SALFORD BUSINES SCHOOLASSESSMENT
TITLE: SYSTEM ANALYSIS & DESIGNAcademic year: 2009-2010 M.Sc
in MANAGING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY By Venkata Kirankumar Polinati
Student ID: @00251223
UNDER THE GUIDENCE OF Module: RESEARCH METHODS (CRN 23537)
Module Tutor: prof.Polly SoberperezABSTRACT:Research Methods Page
1
The process to improve the information systems has significantly
changed over past few years. Often Information systems are
considered as the acceptance and performance during their
implementation. In todays dynamics market conditions the business
organizations has to revamp their business practices to capture
their desired market to compete with their competitors to survive
in this tough competitive business world. To gain the edge over
business the organizations has to consider the choice of developing
the well fitted Information systems to boost their business
operations accuracy and speedy nature to reach market ahead of
their business rivals. And the technological changes in IT domain
help to organizations to choose their desired technical
applications to fit into their business organizations needs and
wants. The complexity of technology depends upon the size of the
business organization. Apart from choosing the technology the
organizations are more concerned about the development of desired
technological application, it raises the questions about the
credibility of chosen application development procedures and
tactics. Conducting a research helps in determining the
organizations current performance using the System Analysis and
Design. System development life cycle is the present tool and
approach of the System analysis and design which has been adopted
in the present corporate world of information systems. This
evaluation of literature suggests the measures that are to be
applied during the system installation and implementation in any
organization. This proposal presents various research methods to
further continue the research on the System Analysis and Design.
The adopted research method in this proposal is the qualitative
research which helps to get the realistic data and observations by
considering a case study. It also focuses on the present ethical
issues involving in the information systems. This research proposal
made me think to use my academic learnings to find out the new
insights into the subjects, mainly IT management and Key Issues In
Systems Development and gaining the knowledge about the role of
research methods in the field of Information Systems. AIM OF THE
RESEARCH: Aim of this proposal is to assess the significance of
System Analysis and Design in the Information Systems in any
organization.Research Methods Page 2
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES: To study the importance of system analysis
and design in enhancing the information systems To observe the role
of system development life cycle in any organization To focus on
the research methods and their impact in the research of system
analysis and design To focus on the ethical issues pertaining to
information systems
INTRODUCATION: System analysis and design in the core concept of
the Information Systems discipline. Over decades of development of
the system with the given requirements depends on the successful
approach to the system analysis. In this competitive world, the
drastic changes in the technology it was made mandatory for many of
the organizations to analyze their system that is going to be
developed. System analysis plays a key role in the informatics
systems of any business or organization. Though system analysis and
design is the important aspect of the information system (IS), IS
gives a little attention towards the research in SA&D approach.
The relative lack of research in System Analysis and Design gave
more astonishing and widely accepted believes. This states that the
oversight, errors, and many more difficulties in determining the
requirements for IS are the basic reason for the failure of its
projects (S. Alter & G. J. Browne, 2005). The importance for
SA&D in IS influence to identify and explain the different
issues involved in the research methodology which is considered to
be the most vital part in the research. This sort of identification
and explanation of the research methodology will motivate the other
researches and publication in SA&D domain. It has been observed
that the definition and description SA&D are very much
restrictive which does not give the total scope of SA&D
activities. It suggested that the information system analysis
should be done when the commercial software is attained and
configured, or IS procedures are modified without any alteration in
the software, or when there is a modification in the existing
software, and in many situations. Thus SA&D can also beResearch
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considered as the indentifying and analyzing requirement for the
served business system apart from the business processes or any
work systems or any sort of human activity. IS design process not
only involves the technical facets of developing the software
architecture and stipulations but also includes human involvement
to carry out dispensation activities that are included in the IS as
well as the work which is not computerized (S. Alter & G. J.
Browne, 2005). LITERATURE REVIEW: System analysis and design are
the fundamental activities carried out in a software development.
