Systems Development: Design, Implementation, Maintenance, and Review - Principles of Information Systems - page 558

to be built, under which the cables connecting the various computer components are placed,
and a new security system might be needed to protect the equipment. For larger systems,
additional power circuits might also be required. Today, developing IS sites that are energy
efficient is important for most systems development implementations. 60

Data Preparation
Data preparation , or data conversion , involves making sure that all files and databases are
ready to be used with new computer software and systems. If an organization is installing a
new payroll program, the old employee-payroll data might have to be converted into a format
that can be used by the new computer software or system. After the data has been prepared
or converted, the computerized database system or other software will then be used to main-
tain and update the computer files.

data preparation, or data
conversion
Ensuring all files and databases are
ready to be used with new computer
software and systems.

Installation
Installation is the process of physically placing the computer equipment on the site and
making it operational. Although normally the manufacturer is responsible for installing
computer equipment, someone from the organization (usually the IS manager) should over-
see the process, making sure that all equipment specified in the contract is installed at the
proper location. After the system is installed, the manufacturer performs several tests to ensure
that the equipment is operating as it should.

installation
The process of physically placing the
computer equipment on the site and
making it operational.

Testing
Good testing procedures are essential to make sure that the new or modified information
system operates as intended. Inadequate testing can result in mistakes and problems. A
$13 million systems development effort to build a vehicle title and registration system had
to be shut down because inaccurate data led to vehicles being pulled over or stopped by
mistake. 61 According to one state official, “We couldn't have people out there having their
cars impounded because of inaccurate information in the … database.” In some cases, one
problem can cascade into additional problems or cause multiple systems to fail. 62 Problems
with a project to consolidate data center servers, for example, resulted in more than 160,000
Internet sites being shut down. The company that was trying to consolidate its database
servers was hosting the Internet sites. Some Internet sites were down for more than six days.
Better testing may have prevented these types of problems.
Several forms of testing should be used, including testing each program ( unit testing ),
testing the entire system of programs ( system testing ), testing the application with a large
amount of data ( volume testing ), and testing all related systems together ( integration
testing ), as well as conducting any tests required by the user ( acceptance testing ).
Figure 13.11 lists the types of testing. In addition to these forms of testing, there are different
types of testing.

unit testing
Testing of individual programs.
system testing
Testing the entire system of
programs.
volume testing
Testing the application with a large
amount of data.
integration testing
Testing all related systems
together.
acceptance testing
Conducting any tests required by the
user.

Figure 13.11

Unit testing

Types of Testing

System testing

Volume testing

Integration testing

A cc eptanc e testing