Related Course/s:

Aims & Objectives:

• Demonstrate initiative in investigating a problem
• Establish the requirements for a system. Analyse and model the requirements and develop practical design solutions
• Apply analysis, modelling and design techniques in the context of practical problems. Discuss alternative models and solutions. Argue effectively why some models or solutions are better than others given different evaluation criteria
• Describe the purpose of system development as a solution to a business problem
• Describe the phases of a system development project
• Demonstrate an understanding of the Structured and Object-Oriented approaches to systems analysis
• Differentiate between the Structured and Object-Oriented approaches to systems analysis

The context of these objectives is the development of a computerised information system for a real or imaginary business. The particular modelling techniques relate to Structured and Object-Oriented systems development paradigms

Teaching Methods:

Lectures (24 hrs) and Tutorials (12 hrs)

Assessment:

Individual and Group Assignments, Tests, Final Examination

Generic Skills Outcomes:

Students will be provided with feedback on their progress in attaining the following generic skills:

• teamwork skills
• analysis skills
• problem solving skills
• communications skills
• ability to tackle unfamiliar problems
• ability to work independently
  

Content:

• The role of the analyst and the SDLC
• Investigating system requirements
• Project management and planning
• Data gathering techniques 
• Modelling system requirements: traditional approach – especially DFDs, OO approach – especially use cases and activity diagrams
• Evaluation of alternatives for requirements, environments and implementation
• Current trends in systems development methodologies

References:

Satzinger, J, Jackson, R.B. & Burd, S.D., Systems Analysis and Design in a Changing World, 5th edn, Boston, Thomson Learning Course Technology, 2009.