Aug 1997 SA205: Systems Analysis (Question 2) Suggested Solutions

2.	(a) Who may request a systems development?		[1]
	Management or an end user may request a systems development.		[1]

	(b) Due to time constraints a particular company undertook a systems development project in a hurry. The development team had to skip the preliminary investigation phase and go straight into analysis. Consider three aspects of a feasibility study, for each one show how by ignoring its impact the project could fail. Follow on by discussing how the three aspects might interact.		[8]
	A project request should be examined for feasibility in terms of
		Technical feasibility: The new system might require technology that the company does not have.	[2]
		Economic feasibility: The new system might cost too much to develop.	[2]
		Operational feasibility: Even if the new system is developed it might not have a market.	[2]

	(c) Nonetheless the project was a success and the development team managed to produce a viable system. Consider the case in which the company did undertake a preliminary investigation but whose conclusion was not approved by the management. Explain why this might be the case using your three aspects of the feasibility study to clarify your argument.		[6]
	A management decision will most likely be conservative. In terms of
		1. Technical feasibility: If the technology needs to be either developed or purchased than there is a need to become familiar with it and a greater opportunity for things to go wrong. Consequently, the management might consider that it is not worth taking this risk.
		[2 marks]
		2. Economic feasibility: It is usual to over-budget development projects as insurance for unforeseen events. In our case, the project might have had no glitches.
		[2 marks]
		3. Operational feasibility: The management would have to play it safe when considering how a proposed system might be accepted by the market two or more years hence. Consequently, they are unlikely to accept projects that look only promising.
		[2 marks]
		the purpose of parts (a) and (b) is to see whether students have acquired the ability to argue a case, consequently the marker should be generous in accessing the responses.

	(d) List the remaining stages and provide brief descriptions of the system design life cycle.		[5]
		The remaining stages of the SDLC:
		1. Requirements determination: involves finding out what takes place in the current system so as improve on it in the next version.	[1]
		2. Systems Design: involves determining how to construct the information system to best satisfy the document requirements.	[1]
		3. Systems Development: involves constructing the information system.	[1]
		4. System Testing: to ensure that the system is reliable and conforms to the specification outlined in the Systems Requirements Document.	[1]
		5. Systems Implementation and Evaluation: The system will be used in practice and feedback sought.	[1]