Conventionally, they are performed by several practitioners who
collect the specific requirements of systems which have to be given
to the group of development. System analysis is a segment of
development cycle for any system. System analysis encompasses the
process of examining the present and new systems, understanding and
analysis are the requirements of users. The system design occurs
after the examination and then analysis of the system. It entails
the planning of new systems i.e. how it must be completed. System
analysis and design is a vital and crucial segment of system life
cycle since it deals with the examining of a system to the analysis
of the system, structured design of the system, execution or
implementation of the system and finally safeguarding or
maintaining the system. Any mistakes, errors, unidentified or
unsolved problems during the analysis stage will lead to
complications which may result in the system failure. Information
systems and system analysis are considered as the general systems
theory emphasizing a close relation with all the segments of
systems. Moreover, the analysts focus on both the components
equally (Dennis, Wixom and Roth, 2006). System development life
cycle The information system (IS) can support system designing,
building the system, business needs and delivering systems to the
users, understanding of this process is known as SDLC (system
development life cycle).System life cycle is a general framework
which helps to track and understand the activities to enhance and
maintain the information systems. It also helps to establish the
systems project plan as it provides a list of process and other
sub-process requiredResearch Methods Page 4
to develop a system. SDLC is a combination of several
activities. It can be said that these several activities which are
put together are considered as the system development life cycle.
In the terminology, system analysis and design, the system
development life cycle is nothing but the software development life
cycle. System analyst in the SDLC is the main person who identifies
opportunities, analyzes the business situation for improvements.
System analyst job plays a major role, and it is the most
interesting, challenging, and exciting jobs around. The person
whoever is a system analyst should work with a variety of people
and analyze the business tactics and also learn how they accomplish
mission. Especially system analyst will work with team of
programmers, system analysts and other employees (Julia King,
1997). The importance of the system analyst is a major thing,
creating the wonderful systems is not the system analysts primary
object, creating the organization value is important, this is the
base for increasing the profits to the business. If the system
analyst is fail to understand the current business process and
situation of the market, then the business will starts back fall.
Information systems investment is like investment on a machine
tool. The aim is not to obtain the tool, it means there is no scope
to improve or modifying in our expectations once we invest on tool.
Enable the organization to improve for the better performance in
the work, and then the business gives more profits to the
investors. The development of an information system is similar to
building a house. First the building a house starts with an idea,
then this idea will change into visual that is a simple drawing
that is shown to the customer and modify until they agree. Blue
prints were designed based on the drawings to clearly represent the
appearance and complete information of the house. Finally build the
house based on blue prints. Different segments of software
development cycle System Planning: The planning phase is an
essential process in order to understand why the information
systems must be built and examining how the team of project would
build it. This phase includes two steps (Dennis, Wixom and Roth,
2006): Project Initiation: In the earlier stage of system life
cycle, it involves finding about the available system. Similarly if
an organization is considered then the business value of
theResearch Methods Page 5
system is identified i.e. how does it increase revenues or lower
the costs? Mainly the ideas come from the areas of information
system in the form of system request. The regions of information
system are accounting department, marketing department etc. In this
area of the problems or limitations of the existing organization or
system are determined and then the probable solutions are
recognized. Hence this leads to the feasibility analysis which
includes different aspects for the proposed organization like
technical feasibility, economic feasibility and organizational
feasibility. The system request and the feasibility evaluation are
given the approval committee of information systems, which makes a
decision whether the project can be undertaken or not. When the
project is approved it enters into the project management. During
the project management, the project manager generates a work plan,
gathers the projects and places the appropriate techniques to
assist the project team and direct the project with the help of
entire SDLC. Project plan is the deliverable for the project
management which describes about the development of the system to
the project team. System Analysis: The phase of analysis answers
the posed questions of whom to use the system, working of system
where and when the system will be used. Through this phase, the
investigation of the present system is done by the project team,
recognizes the opportunities to improve and enhances an idea for
the new system. This analysis phase has 3 stages: Analysis
strategy: It is developed to direct the efforts of the project
teams. Such strategy generally includes the analysis of current
system which is called as-is system and its existing problems. Also
many ways to design and develop anew system called as to-be system.
