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Student Activity 1

Answer the following questions:

  1. List the 5 stages in the System Development Cycle
    1. UMDIT (IPT)
    2. Understanding the Problem
    3. Making Decisons
    4. Designing Solutions
    5. Implementation
    6. Testing, Evaluating and Maintaing

  2. How is the exact nature of a problem determined?
    1. Data Collection - Gather information about the problem
      1. Systems Analyst will collect data to determine the nature of the problem
        1. User Interviews (Management & Participants) - ask them what the problem is
        2. Survey Users (incl Participants) - try to use closed questions 
        3. Task Analysis Techniques - observing and questioning participants whilst working.

  3. What is a preliminary investigation?
    1. A preliminary investigation determines whether a quick fix of the existing system will solve the problem or a new system is necessary. 
      1. The fundamental operations and problems of the existing system must be understood.
      2. Each of the information processes are examined and any deficiencies in the existing system are recorded. 
      3. The preliminary investigation takes into account the needs and concerns of all the participants.
      4. Participants play an important part in developing a workable system. 
      5. These views are gathered using different data collection methods.

  4. List three types of questions in an interview
    1. Closed Questions: What specific information do you need? eg. "From this list which....?"
    2. Open Questions: What philosophical issues underlie your research? What two or three major questions do you need to ask to open up your interviewee to really communicate? e.g. "What do you think....?"
    3. Probing Questions.  e.g. "Why do you....?"

  5. Outline the disadvantages of surveys as a method of data collection
    1.  Mailed questionnaires have a low response rates and must be followed up
    2. The wordings of questions have to be carefully chosen.
    3. Probing questions cannot be asked
    4. Time consuming to produce

  6. What types of statistics are obtained from measurements?
    1. Descriptive Statistics - Understanding the nature of data
    2. Inferential statistics - making inferences from sample to large population

  7. Describe a requirement report
    1. The requirement report is a statement about the needs of a new system. 
      1. It outlines the aims and objectives (purpose) of the new system and how it will help the organisation. 
        1. Based on data collected from the participants. 
        2. It must match the goals of the organisation to ensure that management are satisfied with the solution. 
      2. Provides an overview of the new system 
        1. in terms of the data/information to be used, 
        2. the information processes and 
        3. the information technology required. 
      3. The requirement report is used to develop potential solutions to the problem.

  8. What is a project plan?
    1. organises the project by specifying who, what, how and when

  9. Why are Gantt Charts a popular management tool?
    1. It provides a quick method of determining if the project is on schedule. 
    2. Gantt charts are used in meetings to review progress and identify problems. 
    3. A Gantt chart is a bar chart with each bar representing a task. The vertical axis lists the tasks and the horizontal axis shows the time frame
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