually kicks off full SDLC evaluation process since adds $ for

new needs

Configuration ManagementThe process of assuring that only authorized changes are made to systemBaseline modules

Software modules that have been tested, documented, and approved to be included in most recently created version of a system

System librarian A person responsible for controlling checking out and checking in of

baseline modules when a system is being developed or maintained

Build routines Guidelines that list instructions to construct an executable system

from baseline source code Tells you how to rebuild each released version using various

components in library in case you need to fall back a version or two

That’s it folks!

Congrats!