Chapter 4

Preliminary Investigation

• Project triggers

• Business process redesign (BPR)

• Strategic planning

• The preliminary investigation stage

• Gathering information with JAD

Project Triggers

“Push”

• User needs

• Technology

“Pull”

• Strategic direction

• Strategic business plan

• Strategic plan for information resources

Business Process Redesign (BPR)

An example of technology push

Fig 4.1: Business Process Redesign

Business Process Redesign (BPR)

Reengineering legacy code is an example

Fig 4.2: Reengineering of Legacy Code

Strategic Planning

Strategic business planning

Fig 4.3: Influences on Strategic Business Plan Development

Strategic Planning

Strategic business area planning

Fig 4.4: Cooperation in Developing Strategic Plans for Business Areas

Strategic Planning

Strategic planning for information resources

Fig 4.5: Identifying the Information Resources Needed for Each Information System

Preliminary Investigation Stage

Position in the SDLC

Fig 4.6: Preliminary Investigation Phase Overview

Preliminary Investigation Stage

Step 1: Perform enterprise analysis

• Use general systems model (elements, flows)

• Use environmental model (elements, flows)

Table 4.1: Primary Environmental Resource Flows

Preliminary Investigation Stage

Step 1: Perform enterprise analysis

Example

Fig 4.10: Overview of Enterprise Analysis

Preliminary Investigation Stage

Step 1: Perform enterprise analysis

Sources of information

• Internal documents

• Media

• Executive/secretary interviews

Preliminary Investigation Stage

Step 2: Determine system constraints, objectives, goals, risk, and scope

Constraints

• Organizational

• Resource

• Process

Objectives and Goals

• Cost reduction

• Cost avoidance

• Increased revenues

• Improved decision making

Preliminary Investigation Stage

Step 2: Determine system constraints, objectives, goals, risk, and scope

• A sample goal analysis

Fig 4.11: A Goal Analysis Form

Preliminary Investigation Stage

Step 2: Determine system constraints, objectives, goals, risk, and scope

• A sample risk evaluation

Fig 4.13: A Project Risk Evaluation for Torres Insurance

Preliminary Investigation Stage

Step 2: Determine system constraints, objectives, goals, risk, and scope

• Example of risk reduction strategies

Fig 4.14: A Risk Reduction Strategies Table for Torres Insurance

Preliminary Investigation Stage

Step 2: Determine system constraints, objectives, goals, risk, and scope

• Some risk reduction strategies for common risks

Table 4.2: Possible Risk reduction Strategies

Preliminary Investigation Stage

Step 2: Example of objectives, constraints, and scope for Torres Insurance

Fig 4.12: Project Objectives, Constraints, and Scope

Preliminary Investigation Stage

Step 3: Evaluate feasibility and obtain approval to proceed

• Technical (the system)

• Economic (the system and the project)

• Legal/ethical (the system)

• Operational (the system)

• Schedule (the project)

Preliminary Investigation Stage

Step 4: Conduct JAD sessions to confirm initial functional requirements

• Key JAD ingredients: Facilitator, executive sponsor

• JAD steps

1. Planning

2. Conducting

3. Documenting

Gathering Information with JAD

Documenting the results

Fig 4.15: An Outline of a specification Document