System Development – Risk and Reward

Potential Advantages of system development:

Increased Access to Resources Interactivity Customer Responsiveness Cost Savings Working Smarter Consolidation

Potential Disadvantages of system development:

Machine vs Human Contact / Impersonalization – no live person can cause frustration.

Distracting Usage / Interference – can create sense of disregard and/or system overload.

Training – many are unfamiliar and resistant. To succeed, well-trained individuals are needed.

Cost – updating existing infrastructures, training, and developing quality training materials is costly. 1

Uncertain Success Rates – if no studies show potential increase in profit, it may be too risky. 1

Complexity/Incompatibility Issues – keeping up with changing technology and people familiar with the changes is a challenge as well as compatibility with pre-existing and new systems

System Development Life Cycle (SDLC)

1. Planning Identify management requirements and business need Consider issues in developing for different environments Incorporate adaptive, data-driven risk management

2. Analysis

3. Design

4. Implementation

5. Support and Maintenance

Management Requirements

Management Information Systems (MIS) involve:• Information• Technology• People

Management Information Mantras

Ensure info is readily available to users.

Ensure the best system, e.g., fastest, most cost-effective, most robust, most universal, most expandable.

Get the right info to the right people at the right time in the right way.

Business Need

To identify business need: Observe Listen Brainstorm Analyze Interact with focus groups Interview Survey

Business Need Identified?

2 From: http://blog.bksanders.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/sdlc-big.jpg (free of charge)

Example of Identifying Management Info Requirements and Business Need

Proposed Process Flow for Central Database at Success:

1. APPLICATION - Online application auto-generates email to AP and populates database with record tagged “applicant”

2. APPROVAL/DENIAL/HOLD - AP reviews application to approve/deny/hold; auto-generated email notifies applicant and, if approved, schedules orientation and notifies Academic Counselor

3. OBTAIN TRANSCRIPT - Upon notification, Academic Counselor appends applicant’s record with transcript information

4. ORIENTATION - Various forms completed, “applicant” status changed to “student” and data added to student record; auto-generated email submits request for computer account

5. SCHEDULING - Student is assigned schedule; Schedule Card is printed for student

6. PGP - Advisor with student completes PGP (through the database), prints, and sends it home with student for signatures; once returned signed, advisor submits signed copy to Counselor and Counselor updates student record with “PGP? Yes”

7. ATTENDANCE - Teachers, Support Staff, Counselors, APs/Coordinators log students in upon arrival to class/meeting , enter comments as applicable, and log students out upon departure

8. COURSE COMPLETIONS - Teachers enter grades for completed courses, print and submit signed record to Registrar; auto-generated email notifies Academic Counselor, Advisor, and Registrar; student visits Counselor for assignment of new class

9. SIP - SIPs are created and updated as needed

10. PROGRESS REPORTS - Progress reports reviewing courses completed, TAKS/EOC results, courses enrolled in, absences, SIPs, and progress comments for the period are printed every 3 weeks for students to take home

11. LEAVE OF ABSENCE (LOA) - LOAs are recorded as needed/approved

12. TRANSFER/WITHDRAWAL - Transfers/withdrawals are recorded as applicable

13. GRADUATION - Graduation date/code entered upon successful completion of all requirements to graduate; auto-generated email requests deactivation of computer account; congratulatory letters and important instructions are printed from database, e.g., how to obtain high school diploma

14. ANNOUNCEMENTS/INVITATIONS - Students may print graduation announcements/invitations from database if desired

Business need: A central database at Success HS to streamline data processing - reduce overlap, incorporate automated check-balance system, and provide online accessibility for data entry and review.

Issues of Development for Different Environments

Hardware compatibility (Can the existing system handle the upgrade?) Software compatibility (Will software function properly after the upgrade?)Versatility and capability vs speed (Which is more important - bells and whistles or speed? Sleek design vs utilitarian for adverse conditions Accessibility vs security (Is easy access important … or should access be limited for greater security?)Local vs Global – language/cultural differences (Who will the upgrade serve and what limits/capabilities are needed to ensure compatibility? Sometimes a system must be simplified to serve the greater good.)User skill-level – skilled vs unskilled (How simple or in-depth do instructions and processes need to be?)Support – internal vs outsourced, limited vs full-service, live vs automated?Cost limitations? (What is the budget … start-up and ongoing?)ADA compliance requirementsPlanned obsolescence vs reliabilityPatents? (Pre-existing or needed?)Competitive timeliness vs quality

Can you think of others?Can you think of others?

1. Hit “Escape” to exit “presentation” mode. 2. In the table below, enter a recommendation for improving the information system/ICT at Success HS.

3. Identify and enter 3 risks and 3 rewards of implementing the improvement.4. Identify and enter a management information requirement and/or business need at Success HS that

your recommendation addresses. 5. Once completed, show your teacher.

6. Refer to the previous slide. In the space below, identify and briefly explain 3 issues of developing for different environments as they relate to your proposed recommendation.

a)

b)

c)

Recommendation: Risks: Rewards:

This recommendation addresses the following management information requirement/business need:

1 Wikipedia on 9/17/11: Information and communications technology at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_and_communications_technology

2 “SDLC 2010 – I Call It Recursive Idiocy” Offered, free of charge by BK Sanders, posted at:

http://blog.bksanders.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/sdlc-big.jpg

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