Further is gathering the requirements. This can be done through
questionnaires or interviews. The analysis of this data which is
conjunction with the input data from the project sponsor and also
other people hence this leads to the enhancement of the concept for
the new system. This idea of the system is made used as a
foundation to develop some set of analysis models which describes
about the operation of business if a new system were improved.
These set of
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models normally includes the models which represents the
information and processes required to support to the fundamental
business process. The above analysis, models and systems concepts
are gathered together into a document which is called as the system
proposal. This is presented to the sponsor of project and other
main decision makers like the members of the endorsement committee.
These decide whether the project can be moved forward. The initial
deliverable is the system proposal which describes the necessities
of the business i.e. for the new system. As it is the initial step
in the designing of the new system, experts argue that it is
appropriate use the terms analysis and initial design. Since many
of the organizations use the terms analysis in these phases
(Dennis, Wixom and Roth, 2006). System design: This phase decides
the operation of the system i.e. in terms of software, hardware and
the network infrastructure along with the forms, user interface and
reports that must be use; and also the files, databases, and
specific programs that are necessary. However, for the most part
strategic decisions are about the systems which are prepared in the
expansion of system concept at some point in analysis phase. The
following steps in the design phase explaining how the system will
be operated. Design strategy should be developed in the system.
Hence this makes clear that whether the system will be enhanced by
the organizations programmers or it will be offshore to other
organizations or whether the organization will adopt the accessible
software package. This results to the growth of the fundamental
architecture design for the new system which describes the usage of
software, hardware and the network infrastructure. In many cases,
system nay change or add the infrastructure that is previously
available in the organization. The specification for the users to
move through the system is interface design i.e. through the
navigation methods like on-screen buttons and the menus. The system
can also use the reports and forms. The file and database
specifications are improved. These specifications explain the type
of data that will be stored and the place it will be stored.
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The program design is developed by the analyst team defining the
programs that are needed to write and exact operation of each
program.
The above deliverables in the system specification is given to
the programming team in order to implement it. Finally the design
phase, project plan and the feasibility phase are revised and
reexamined and an additional decision is made by the approval
committee and project sponsor about the termination of the project
or continuation of the project (Dennis, Wixom and Roth, 2006).
Implementation: The implementation phase is the final phase in
SDLC, where the system is essentially built; in case of packaged
software design the system is purchased. Generally, this phase gets
more attention as for many of the systems it is the most expensive
and longest single part in the development process. The
implementation phase has the following steps: First is the system
construction. Here the system is constructed and tested to make
sure that it operates according to the design. As the price of bugs
may be expensive and testing is the critical step in the
implementation phase. Many organizations spend time and attention
on executing compared to writing the programs. Next is the
installation process where the old system is turned off and the new
system is turned on. This may contain a direct cutover approach, a
parallel conversion approach or a phased conversion strategy.
Development of training plan is the one among the significant
aspects of conversion in order to teach the users i.e. how to make
use of the new system and assist in managing the changes occurred
because of the new system. The team of analysts launches a support
plan for the new system. Usually, this plan contains formal or
informal review of post-implementation and also a systematic way
for making out the minor and major changes that are required for
the system. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: Research methodology is an
attempt to determine solutions to the logical and practical
problems through the scientific approach. This can be defined as
the systematic process of collection and analyzing the data in
order to maximize the understanding of the selected strategy.
ResearchResearch Methods Page 8
methodology is the process which can be classified in the many
categories. But the two important and diversified methods are
quantitative and qualitative research methodologies. Quantitative
research methodology comprises of the natural sciences like
resources, time, cost etc., are taken into consideration in this
approach. Some of the quantitative research methods are laboratory
experiments, survey methods, formal methods like econometrics and
mathematical modeling. Qualitative research methodology takes an
approach of social sciences that enables to study the cultural and
social phenomena. There are many approaches for this methodology to
carry out the research analysis. Some of them are case study
research, action research and ethnography which include
participation, observation, questionnaires, interviews, texts and
documents, researchers reactions and impressions. The main
motivation for qualitative research comes from the observation and
ability to talk, the only thing that differentiates humans from
others. Qualitative research methodology has been intended to guide
the researchers in understanding the people and cultural and social
perspectives in which they live. When the textual data are
enumerated, the motto of understating the process from the
participants point of view and a particular institutional and
communal context is lost (Straub, Gefen & Bourdreau, 2004).
