Systems analysis
J Pereira
6 points * 3 hours per week * First/Second semester * Caulfield/Clayton * Prerequisites: SYS1001 * Prohibitions: BUS2071, CFR1123, CFR1252, CFR1306, CSC3151, SYS2071, SYS2151, SYS2901
This subject provides students with an understanding of the process of systems analysis and the context in which it fits into systems development. Students are encouraged to develop their analytical and problem-solving skills to determine new information systems requirements. Different perspectives for looking at systems are introduced. Students are taught techniques of analysis that enable analysts to better understand and design information systems. Systems analysis: the nature of analysis; the role of systems analysis within the systems development life cycle; organisational and human aspects; the use of abstraction and modelling within systems analysis; data, process and behaviour perspectives. A methodology for systems analysis: existing and proposed models. Techniques for systems analysis. Data perspective: data structures; entity relationship model; attribute collection and normalisation; data structure diagrams. Process perspective: activity decomposition; data flow diagrams; minispecs process descriptions. Behaviour perspective: events; entity life-cycle models. Location perspective: network modelling. Integration of the models and interface to design.
Assessment
Examination (3 hours): 50% * Practical work: 50%
Prescribed texts
Shanks G and others Subject notes for systems analysis rev. edn, Dept Information Systems, Monash U, 1993
Whitten J and others Systems analysis and design methods 3rd edn, Irwin, 1994