
The course is designed to equip students with a comprehensive understanding of the concepts and techniques involved in the development of information systems. The curriculum covers a range of topics, including advanced coverage of data flow diagrams, data dictionaries, and process specifications. Through hands-on learning opportunities, students will gain practical experience in applying the skills and knowledge acquired to real-world business problems, helping them to develop a deeper understanding of the systems development process.
Explore system fundamentals—inputs, processes, outputs, feedback, and interdependence—along with theories, models, and methodologies for identifying requirements and implementing effective system design.
System analysis studies complex systems to understand structure, behavior, and properties, using modeling, simulation, and data analysis to improve efficiency, decision making, and communication.
Gather requirements and analyze data to inform systems design and architecture. Lead project management, testing, quality assurance, training, maintenance, cost-benefit analysis, stakeholder management, research, and security.
Identify the skills, knowledge, and training for a systems analyst, including technical, analytical, communication, organizational, and business skills, plus degree, experience, on-the-job training, and ongoing professional development.
Prototyping tools help systems analysts build working models to test functionality and usability before actual development starts, using wireframes, HTML/CSS frameworks, and interactive and high-fidelity prototypes.
Explore process modeling tools used by systems analysts, including flowcharts, data flow diagrams, UML diagrams (class, activity, state), BPMN, workflow and swimlane diagrams to map roles and data flows.
Diagramming tools help systems analysts visualize and communicate complex systems, processes, and relationships using flowcharts, data flow diagrams, entity relationship diagrams, network diagrams, Unified Modeling Language, and state transition diagrams.
Explore the systems development life cycle as a framework for building, testing, deploying, and maintaining information systems through iterative phases like gathering and analysis, design, implementation, testing, deployment, and maintenance.
Explore the design phase of the systems development life cycle, detailing architecture, data design, interface design, and processes to produce a thorough design document and design review for implementation.
Create a working model of the software to test design and functionality, gather stakeholder feedback, and iterate from paper-based to fully functional prototypes depending on project goals.
Systems Analysis and Design is a process of defining the requirements for a system, designing the solution to meet these requirements, and testing the solution to ensure it works as intended. The goal of this process is to create an efficient and effective information system that solves a business problem or takes advantage of an opportunity.
The systems analysis and design process typically includes several phases, including: requirements gathering and analysis, design, implementation, and maintenance. During the requirements gathering and analysis phase, stakeholders are identified and their needs are documented. This information is then used to develop a requirements document that outlines what the system must do.
The design phase involves creating a detailed solution that meets the requirements defined in the previous phase. This phase typically involves creating diagrams, such as flow charts and data flow diagrams, to help visualize the solution. The implementation phase involves actually building the system, and testing it to ensure it meets the requirements defined in the analysis phase.
Finally, the maintenance phase involves ongoing support and improvement of the system. This may include fixing bugs, making improvements based on user feedback, and making changes to keep the system up-to-date with changing business needs.
Overall, the systems analysis and design process is an iterative one, with feedback from each phase informing the next. The process is designed to ensure that the final solution meets the needs of the stakeholders and provides value to the organization. Effective systems analysis and design requires close collaboration between business stakeholders, analysts, and designers, as well as a deep understanding of the business domain and technology options.