ADOPTED RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: The methodology that I have adopted
in the research of Information system analysis and design is the
qualitative research method. The research methodology is the
process of inquest that starts from the base line of philosophical
assumptions and data collection to design research. In this
criterion I need to research on different assumptions and
strategies in the system analysis and design process. As
qualitative research methodology comprises of different research
methods I need to concentrate on any one of the research method
which will facilitate me to the roots and results of the System
analysis and Design. This qualitative research methodology will
help me to obtain the more realistic data or feels of the persons
or the world which cannot be obtained in the statistical and
numerical approach of the quantitative research method. This will
facilitate me to have a flexible ways for subsequentResearch
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analysis, data collection and elucidation of the collected data.
Qualitative research method will afford the holistic view of the
process by the investigation into the subject and gets an
opportunity to interact with various research themes on the same
process. Through this I can accumulate the primary data in a
non-structured and a flexible way which allows me to emerge to the
new interpretations and information of inter-cultural communication
ability. As the coin has two sides every aspect has the advantages
and disadvantages involved in it. The qualitative research
methodology may lead me to the different conclusion depending on
the individual characteristic of the researcher on the same
information. It may become a tedious work to differentiate the
qualitative and quantitative research information that has obtained
from the different sources of information collection. I need to
overcome all these strategies which are less effective in
comparison with quantitative approach and need to take out the
research methodology to obtain the best result in System Analysis
and Design area. RESEARCH STATAGIES IN ADOPETED METHODOLOGY: Here I
have adopted qualitative research methodology for the research in
the area of System Analysis & design. This methodology
comprises of different research techniques. They are Action
research Case study research Ground theory Ethnography
Action Research Action research is the process of aiming to
contribute to the realistic concerns in an instant tricky situation
and to the goals of social science with the joint collaboration of
the mutual acceptable ethical issues. Action research confines to
the collaborative facet and the possible ethical impasse which
arise from its use. It also concentrates on the aspect of improving
the knowledge of the social science community. This is where it
deviates from the applied social science, where only the social
scientific knowledge is applied but not added to the soul of the
knowledge.Research Methods Page 10
In some of the applied fields like education and organizational
development action research is considered to be the accepted valid
research methodology. However in Information systems, it has been
ignored for a long time because of some of the exceptions occur
during the methodology process. This is the process in which the
participants have to carry out the research carefully and
systematically by utilizing the strategies of research which
researcher has to carry out the work by his personnel participation
(Baskerville, R.L. and Wood-Harper, A.T., 1996). Case Study
Research Case study has numerous meanings and this can be used to
explain a research method or unit of analysis. Case study usage
concerns as a research method. In the information systems the most
familiar qualitative method is case study and the scope of case
study defined by multiple definitions as given below. If the
boundaries between context and phenomenon are not clear, then
investigation of contemporary phenomenon is done within the
real-life context. In business, Information systems have given
importance to the organizational issues compared to technical
issues. So that the case study research method is well suited to IS
research (Yin, R. K., 2002). Research design testing and research
propositions modifications are the initial purpose of case study.
