Case 1 - IT Strategy Case: System Development Case
Business Situation
‘Company ABC is considering migrating from an old transaction processing system to anew state-of-the-art
‘custom developed solution. They have asked you to help them understand how to approach this project. They
understand that there are multiple vendors/applications within the market that can potentially help them, but they
are unsure if the best approach is to go with one of these systems or with a homegrown tool
Key information includes:
+The new application will need to interface with multiple legacy applications to get data in real-time for
transaction processing. However, ABC believes they do not have the infrastructure in place to support
any real-time data processing at this point in time.
+ ABC is currently an “Oracle Shop’, using Oracle solutions for various backend processes. How would this
impact this project?
+ The application has both user interface (UI) components as well as batch processing components
+ Application performance is of very high concern. The batch processing needs to be completed within very
tight windows
+ The application will be rolled out in a single release on the deployment date.
Question 1
How would you explain the Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC) approach in general and what are
‘Our recommended Answers,
Good Answer
‘A good answer will include a description such as a linear sequence of stages to develop a system from planning
to analysis to design to implementation. The phases include:
+ Project Identification and Selection
+ Project initiation and Planning
+ Analysis
+ Design
+ Implementation
+ Maintenance
Great Answer
A great answer will point out that the stages are followed from beginning to end and that revisiting prior stages is
not permitted and explain that the phases may have overlap i.e. Design of certain areas will begin while others
are still in Analysis, but ideally there should be no backward movement in the Life Cycle.
Your Answer
Question 2
Why is following an SDLC important?
‘Our recommended Answers,
Good Answer
‘A good answer will show basic understanding and include that having a SDLC facilitates thorough project
planning and execution and is intended to develop information systems in a very deliberate, structured and
methodical way.
Great Answer
A great answer will show deeper understanding and also include that SDLC brings discipline, rigor, and order to
the implementation of complex projects, while facilitating strong knowledge transfer to our clients. Using SDLC
will result in a high quality system that meets or exceeds customer expectations, reaches completion within time
and cost estimates, and works effectively and efficiently in the current and planned technology infrastructure.
Your AnswerYour Answer
Question 3
What is involved in each phase of the SDLC?
‘Our recommended Answers.
Good Answer
Project Identification and Selection
* Identification of need for new transaction system
+ Prioritization and translation of need into a development schedule (timeline)
+ Helps organization to determine whether or not resources should be dedicated to the project
Project Initiation and Planni
+" Formal preliminary Investigation of the problem at hand, deployment of anew system
+ Presentation of reasons why system should or should not be developed by the organization
Analysis
+ Study of current procedures and information systems
Determine requirements
+ Study current system (limitations and abilities)
‘Structure requirements and eliminate redundancies
Generate alternative designs
‘Compare alternatives (stay with old vs. develop new custom solution in-house vs. outsource)
‘Conduct vendor assessment if appropriate
Recommend best alternative
Design
- Logical Design
+ Concentrates on business aspects of the system, i.e., how the new system will handle invoicing, billing
the customer, showing revenue. Is the UI easy to use, will the deployment date be met?
- Physical Design
+ Technical specifications - Performance is a big concern as well as the interfaces to legacy systems
Implementation (Develop)
+ Hardware and software installation
+ Programming
+ User Training
+ Documentation
Maintenance
+ System changed to reflect changing conditions, i.e., will the new system be able to handle even more
daily transactions in the future?
+ System obsolescence
Great Answer
A great answer will also include resources in addition to activities in each phase:
Project Identification and SelectionProject Identification and Selection
+ Project managers
+ Project leadership and sponsors
Project Initiation and Planning
+ Project managers
+ Project leadership
+ Subject matter experts
Analysis
+ Functional team
Determine requirements
+ Subject matter experts
+ Functional team
Design
+” Subject matter experts
+ Functional team
+ Technical team
Implementation (Develop)
+ Functional team
Technical team
‘Change management team
Trainers
System developers
Subject matter experts
Maintenance
+ Technical team
+ Change management team
Your Answer
Case Debrief
In general, the SDLC refers to a linear sequence of stages all systems naturally undergo. The six distinct phases
are: project identification and selection, project initiation and planning, analysis, design, implementation, and
maintenance. Examples of steps during each phase include: identification of need, formal preliminary
investigation of the problem at hand, determine requirements, local design, implementation, and system change.
A strong candidate wil
+ Demonstrate understanding of the concept of SDLC
+ Be able to explain each phase independently and how each phase relates to the othersThis document was created with Win2PDF available at http://www.win2paf.com.
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