Introduction
This paper includes description of what a system analyst needs to do in order to facilitate analysis and evaluation of candidate system solution for their feasibility. First paper starts with explaining different analyses needed for system, which include different types of methods, or criteria a system analyst should adopt during system evaluation.
Analysis and evaluation of system (different set of criteria)
It is the duty of system analyst to analyze the system properly. System analyst has to investigate the feasibility of the system. There are different ways for this. System analyst has to analyze, specify, design and build a good prototype for the system to provide feasibility. System analyst has to carry out preliminary investigation, analyzing the problems, requirements and decisions which have been carried to understand the system properly. It is “during the systems selection and procurement phases of systems design, the systems analyst identifies candidate system solutions and then analyzes those solutions for feasibility.” (Feasibility analysis of candidate system, n.d., Notes, para.1). The duty of system analyst is to find out whether any feature is violating the constraints that are required for feasibility.
During preliminary investigation, system analyst has to come up with preliminary solution for system to provide feasibility. The set of analysis or criteria system analyst has to adopt are the following: model driven analysis, structured analysis, objects oriented analysis, accelerated analysis and rapid architect analysis. Each of them has got its own role in analyzing the system and each of them follows different types of strategy. These techniques can be facilitated or used by system analyst either in combination or without combination.
“Model-driven analysis techniques emphasize the drawing of pictorial system models that represent either a current reality or a target vision of the system.”
(Whitten, n.d., p.200). In case of structured analysis, it is an analysis that focuses on different types of modeling process. Technique used in object oriented analysis is different from this. It mainly concentrates on modeling objects that encapsulate the data and it is on this data it processes the act. The approach of accelerated system is to accentuate the working models at the time of construction in an attempt to accelerate system analysis. Rapid architect analysis generates different types of models either from the existing system or from any kind of existing system. System analyst has to do these analyses very carefully and has to document the findings for future reference.
Another set of criteria system analyst needs to take care to provide feasibility to several candidate systems is by implementing decision analyses. The purpose of this phase is to identify and analyze. Through decision analysis phase system analyst will identify option, analyze the option and make the best solution based on analysis. While performing this, analyst has to document everything properly. The decision analysis phase includes different tasks such as “identify candidate solution, analyze candidate solution, compare candidate solution, update the project plan and recommend a system solution.” (Whitten, n.d., p.194).
It is system analyst’s duty to facilitate identifying candidate solution task. Normally analysts will identify each of the problems and find appropriate solutions for the problem. As mentioned earlier, documentation of the problem must be done very carefully. Next step for system analyst is to analyze the document to find better solution for the identified problem. Once this step is over, system analyst can contrast each of the candidates in order to find out different solutions and recommend that solution to system owners and users. Discussion must be done at this stage. The aim of doing comparison is to “recommend the candidate that offers the best overall combination of technical, operational, economic and schedule feasibilities.” (Whitten, n.d., p.197). System analyst has to seek system designers and builders to clear the doubts regarding technical feasibility question. The typical deliverables coming out of this task are different types of recommended solutions. If more than one solution is recommended, then selection of solution will be based on priorities. During this, system analyst has to think carefully. Next activity for system analyst is to update the project plan. As system analyst learns more and more about the system, the project plan must be updated accordingly. It is mainly based on the recommended solution. System owners and the entire team involved in the project do this task. Also, at the time of updates, active participation of system designers and builders is needed. Project manager and executive sponsor jointly carry out the recommendation of project plan. The other participants actively involved are “owners, users, analysts, designers and builders.” (Whitten, n.d., p.198). The task needed here is to complete the project plan, which is updated. These are the activities system analyst will do to provide best feasible solution for several candidates system.
Conclusion
Providing feasibility for several candidate systems is not a trivial task. The preliminary investigation carried out by system analyst only uncovers the problems need to be solved. Implementation of good decision analyses will provide better feasibility for several candidate system solutions.
Reference
Feasibility analysis of candidate system: Notes. (n.d.). 2009. Web.
Whitten. (n.d.). System analysis and design: Summary. Tata McGraw Hill. 200.
Whitten. (n.d.). System analysis and design: Task 5.3- compare candidate solution. Tata McGraw Hill. 197.