bts330
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Lecture 1: Project Initiation. BTS330. Definition of a Project. A Project is a sequence of unique, complex, and connected activities having one goal or purpose and that must be completed by a specific time, within budget, and according to specification. ( p. 65). Information Systems. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
BTS330Lecture 1: Project Initiation
Definition of a Project
A Project is a sequence of unique, complex, and connected activities having one goal or purpose and that must be completed by a specific time, within budget, and according to specification. ( p. 65)
Information Systems
Information systems are crucial to modern business
Key to success is thorough systems analysis and design
Systems analyst is a key individual in these activities
The Analyst
Business problem solver Practical knowledge▪ Computers▪ Computer programming
Understands business problems
Uses logical method for solving problems
Analyst’s Approach to Problem Solving
Research problem
Verify benefits outweigh costs
Develop solutions
Recommend best solution
Define solution
Implement solution
Monitor results
Systems that Solve Business Problems Information systems
Collection of interrelated components that collect, process, store, and provide as output the information needed to complete business tasks
Super systems Large systems that can be divided into sub
systems Example, system for the 2009 Canada
Games Functional decomposition
Dividing a system into components based on subsystems that in turn are further divided into subsystems (based on the Use Case Diagrams)
Types of Information Systems
Information Systems and Subsystems
System Boundary vs. Automation Boundary
Information Systems and Component Parts
Required Skills of the Systems Analyst
Technical knowledge and skills Computer hardware, software, databases,
and related devices Tools to help develop analysis or design
specifications Techniques for completing specific
development activities Business knowledge and skills
Organizational structure Functional work processes
Required Skills of the Systems Analyst
People knowledge and skills Communication Teams
Ethics and integrity
Environment Surrounding the Analyst
Information system configurations encountered will range from PC to large mainframe systems
Job titles of the systems analyst vary greatly
Places of employment vary from small businesses to large corporations
Strategic Systems Plan for Rocky Mountain Outfitters
Overview In 1978, began supplying winter sports clothes
in Park City, Utah Expansion into direct mail-order sales By late 1990s, RMO had become a large,
regional sports clothing distributor Today, over $100 million in annual sales Mail-order is key revenue at $70 million
RMO Organizational Structure
RMO Locations
RMO Information Systems Department
Headed by Mac Preston, an assistant vice president
50 employees in department Mac is in process of implementing
strategic IS plan Eventually, John Blankens will assume
leadership of IS Department if Mac’s plan succeeds
IS Department Staffing
RMO Technology Overview
Most IS staff and technology located in data center at Park City Mainframe-based system supports primary
business functions Central office functions, distribution centers,
and manufacturing centers supported with LANs
Dial-up capability to mainframe
Existing Systems at RMO
Retail store systems Point-of-sale and batch inventory update
Office systems LAN with office software and e-mail
Merchandising/Distribution Mainframe application with COBOL/CICS, IBM
DB2 and VSAM developed in-house
Existing Systems at RMO
Mail order COBOL application developed in-house
Phone order Access system developed in-house
Human resources Mainframe-based application developed in-
house
Existing Systems at RMO
Accounting/Finance Mainframe package from leading vendor
implemented 10 years earlier
IS Strategic Plan at RMO
Strategic thrust Build more direct customer contact Improve service
Expand beyond Western states Expand phone-order capability Add direct customer access via the Internet
RMO Application Architecture Plan
RMO Technology Architecture Plan
Move business applications to client-server architecture; use mainframe for database
Move toward conducting business on the Internet
Anticipate eventual move toward intranet solutions
RMO Application Architecture Plan
Accounting/Finance Purchase client-server package
Human resources Purchase intranet package to maximize
employee access to appropriate information Customer support system
Order-processing and fulfillment for phone, mail, and direct customer access
RMO Application Architecture Plan
Inventory management system Integrate with customer support
Retail store systems Integrate store management systems with
inventory systems
Application Architecture Time Frame
First: Customer support system Second: Inventory management system Third: Retail store systems with inventory
management Fourth: Human resources and
accounting/finance
Major Subsystems
Customer support system Order entry Customer service/catalog Order tracking Shipping Back orders Returns Sales analysis
Major Subsystems
Inventory management system Vendor management Manufacturing requirements planning Normal volume ordering and
reordering Emergency out-of-stock ordering Cost tracking Aging of inventory stock Turnover analysis Warehouse goods tracking
Project Initiation
Long-term information systems strategic plan (top-down)
Department managers or process managers (bottom-up)
Response to outside forces Legislative changes Market forces Competition
Project Initiation for RMO
Strategic thrust to build more direct customer contact
Customer support system development Barbara Halifax - project manager Steven Deerfield - systems analyst Support all types of customer services
▪ Ordering, returns, on-line catalog, et cetera
Assignment Each team is to decompose the super system
necessary to run the Canada Games 2009 into major systems based on category. For example, Volunteer System
Then you are to further decompose each of those systems into subsystems. For example, uniforms, Identification, staffing.
Note: The team that present the most complete decomposition will receive 2 bonus marks for the semester. This winner will be decided by the classes’ evaluation.