1.6 SDLC
SDLC stands
for System Development Life Cycle. It is a step-by-step process. It is
an organized way of developing successful systems. It improves the quality of a
system. SDLC consists of different phases. Each phase deals with a key issue
and produces result called deliverables. The result of one phase becomes
the input for the next phase.
1.7
Phase 1 –
Preliminary Investigation
Preliminary investigation is the first phase. In
this phase, the system is investigated. The objective of this phase is to
conduct an initial analysis and findings of the system.
1.7.1
System
Identification
This phase is used
to recognize the need for a new system. The system is identified at this stage.
It is very important step. Everything performed in future depends on this
definition and identification.
1.7.2
System Scope
The scope of the system is also
recognized at this stage. A system can be reduced in its scope due to
financial, political or time problems.
1.7.3
Alternate Solutions
This phase is also used to find out
alternate solutions for developing the system. The best available solution must
be used. The best way to do this is to interview the concerned people in the
organization. It may include the clients, customer, supplier and consultants
etc. The competitors can also be an important source to find the best way to
develop new system.
1.7.4
Feasibility Study
A feasibility study is conducted
to find out whether the proposed system is possible, affordable and acceptable
for organization. The financial, political, social and time constraints must be
considered during this study.
It is important to be reasonably sure of
the success of proposed system before initiating work on it. A feasibility
study is a study to find out whether the proposed system is:
·
Possible—to build it with the given technology and resources
·
Affordable—given the time and cost constraints of the organization
·
Acceptable—for use by the eventual users of the system.
·
1.7.5
Purpose of Feasibility Study
A feasibility study is initiated
by an organization when a change is required in the current system. A
feasibility study is needed to ascertain the advantages and disadvantages of
the new system. Following are the important purposes of feasibility study:
·
Need
Analysis—Determine the need for change within
an organization
·
Cost
Benefit Analysis—Study the effect of
change on the economics of organization
·
Technical
Feasibility—Evaluate various technologies that can be
used to implements the suggested change given the cost and resource constraints
of an organization
·
Legal
Feasibility—Evaluate the possible legal procedures to
implement the change
·
Evaluating
Alternatives—Evaluate various alternatives to resolve
the problems of an organization and recommend the best one
A feasibility study is not justified for projects where benefits
out-weight costs, technical risks are not high and there are no alternatives.
For such projects, conducting a feasibility study will add to unnecessary
expenditure of time and money for the study itself.
1.7.6
Time of Feasibility
Study
A feasibility Study is conducted to
understand the issues that face a project before the project is initiated.
Ideally, it should be initiated at the beginning of a project. It will be the
least inexpensive and most useful to do so.
If feasibility study is conducted during
analysis phase or later, a considerable time and money would have been spent
already on project. The findings of feasibility study may be much difficult to
implement. The feasibility can be re-evaluated at various stages of a project.
1.7.7
Different Aspects
of Feasibility
Feasibility
and risk analysis are related in many ways. If project risk is great, the
feasibility of producing quality software is reduced.
Different
aspects related to feasibility study are as follows:
1.
Need Analysis
A Need
Analysis is conducted with the following objectives in mind:
·
Seeking background
information on the organization: The person conducting the feasibility
study should gather information on the industry to which the organization feasibility
study should gather information on the industry to which the organization
belongs. He should also try and find out similar cases of automation. He should
know the weakness of other such systems so that the same may not be repeated.
·
Understanding current
issues to be tackled: It involves a preliminary study to find out problem
areas and determine the scope of the system.
·
Understanding the user
profile: Feasibility study determine new system’s impacts on different
users of both high and lower levels in organization chart. Normally, the users
at the lower level are more aware of true problems as they re involved in day
to day running of a system. It is important to understand their aspirations and
the things that please or displease them.
2.
Economic Feasibility
Economic
Feasibility determines the costs of developing and implementing a new
system as well as the benefits of the new system. The study of costs and
benefits is also known as Cost Benefit analysis.
A system is said
to be economically feasible if benefits are more than costs. It includes
tangible and intangible benefits. Tangible benefit is the benefit that can be
measured in money value. It results increased revenue and decreased cost.
Intangible benefit is difficult to quantify but its effect is realized as
follows:
·
Better market position in
comparison to the competition
·
Improved service to
customers due to correct information on time
·
Improved service to
customers results in better good will resulting in more business
The costs associated with most systems fall under the
following broad categories:
·
Procurement Costs: This
type of cost deals with the purchase and installation of equipment, cost of
setting up site for installing the equipment, cost of setting up site for
installing the equipment, cost of capital that will be spent, cost of staff
dealing with the procurement activities.
·
Start-up Costs: It
includes the cost of hiring and setting up manpower, cost of setting up
communication systems (telephone lines etc.), operating system software etc.
·
Project Costs: These
are costs that re spent when the project is underway. Once the project is
complete and the system up and running none of these costs is relevant.
·
Ongoing / Recurring
costs: It includes rental of the site, cost of the personnel associated
with running of system, cost of depreciation on hardware, cost of maintenance
of hardware, cost of consumables likes floppies and stationary etc.
3.
Technical Feasibility
Technical feasibility
helps in understanding the level and kind of technology needed for a system. It
includes performance issues and constraints that may affect the ability to
achieve an acceptable system. Technical feasibility entails an understanding of
the following:
·
Different technologies
involved in the proposed system such s hardware platform and software
environment
·
Existing technology levels
within the organization
·
The level of expertise
required to use the suggested technology. It may determine the need for user
training and therefore affect the costs of the system.
4.
Legal Feasibility
Legal
feasibility determines the issues like copyright violations for the proposed
systems for the open market. It includes frame sing of the contract for large
systems and violation of terms etc. There are two aspects to remember about
legal feasibility:
·
It is not required for all
systems. When required, it is usually to frame a contract of service between
two parties i.e. the consultants hired to develop the system and the
organization for which the system is to be developed.
·
It requires legal experts.
An analyst cannot conduct this study.
5.
Evaluation of Alternatives
It includes an
evaluation of alternative approaches to the development of a system. The option
with the lowest cost and maximum returns is considered the most feasible
option.
However a number
of qualitative and intangible issues also greatly influence this decision.
Outcome of Feasibility Study
The outcome of
this activity is a Feasibility Report. It summarizes the findings of the
feasibility study and presents various implementation options. Each option is
presented along with its costs and benefits and also the constraints of
implementing the option.
Feasibility
report is an important input to the management to initiate or stop the project.
1.7.4 Preliminary Plan
The final step
of first phase is to submit all findings in written form for approval. It is
also known as feasibility report. It is normally submitted to the top managers
of the organization. They take decision about the system by studying this
report. They may accept the report, suggest to modify it or may completely
reject it.
Preparing the Project Proposal
Project
proposal is the document that is prepared from the feasibility report. It
is a proposal from the consulting team that outlines the characteristics of a
system and gives the initial calendar schedule. The objectives of preparing a
project proposal are as follows:
·
Indication of initial
calendar schedules for the project
·
Description of application
areas for dealing with identified problems
·
Outlining hardware,
software, manpower costs
·
Identification of training
needs
·
Calculation of total costs
of the project
·
Enumeration of the expected
benefits
The management decides whether or not to accept the
proposal based on the above facts. If they decide to accept it, the next phase
of requirement analysis is initiated.
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ReplyDeleteWhat is System Development Life Cycle
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