Chapter 3 - Determining Feasibility and Managing Analysis and Design Activities

1. Project Fundamentals
2. Project Initiation
3. Problems within the Organization

   To Identify Problems	Look for These Specific Signs:
   Check output against performance criteria	Too many errors Work completed slowly Work done incorrectly Work done incompletely Work not done at all
   Observe behaviour of employees	High absenteeism High job dissatisfaction High job turnover
   Listen to external feedback from: Vendors Customers Suppliers	Complaints Suggestions for improvements Loss of sales Lower sales

4. Opportunities for Improvement
   1. Speeding up a process.
   2. Streamlining a process through the elimination of unnecessary or duplicated steps.
   3. Combining processes.
   4. Reducing errors in input through changes of forms and display screens.
   5. Reducing redundant output.
   6. Improving integration of systems and subsystems.
   7. Improving worker satisfaction with the system.
   8. Improving ease of customer, supplier, and vendor interaction with the system.
5. Selection of Projects

   Criteria for Selection of Systems Projects

   Backing from Management Appropriate timing of project commitment Possibility of improving attainment of organizational goals Practical in terms of resources for systems analyst and organization Project is worthwhile compared to other ways organization could invest resources

6. Determining Feasibility

   FEASIBILITY Means That the Proposed Project:

   Helps the organization attain overall objectives Is possible to accomplish with present organizational resources in the following three areas: Technical Feasibility Add on to present system Technology available to meet users' needs Economic Feasibility Systems analysts' time Cost of systems study Cost of employees' time for study Estimated cost of hardware Cost of packaged software/software development Operationsal Feasibility Whether the system will operate when installed Whether the system will be used

   • Defining Objectives
     1. Reducing errors and improving the accuracy of data input.
     2. Reducing the cost of the system output by streamlining and eliminating duplicate or unnecessary reports.
     3. Integrating business subsystems.
     4. Upgrading customer services to gain a competitive edge.
     5. Speeding up input.
     6. Shortening data-processing time.
     7. Automating manual procedures to improve them in some way (reduce errors, increase speed or accuracy, cut down on employee time required, etc.).
   • Determining Resources
     • Technical Feasibility
     • Economic Feasibility
     • Operational Feasibility
   • Judging Feasibility
7. Activity Planning and Control
   • Estimating Time Required

     Beginning to plan a project by breaking it into three major activities

     Analysis	Data Gathering Data Flow and Decision Analysis Proposal Preparation
     Design	Data Entry Design Input Design Output Design Data Organization
     Implementation	Implementation Evaluation

     Refining the planning and scheduling ofo analysis activities by adding detailed tasks and establishing the time required to complete these tasks.

     	Detailed Activity	Weeks Required
     Data Gathering	Conduct Interviews Administer Questionnaires Read Company Reports Introduce Prototype Observe Reaction to Prototype	3 4 4 5 3
     Data Flow and Decision Analysis	Analyze Data Flow	8
     Proposal Preparation	Perform Cost/Benefit Analysis Prepare Proposal Present Proposal	3 2 2

   • Using Gantt Charts for Project Scheduling
   • Using PERT (Program Evalutation and Review Techniques) Charts [see Fig. 3.9]
8. Computer-based Project Scheduling [Microsoft Project]
9. Managing Analysis and Design Activities
   • Communication Strategies for Managing Teams
   • Setting Project Productivity Goals
   • Motivating Project Team Members
   • Avoiding Project Failures

Transparencies

Exercises: (due - noon Sept. 8, 1998)
e-mail to summers_wayne@ColumbusState.edu your answers to the following problems: pg.72-3: 1, 4, 5

turn in on Sept. 8th a solution to Group Project #1 (this may be completed in a small group of 3 to 4 students)
Explore the MRE HyperCase company and e-mail the answers to the questions on page 72[This can be done in a group of 2-3]