Student answers will vary, depending on their preferences regarding being a: 1 systems

Chapter 1 The Systems Analyst and IS Development 1-1 Chapter 1

: The Systems A nalyst and

Information S ystems D evelopment

Answer to Your Turn 1-1: Being an Analyst

Student answers will vary, depending on their preferences regarding being a: 1) systems analyst, 2) business analyst, 3) requirements analyst, 4) infrastructure analyst, or 5) change management analyst. Verify that the student has correctly associated the skills needed with the type of analyst for which they aspire and that the student has created a plan to acquire those skills. The roles and the names used to describe them may vary from organization to organization.

Answer to Your Turn 1-2: Implementing a Satellite Data Network

While answers may vary, answers might include the following:

1.A Cost-Benefit analysis, along with other financial processes (ROI, etc.) would certainly reveal that a just-in-time (JIT) inventory can reduce inventory costs and increase revenue. A standard communication line, encrypted or not, would not be able to handle the high bandwidth needed for data, voice and video transmissions.

2.A competitor would be able to narrow the gap by adopting the JIT type of inventory management. Voice and video are not necessary to keep the inventory up to date on a timely basis, data transmissions alone would work well.

Answer to Your Turn 1-3: Too Much Paper, Part 1

System Request

Sponsor: Document Manager.

Business Need: Increase efficiency in storing, updating, and retrieving information on employee injury claims.

Business Requirements: Automated system which allows for electronic submission

of reports via a secure web site.Business Value: Reduce response time for employee inquiries, increase effectiveness of storing, updating, and retrieving employee injury claims. Reduce storage costs of paper files.

Special Issues: Must have someone who understands how to create and maintain a

secure web site. Must have resources to migrate paper files to data storage. Must Systems Analysis and Design, 7e Dennis, Wixom, Roth (Solutions Manual All Chapters, 100% Original Verified, A+ Grade) All Chapters/ Supplement files download link at the end of this file. 1 / 4

Chapter 1 The Systems Analyst and IS Development 1-2 work within HIPAA guidelines to ensure that medical documents are treated according to regulations.

Answer to Your Turn 1-4: Too Much Paper, Part 2

1.Issues arising from digital signatures and electronic documents typically focus on establishing validity for signatures and originators. As these issues can be overcome using certificates and encryption, they don’t necessarily affect the project feasibility. However, they do need to be addressed.

2.Answers will vary. The project champion, organizational management, and perhaps most importantly a subset of the stakeholders must believe in and show support for the project. One solution would be to plan and provide for sufficient training that demonstrates how their jobs might be easier to accomplish with the automated system.

Answer to Your Turn 1-5: Discovering Visible Analyst - Lesson 1

Student answers and experiences will vary based on the adoption of the software package, Visible Analyst. It is highly recommended that a CASE tool be used for modeling throughout this course.

Answer to Concepts in Action 1-A: Managerial Causes of IT Failures

Qantas provides for an “ice-breaker” discussion topic for the first class. Perhaps group the students and have them discuss this company and then provide for class discussion about the importance of IT project success.

Answer to Concepts in Action 1-B: BPI on the Farm

Efficiency gains are mentioned in this Concept in Action. What are the drawbacks to this scenario? Is it as easy as it seems? Issues such as Wi-Fi coverage on a farm, perhaps even cellular coverage can come into play as can weather, dust, and other issues inherent with a farming enterprise.

Answer to Concepts in Action 1-C: Interview with Don Hallacy, President,

Technology Services, Sprint Corporation This is an opportune time to identify the responsibilities of the differing roles that an analyst serves. 2 / 4

Chapter 1 The Systems Analyst and IS Development 1-3

Answer to Concepts in Action 1-D: Carlson Hospitality

Carlson Hospitality can use the information from the survey to determine whether the one-point increase in market share revenue ($20 million per point) will offset costs associated with increasing the level of services to high-quality customers which would result in a 10% increase in customer satisfaction.

Answer to Concepts in Action 1-E: Return on Investment

1.One method for determining a return on investment is to complete a Cost-Benefit Analysis using the Present Value Method. Many of the costs for server virtualization are associated with the initial construction: physical manipulation of the servers and software licensing. The ongoing costs of labor in updating and accessing tables would be relatively small. Using this type of analysis would allow the project sponsors to show how the benefits of the virtualization would be realized on a long term basis.

2.Implementing a major change to a system should certainly include a systems analyst. Systems analysts typically have a broad view of the system, and would be able to ascertain how virtualizing the servers will affect the whole system.Answers to End of Chapter Questions 1.List and describe the six general skills all project team members should have?[1] Technical skills (knowledge of how to employ technology in development system solutions). [2] Business skills (knowledge of how to apply IT to business problems to achieve a valuable solution). [3] Analytical skills (ability to solve complex problems). [4] Interpersonal skills (oral and written communication skills with both technical and non-technical audiences). [5] Management skills (ability to manage others and cope with an uncertain environment). [6] Ethical skills (ability to deal with others honestly and ethically).

• What are the major roles on a project team?

Business analyst – emphasis on the business issues addressed by the system: value of new system; identification of problems and opportunities; revision of business processes and policies.

Systems analyst – emphasis on IS issues of the system: how IT can be used to

support business processes; design of new business process and IS; and enforcement of IS standards.Infrastructure analyst – technical issues associated with integrating new system components to existing technical infrastructure. 3 / 4

Chapter 1 The Systems Analyst and IS Development 1-4 Requirements analyst – eliciting the requirements of the new system from all stakeholders. They understand the business well, are excellent communicators, and are highly skilled in obtaining system requirements.Change management analyst – emphasis on facilitating organizational adaptation to new system. Helping to identify and overcome resistance to change and assuring adequate training and documentation of new system.Project manager – ensuring that progress is made on the project; time schedules and budgets are met; supervision of project team; and manage relations with project sponsor and users.

• Compare and contrast the role of a systems analyst, business analyst, and

infrastructure analyst.These three roles emphasize different perspectives on the system. The business analyst represents the sponsor/users interests, while the systems analyst knows how to apply IS to support business needs. Together, the systems analyst and the business analyst can design a system that conforms to the IS standards while adding value to the business. The infrastructure analyst has more technical knowledge and provides the team with technical constraints, or identifies infrastructure changes that the new system will require.

• Compare and contrast the role of requirements analyst, change management analyst,

and project manager.These three roles also emphasize different perspectives on the system. The requirements analyst focuses on eliciting the requirements from the system stakeholders. The change management analyst focuses on people and managing issues surrounding the installation of the system. The project manager ensures that the project is completed on time and within budget and that the system delivers the expected value to the organization.

5.Describe the major phases in the systems development life cycle (SDLC).The planning phase focuses on determining if there is justification to build an information system and developing a plan to accomplish the development project.The analysis phase is focused on understanding the existing situation and determining the needs and requirements expected from the new system. The design phase refines the system requirements (from analysis) and develops specifications for how the new system will fulfill those requirements. The implementation phase involves constructing (or installing) the new system, testing, converting, training, and providing support for the new system.

6.Describe the principal steps in the planning phase. What are some major deliverables?

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