Information System Development: From Scratch to Guide

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Introduction

In all cases of developing an information system from the ground up, it is vital to create an IRD strategy to guide the development process. The system model not only expresses requirements but also provides an informal description of data points and allows for the definition of logical architecture, which will encompass functional requirements and non-functional needs. The requirement modeling strategy that would be the best to adopt in this scenario is a structured analysis that uses a data-oriented approach to conceptual modeling.

Project Management Case Study

Before beginning a project, it is necessary to identify the requirements analysis strategy. Since Bevs Barricades has no existing system in place, an outcome analysis seems best. An outcome analysis focuses on fundamental outcomes that provide value to the company and its customers (Dennis, Wixom, & Tegarden, 2015). For Bevs Barricades, the outcome is to provide equipment to its clients that efficiently fit their needs. However, to meet this goal, it is necessary to undergo a series of processes, ranging from payment processes to inventory management and logistics that the owner would like to be present in the information system.

It is viable to create a strategic matrix that provides relevant context and enables the facilitation of vertical processes in an organization while offering a level of consistency. A matrix includes a self-contained strategy that outlines principles of integration and governance. Each process area of the company should be considered in the context of independent management and information resources, with each potentially having a sub-strategy. A strategic matrix allows the creation of parallel strategies for each department, with tools and activities that feedback to the core process strategy and management framework.

A fitting team-based technique to use would be joint application development (JAD), which allows for interaction between the project team, management, and users to identify key requirements for the information system. It is a comprehensive method for collecting information that enables the project development team to accurately identify system specifications from end-users to avoid potential complaints or dissatisfaction in the future.

Participants in JAD sessions should include managers from each relevant department outlined by Bevs Barricades such as inventory, accounting, design, marketing, IT support, and logistics. A facilitator should be present as well to facilitate the process in a streamlined manner (Dennis et al., 2015). Although more expensive and time-consuming, this approach is necessary considering that there is no existing infrastructure in place and the system must fit the custom requirements of the business.

Conclusion

Information collection is a critical process in an IRD strategy. The best elicitation techniques of user requirements in the case of Bevs Barricades will be interviews and observation. The selected interviewees should be from various employee levels within the company who can provide key specifications and viewpoints on the system. For example, in accounting, it may be necessary to interview the department head to identify the strategic vision, a manager for common problems in day-to-day operations, and a data entry clerk as a regular end-user of the information system. A similar approach should be used with each department identified by Bevs Barricades that will be served by the future information system.

Interview questions should be both close-ended, to gather precise information on data analytics, and open-ended, to provide subjective information on user preferences (Dennis et al., 2015). At the same time, observations should be performed on any processes that are brought up during the interview. Observation offers the opportunity for deeper insights into practices and patterns of an organization, as well as serving as a vital supplement elicitation technique to interviews.

Reference

Dennis, A., Wixom, B. H., & Tegarden, D. (2015). Systems analysis and design: An object-oriented approach with UML (5th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

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