The Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC)

The The Systems Development Life Systems Development Life

CycleCycle(SDLC)(SDLC)

What do consultants do?

Bob Slydell Bob Porter

Tom

BOB SLYDELLBOB SLYDELLSo what you do is you take the specifications So what you do is you take the specifications

from the customers and you bring them from the customers and you bring them down to the software engineers?down to the software engineers?

TOMTOMThat, that's right.That, that's right.

BOB PORTERBOB PORTERWell, then I gotta ask, then why can't the Well, then I gotta ask, then why can't the

customers just take the specifications customers just take the specifications directly to the software people, huh?directly to the software people, huh?

TOMTOM

Well, uh, uh, uh, because, uh, engineers are Well, uh, uh, uh, because, uh, engineers are not good at dealing with customers.not good at dealing with customers.

BOB SLYDELLBOB SLYDELL

You physically take the specs from the You physically take the specs from the customer?customer?

TOMTOM

Well, no, my, my secretary does that, or, or Well, no, my, my secretary does that, or, or the fax.the fax.

BOB SLYDELLBOB SLYDELL

Ah.Ah.

BOB PORTERBOB PORTER

Then you must physically bring them Then you must physically bring them to the software people.to the software people.

TOMTOM

Well...no. Yeah, I mean, sometimes.Well...no. Yeah, I mean, sometimes.

BOB SLYDELLBOB SLYDELLWell, what would you say… you do Well, what would you say… you do

here?here?

TOMTOMWell, look, I already told you. I deal with Well, look, I already told you. I deal with

the customers so the engineers don't the customers so the engineers don't have to!! I have people skills!! I am have to!! I have people skills!! I am good at dealing with people!!! Can't good at dealing with people!!! Can't you understand that?!? WHAT THE you understand that?!? WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH YOU HECK IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?!!!!!!!PEOPLE?!!!!!!!

What do consultants do?

Consultants analyze a situation or a system.

They then offer solutions to IMPROVE the system or situation or CREATE a better one.

What is a life cycle?What is a life cycle?

Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC):Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC):

A way of creating a program or IT system.A way of creating a program or IT system.

It is the process that professionals use.It is the process that professionals use.

All of you use the SDLC whenever you create a All of you use the SDLC whenever you create a program, but you probably aren’t aware that program, but you probably aren’t aware that you are doing it.you are doing it.

There are 4 steps to the SDLC.There are 4 steps to the SDLC.

4 Steps To SDLC:4 Steps To SDLC:

1. Planning1. Planning

2. Analysis2. Analysis

3. Design3. Design

4. Implementation4. Implementation

Each step has a DELIVERABLE.Each step has a DELIVERABLE. Deliverable: A formal summary for the client.Deliverable: A formal summary for the client.

1. Planning Phase:1. Planning Phase:

Someone at a company says: “A program needs Someone at a company says: “A program needs to be built that will do my work for me!”to be built that will do my work for me!”

The company hires a team of people (usually The company hires a team of people (usually consultants) that come in and they do the consultants) that come in and they do the following:following:

Determine if the program needs to be built.Determine if the program needs to be built. Figure out if it is possible to build the program.Figure out if it is possible to build the program. Approximate the time needed to build the program.Approximate the time needed to build the program. Staff the project.Staff the project. Create a Create a project plan. project plan. This is the deliverable.This is the deliverable.

2. Analysis Phase:2. Analysis Phase:

Now it’s time to get to work.Now it’s time to get to work.

Gather information:Gather information: What is the program that’s in place? (And how bad is it?)What is the program that’s in place? (And how bad is it?) Can the old program be improved upon or should we start Can the old program be improved upon or should we start

from scratch?from scratch? Who will be using the new system?Who will be using the new system? What does it need to do?What does it need to do? When will it be used? How often?When will it be used? How often?

A A System ProposalSystem Proposal is created that states what the new is created that states what the new program will do. This is the deliverable.program will do. This is the deliverable.

3. Design Phase:3. Design Phase:

Figure out how the program will work.Figure out how the program will work.

Determine the interface.Determine the interface.

Create the blueprint for the program.Create the blueprint for the program.

Determine which person will develop which parts of the Determine which person will develop which parts of the program. This is where methods come in handy because we program. This is where methods come in handy because we can split up work.can split up work.

Deliverable: Deliverable: System SpecificationSystem Specification – Tells the client what the program will look – Tells the client what the program will look

like, what it needs, what it will do.like, what it needs, what it will do.

4. Implementation Phase:4. Implementation Phase:

Build the program!Build the program!

Test it!Test it!

Install it!Install it!

Train the users.Train the users.

Deliverable: Deliverable: The program or system!The program or system!

Issues:Issues: Will everyone be allowed to use the Will everyone be allowed to use the

system at first?system at first?

Software glitches (bugs)Software glitches (bugs)

System support.System support.