iSYS 380: Systems Analysis and Design
(Note: This course was COMS 380: Systems Analysis and Design before the 2007-8 catalog.)
Contents
This course introduces analysis and design of software, using both structured and object-oriented approaches. Students use upper and lower CASE tools in the analysis, design and implementation of a team-based project. Cross-listed with IT as IT 380.
This course (iSYS 380) is a prerequisite for the following iSYS course(s):
This course is normally scheduled every fall and spring semester.
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under construction...)
The following content areas will be covered.
- Software Life Cycles (about 5 hours)
- Design, Test, Debug (about 5 hours)
- Software Planning (about 2 hours)
- Analysis and Design Tasks (about 7 hours)
- Requirements and Specifications (about 7 hours)
- Requirements and Prototyping (about 2 hours)
- Systems Specification (about 5 hours)
- Programming Environments (about 7 hours)
- Functional Specifications (about 5 hours)
- Object-Oriented Concepts (about 7 hours)
- Top Down Implementation (about 7 hours)
Additional topics may also be covered based on time and student interest.
By the end of this course, you should be able to
- explain how formal software development techniques can contribute to the success of software and system development efforts
- explain how to ensure acceptance and incorporate standards compatible with successful life cycles
- explain IS life cycle phases and concepts and alternatives
- explain life cycle concepts used to engage in and complete a project of considerable size and scope, involving teams
- classify a given test as black-box or white-box
- distinguish between the terms test and debug
- explain how GUI testing tools can test user interfaces
- explain how to use "print" statements to reveal a bug
- explain the process of designing a computer-based solution to a problem, and how developing a computer-based solution differs from development of a manual solution
- explain the relationship between design, implementation, and testing
- explain when it is appropriate to use a debugger
- explain why a bug can appear only sporatically
- give examples of appropriate tests for validating a method with several parameters and one return value
- define the relationship of IS planning to organizational planning
- list key steps in planning a software project
- demonstrate ability to draw and read a UML class-diagram with attributes and operations
- demonstrate ability to undertake a moderately complex systems development project using a CASE tool
- utilize a CASE tool to generate documentation
- utilize simple deployment and component diagrams to describe a proposed architecture
- classify gathered requirements and produce written specifications based on those requirements
- discover requirements from existing reports and forms
- discover requirements from existing software applications
- utilize questions to elicit systematically data requirements from individuals and groups
- explain the meaning and purpose of prototyping
- explain why, in most cases, a prototype should not be extended to become the final product
- explain the concepts of implementing IS coupled to re-development and continuous improvement
- utilize programming environments available for business application development
- explain the relationship between functional specifications, detailed information system plan, and information system application controls
- utilize classes which involve elements of the "hierarchy of data" (bit, byte, fields, records, files, database) as a basis for the solutions to problems
- write and implement a class containing a constructor and other several methods, then use that class from another class
- implement programs in a top-down manner
Final textbook choice is determined by the instructor, who may choose a textbook similar to one the following. This list can give you an idea of the course topics, coverage, and depth.
- Marakas, Systems Analysis & Design: An Active Approach, McGraw-Hill, 2006(ISBN: 0072976071)
- Satzinger, Jackson, Burd, Systems Analysis & Design in a Changing World (4th), Course Technology, 2006(ISBN: 1-4188-3612-5 )
- Shelly, Rosenblatt, Cashman, Systems Analysis and Design (6th), Course Technology, 2005(ISBN: 0-619-25510-2)
- Valacich, George, Hoffer, Essentials of Systems Analysis and Design (3rd), Prentice-Hall, 2004(ISBN: 0131016059)
- Whitten, Bentley, Systems Analysis and Design Methods (7th), McGraw-Hill, 2007(ISBN: 0073052337)
Additional readings may be assigned by the instructor.
