Apr 1999 SA205: Systems Analysis (Question 5)

(a)	(i) Requirements for a new system may be identified in terms of operations or controls. Describe two other ways in which such requirements may be identified.	[4]
	(ii) Why should future requirements be taken into account when the requirements for a new system are outlined?	[2]
	(i) Output : This refers to the deliverables. Output should be taken into account first so that the necessary input can be identified and to reduce input redundancy. Input : This refers to what data is to be captured to produce the required output. (ii) Even though the future requirements may not have immediate impact on the analysis and design of the proposed system, the analysis phase must ensure that the system is able to accommodate future growth.
(d)	(i) In the context of design objectives, described the term capacity.	[2]
	(ii) Give two examples of how a system might lack sufficient capacity.	[2]
	(iii) Describe two general strategies for increasing capacity.	[4]
	(i) Capacity simply means the availability of people, equipment, resources in a current system. In order to design a new system, analysts need to examine whether the capacity in current system able to carry out all its intended functions. (ii) Example 1 : A user wants to copy a 650 MB content of a CD-ROM into a 540 MB HARD DRIVE. In this, the system lacks sufficient capacity to hold the data into its hard drive. Example 2: A shop has to handle transactions continuously but the system's response is slow and eventually halts. In this case, there is a lack of system processing and storage capacity. (iii) Increase Capabilities : Buy more equipment, employ knowledgeable personnel increase the communication link speed etc. These will help to overcome the slow response time. Lower your expectations : If you are providing daily sales report, you may have to review and provide any critical reports while less critical reports can be distributed on w week or monthly basis.
(c)	List one advantage of each of the following types of development.
	(i) End-user development.	[1]
	(ii) Institutional development.	[1]
	(iii) Outsourcing	[1]
	(i) End-user development - they are the best people to comprehend the workings of the system. (ii) Institutional development - they are very well-equipped, knowledgeable and experienced system developers who know how to analyze a problem efficiently and providing a reasonable effective solutions (iii) Outsourcing - there is no need to employ them. On a long term basis, company pay them on a service-basis only, thus this could be cheaper than in-house institutional development.
(d)	(i) Why is it unsurprising that very few companies maintain their own information system developers?	[2]
	(ii) Name one circumstance under which institutional development might be considered.	[1]
	(i) Most companies do not prefer to have their own developers because "they eat a big slice of their budget" and are expensive to maintain. (huge pay packets). If they stay in the company for long time, their knowledge curve begins to degrade and may not be competitive enough. (ii) Institutional development is used when the information system to be developed is confidential such as military etc. Also, is an organization do not want the competitors to know and to maintain competitive edge over them. This development can be used.