Designing of case study is used to determine the dealings of IS
supply chain alertness and integration as numerous studies fall
down on sorting out potential mechanism this criteria may effects
IS supply chain alertness. Understanding the dynamic focusing and
strategy of a research presents within the single settings, so the
approach of the case study is appropriate. The research focuses in
the perspective of IS research and on the modern phenomena. Case
study has numerous perspectives which provide several data
collection methods and embedded in a precise context according to
these criteria in IS field the most frequent approach research is
the case study (Yi Wu, 2007). Grounded theory
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Grounded theory is the strategy of analyzing qualitative data
aiming at spawning the theory out of the research information by
achieving the similarities between them. Grounded theory is the one
which is derived from the methodically gathered and analyzed data
through research strategy. This theory data collection, analysis of
data and ultimate theory analysis appear to have the close
associations with each other. In Information systems and system
analysis research grounded theory will identify the controls of the
macro structural features such as behavior and interactions through
direct observation. This states that if macro phenomena come out
directly from the field data then only it has ability to validate
the IS researchers using the grounded theory. Grounded theory has
increasingly become the common research methodology in the field of
information systems because it is extremely helpful in the
development of a process oriented descriptions, context based and
explanation of the strategy (Michael E. Whitman & Amy B.
Woszczynski, 2004). Ethnography Ethnography is a strategy to study
of people in different ways in their native or natural environments
at shop, work, live and play. Ethnography is a set of balancing
techniques developed in regulation of anthropology. Well-trained
researcher expert requires for the ethnographic method to change
her or himself in diverse cultures, environments, and populations.
To establish this ethnography, understanding the people who are in
the social context and interacting with people through observation,
participation and values. Observational Research gives surprising
approaches into how the people use services and products, and the
way of interacting with spaces (work, retail and home) and what
innovations or improvements are needed (Ethnography, 2008).
ADOPETED RESEARCH STARTEGY: In the research methodology of Systems
Analysis and design in Information systems I have adopted the case
study as research strategy in qualitative research methodology. The
case study approach facilitates me to have a multi-faceted approach
in the research methodology. The caseResearch Methods Page 12
study research strategy can be assumed in positivist or
interpretive paradigms. Using the case study approach will help me
to have the deductive and inductive approach which involves the
theoretical replication of the information collected for research
strategy. This is the practical approach which is very much
suitable for the development, implementation and enduring usage of
the Information Systems. This enables me to study all the factors
in the organization with the use System analysis and design
strategy. These factors include internal relationships, technology,
developers, and group dynamic etc. Case study research will help me
out to deal with the complexity in the situation of single factor
isolation. This helps me out to stud over the System analysis and
design in theory building and testing. Case study research strategy
will provide the information which is close to the experience of
the employees in the application. This information can be
considered as the practical and realistic approach to the research
area. Case study research strategy even helps out to explore the
alternative methodologies in the development and implementation of
the System Analysis and Design in the organization. This even helps
out to evaluate the development strategies followed by the
organization on which the case study has been done. Therefore I
have chosen case study as research strategy on SA&D (Briony J.
Oates, 2006). ETHICAL ISSUES: Data on ethics are applied to the
issues starting from development and usage of information systems.
Computer crime and mistreatment such as the damage of databases by
using the computer misrepresentation or viruses of electronic
identity towards the financial gain are the violations of laws and
falls into this domain. The ethical issues are due to the immense
capabilities and pervasive role of system for gathering, storing
and executing the data, complexities in the information systems and
the intangible behavior of data. Following are some ethical issues
of them. Privacy: It is the critical issue elevated in the
information systems. It is the right of every one to retain data
about themselves without any disclosures and also to have
protection of their data to get accessed. If any data is invades
then it leads to embarrassment, perceive and diminishmentResearch
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i.e. loss of control of the individual lives. Data collection,
storage and distribution of records regarding the individuals are
computerized databases which are necessary for their business
indeed very essential for their further operations (Miriam A.
