Info1409 2006/7 DMU1 Components of a system Systems Analysis & Design Academic Year 2008/9 Lecture 1.

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Components of a system

Systems Analysis & DesignAcademic Year 2008/9

Lecture 1Lecture 1

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Lecture Objectives

This lecture is to introduce you to:

The structure and program of the module

The staff involved with the teaching and learning process

Assessment methods and weightings The recommended text General systems theory – (system

components)

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By the end of this lecture

Have been introduced to the schedule we will be following this year

Have been introduced to the components of a system

Have been informed about the recommended course text and other resources to help your study.

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Lecturing team

Members of staff involved in this module will be listed in the

following places:

Blackboard (on line learning resource) Your timetable In your tutorial booklet and student handbook

This week you will learn who your lecturers are, and how to contact them in your personal tutor session.

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Delivery and Assessment There will be 1 (1 hour) Lecture per week. There will be 2 (1 hour) Tutorials in Term

1 and 4 weeks of 1 tutorial and 1 lab in Term 2

Coursework: There will be 3 Assignments (70% of

module marks come from your Coursework) There will be a 2 hour examination for

the remaining 30% of module marks.

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Assessment weightings

The module is assessed in the following way:

70% Coursework30% Examination

The reason for this is that you will have a variety of activities during the year so all 3 of your coursework assignments will be new and different.

Both Coursework and Examination will carry marks from 100% You will get a grade for each and an

Overall grade.

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Learning strategies and resources

Your Lectures will contain the module content in a condensed form

Your tutorials (and lab sessions) are designed to consolidate your learning

Activities and assignments will help to develop specialist skills and study skills

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To help you :Handouts will be provided. You will also have on-line facilities –

(the University’s ‘Blackboard’ facility).

Library facilities are available You have a recommended text

book

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Course Team

The course team will be working together to support your studies.

We would like to welcome you, and hope you will enjoy the module and (of course) succeed.

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Info 1409 Systems Analysis & Design

Now we have introduced you to the structure of this module we will begin to introduce you to the module content

We begin with general systems theory(i.e. What is a system?)

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What is a system?

“An information system is a collection of interrelated components that collect, process, store and provide as output the information needed to complete a business task.”

(Satzinger, 2004).

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Information Systems

Information systems operate in terms of:

Goals ( the desired long/medium term outcomes)

Elements – (the required hardware & software)

Inputs – (the type and quantity of data)

Outputs – (the result of the processing operations)

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Classification of systems

Natural

Designed physical

Designed abstract

Human activity

E=mc2

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System Components The following slide shows the

components that every system must have in order to function as a system.

All systems have ‘input/output/process’ in some form.

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Model of the components of a system

SystemInputs Outputs

Environment

Environment

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Points to note:Control in systems

Systems function within boundaries

Systems need controls

Control needs control flows and ways to monitor the control flows (feedback and feed-forward flows)

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Control in systems

Inputs Outputs

Process

Control

SystemBoundary

Environment

Feed-forward

Feed-back

Control flows

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Systems and Sub systems

Systems can also be a collection of ‘sub-systems’ working together to achieve the desired objective

The more sub systems within the general boundary, the more complex the system becomes.

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Systems and sub-systems

sub-system

sub-systemsub-system

sub-systemsub-system

System

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Information systems involve all of the following

Hardware Software Data Processes People

The following slide illustrates this relationship..

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Components of an Information system

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Information system components

A system is a set of components that produce specific results.

For example:“Specialist systems can route Internet

connections, manufacture microchips and control complex events like the systems used to send a space vehicle to Mars”

(Shelley Cashman – Chapter 1)

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Imagine the systems used to send a space vehicle to explore the planetMars and send back images to Earth!

Fig 1.5 taken from Systems Analysis & Design Shelley Cashman Series Ch. 1 page 5

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Hardware

Hardware consists of everything in the physical layer of the information system

Hardware can include: Servers Workstations Networks Personal computers Scanners……………etc

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Tutorial time

Instructions: You will be allocated as a member of

either group A or group B. Your first task is to write down 5 words

or phrases from the previous slides. (Try to use words or phrases you are not

familiar with)

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Tutorial time

Instructions:Now turn to student B (or A) as the case

may be.Decide between you on the definitions of (1) Your words and phrases(2) Their words and phrasesOnly take 5 mins.

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Tutorial feedback

You should now have two lists of words or phrases, with definitions.

You should also have the benefit of the wisdom of another student.

Now is the time for any questions, before moving on…

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Hardware developments

Hardware purchasers today face a wide array of technology choices and decisions

‘Moore’s Law’ Almost 40 years ago Moore

predicted that computer processing power would double every 18 to 24 months.

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Processors

Modern Information Technology systems require power and speed

Multiple servers are often used to provide these

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Motorola is an example of a company that produces micro chips(Product orientated Companies provide component parts)

Hardware production has created new types of company

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Software

“Software refers to the programs that control the hardware and produce the desired information or results”

(Chap 1 page 6 – Shelley Cashman & Rosenblat –

Recommended course text ‘Systems Analysis & Design 6th Ed)

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System Software

manages the hardware components

can include a single workstation or global network

supplied by the hardware manufacturer or purchased by the vendor

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Application software

Programs that support day to day business functions and provide users with the information they require

Include: Order processing systems, payroll systems and company communications.

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Data

Data is the raw material that an information system transforms into useful information.

An information system can store data in various locations (tables)

By linking the tables the system can extract specific information.

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Processes

Processes describe the tasks and business functions that users, IT managers and IT staff members perform to achieve specific results

Processes are the building blocks of an Information system because they represent day to day business operations

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People

The primary purpose of an Information system is to provide valuable information to Users

Sometimes called End Users People who interact with the

Information System Users depend on skilled professionals

(systems analysts, programmers, network administrators etc)

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To Summarise

This lecture has introduced you to the structure of Info 1409 module

It has also introduced you to some basic General systems theory

It has given a brief overview of the components of Information systems

It has introduced you to extracts from the recommended text

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Recommended Reading

The set text for this module is

Systems Analysis & DesignShelley Cashman & Rosenblatt (6th Ed)Thomson Course Technology (2006)ISBN 0-619-25510-2

(Reading this week:Ch1 pages 5-8 – listed in your lecture booklet program)