Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Now one central location receives help requests and change management requests
from across the international enterprise. Magdalena Cioch says that the company has “all
the information we need for managing incidents and change requests in all countries at
the time they occur. This enables us to forecast our business needs immediately.” As sys-
tems analysts continue to review the system, looking for ways to further improve it, they
are beginning the SDLC again.
As you read this chapter, consider the following:
After a company develops specifications for a new system, what steps should the
company take to implement the system successfully?
What important factors should a company consider when implementing a new system?
Information systems are designed and implemented for employees and managers
every day. A manager at a hotel chain can use an information system to look up client
preferences. An accountant at a manufacturing company can use an information sys-
tem to analyze the costs of a new plant. A sales representative for a music store can
use an information system to determine which CDs to order and which to discount
because they are not selling. A computer engineer can use an information system to
help determine why a computer system is running slowly. Information systems have
been designed and implemented for almost every career and industry. This chapter
shows how you can be involved in designing and implementing an information sys-
tem that will directly benefit you on the job. It also shows how to avoid errors or
recover from disasters. This chapter starts with describing how systems are designed.
Why Learn About
Systems
Development?
The way an information system is designed, implemented, and maintained profoundly
affects the daily functioning of an organization. Like investigation and analysis covered in
Chapter 12, design, implementation, maintenance, and review covered in this chapter strive
to achieve organizational goals, such as reducing costs, increasing profits, or improving cus-
tomer service. The New York Stock Exchange, for example, decided to use the Linux
operating system to lower total IS costs. 1 With the high cost of many commodities today,
some systems development efforts are saving money by avoiding copper wires and installing
wireless telecommunications systems. 2 A single wired connection to an office can cost as
much as $250. We begin this chapter with a discussion of systems design.
SYSTEMS DESIGN
The purpose of systems design is to answer the question “How will the information system
solve a problem?” The primary result of the systems design phase is a technical design that
details system outputs, inputs, and user interfaces; specifies hardware, software, databases,
telecommunications, personnel, and procedures; and shows how these components are re-
lated. The new or modified system should take advantage of the latest developments in
technology. 3 Many companies, for example, are looking into cloud computing, where ap-
plications are run on the Internet instead of being developed and run within the company
or organization. Cloud computing is allowing individuals, such as racecar driving instructor
Tom Dyer, to work while traveling. 4 According to Dyer, “Anywhere I go, I can hook up to
the Net for whatever reason. It makes life a lot easier.” Increasingly, companies and individ-
uals are developing or purchasing systems that allow them to take advantage of the Internet. 5
Microsoft's Live Mesh, for example, allows systems developers to seamlessly coordinate data
among different devices and provide data backup on the Internet.
systems design
The stage of systems development
that answers the question “How will
the information system solve a
problem?”
 
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