Drake, 2003). Accuracy: The concern is about the accuracy of the
data about individuals which is directly proportional to the
concern for privacy. The concept of accurate data is actually about
the quality of data where it is error-free, absolute and related to
the decisions based on it. Property: It is largely secured in the
ethical domain. Though, intangibility of data is the source of
dilemmas which takes away the clarity if laws, problems into the
ethical field. These issues are mainly related to intellectual
property. Since plummeting costs of hardware makes much of the
commodity, value of information systems dwells in their, software,
knowledge bases and databases. Intellectual property is all about
the copyrights, trade secrets and patents. Access: For the
information systems, it is considered as the hallmark, as it
enables the storage, process and conveying of data. Information
systems do not have barriers for opportunities, i.e. in purposeful
contexts it has the ability opportunity that does not have
accessibility before. For instance, electronic mails can be
successfully accessed by anybody i.e. any of them can write and
read thus it has become a road to traditional literacy (Allen Kent
and James G. Williams, 1993). Issues related to data collection,
access and storage: There are several moral issues that are needed
to be considered in accordance with collection, access and storage
of information in the electronic form. For example, one must seek
permission to inform the available records also to know the
accuracy and accessibility of the data. Piracy: Copying the
software is an illegal actions and it assumed that 50% of the
programs on the personal computers are pirated copies. There is a
necessity for protecting these programs, as the programmers spends
hours together in designing, coding and testing. Sometimes, piracy
must be permitted because it leads more computer literate populace.
But, in case of corporate companies, it has particularly a very
serious problem which can significantly damage the marginal
profits. Viruses: It is obvious that writing and spreading the
programs of viruses are unethical acts which results in serious
consequences and may cause crashes in systems and organizations to
stop their
Research Methods
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operations for certain period. The consequences are very serious
that the viruses disrupt the functioning of an organization.
RESEARCH PLAN: Research plan explore the schedule of the research
process that it to be carried out. Research process Duration
Analysis of SA&D in Information Systems. October 1nd & 2nd
week Data regarding the System Analysis and October 3rd & 4th
week Design Data collection according to research November 1st
& 2nd week
methodology. Interpretation of the research strategies and
November 3rd & 4th week methods. Review of the adopted research
strategy. December 1st week Relating the data collected to the
adopted December 2nd week research strategy. Case study on the
organization that have December 3rd week adopted the System
Analysis and Design in their Information systems. Research on the
SA&D and documenting the December 4th week. observations
Finally the research proposal plan goes as above mentioned time
structures to get good insights to fulfill the aim of opted
research proposal. I feel every part of my mentioned time frames
gives a clear understanding of crucial part of my research
proposal. I hope this proposal plan makes me stronger with the
knowledge of systems analysis and design in the information systems
development to reach my desired career goal.
REFERENCES:
Research Methods
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Books, Journals, Articles: Allen Kent and James G. Williams
(1993), Encyclopedia of Computer Science and Technology, Published
by CRC Press, pp. 408. Briony J. Oates (2006), Researching
Information systems and Computing, published by SAGE, pp. 341.
Dennis, Wixom and Roth (2006), System Analysis & Design,
Published by Wiley-India, pp. 576. Michael E. Whitman & Amy B.
Woszczynski (2004), The handbook of information systems research,
published by Idea Group Inc, pp. 349. Miriam A. Drake (2003),
Encyclopedia of library and information science, Published by CRC
Press, pp. 1590. Yin, R.K (2002), Case Study Research, Design and
Methods, 3rd ed. Newbury Park, Sage Publications. Baskerville, R.L.
and Wood-Harper, A.T. (1996), "A Critical Perspective on Action
Research as a Method for Information Systems Research," Journal of
Information Technology (11), pp. 235246. S. Alter & G. J.
Browne (2005), A Broad View of Systems Analysis and Design,
Communications of the Association for Information Systems, Volume
15, pp. 981-999. Websites: Ethnography (2008), Ethnographic
insight, [Internet] available at URL: , [accessed on 11th December,
2009]. Julia King (1997), IS Reins in Runaway Projects, Computer
world,[Internet] available at URL: <
http://media.wiley.com/product_data/excerpt/87/04700747/0470074787.pdf>,
[accessed on 10th December, 2009]. Straub, Gefen & Bourdreau
(2004), "The ISWorld Quantitative, Positivist Research Methods,
[Internet] available at URL <
http://dstraub.cis.gsu.edu:88/quant/>, [accessed on 11th
December, 2009].Research Methods Page 16
Yi Wu (2007), Implications of Case Study Research in Information
Systems in Supply Chain Management, [internet] available at URL: ,
[accessed on 11th December, 2009].
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