IS605
Systems Analysis Techniques

CRN 2627 (Huntington)
2628 (South Charleston)
Semester Fall - 2001
Dates Tuesdays/Thursdays, August 20 through December 14
Location/Times 4:00 to 6:20 PM, Tuesdays, Room 120 GH, Huntington
6:30 to 9:00 PM, Thursdays, Room 136 GC, S. Charleston

Texts and Study Materials
Required Text(s)
Kendall and Kendall, Systems Analysis and Design, (5th Edition) Prentice Hall, 2001

Instructor
Name John Biros
Office GC 331 
100 Angus E Peyton Drive 
South Charleston, WV 25303
Office Hours By Appointment
Phone 304-746-1941
E-mail jbiros@marshall.edu

Course Description
Introduction to information systems from system implementer's viewpoint. Course will cover information systems life cycle (SDLC), techniques of system  analysis and system documentation methods including data flow diagrams, entity-relationship diagrams and object-oriented methodologies.
Credits 3 semester hours
Prerequisites Admission to program
 

Course Discussion
This course is directed towards majors in the information Systems program. However, it can also be of value to students in other programs who wish to become familiar with the methodologies used to analyze and document information systems. The normal progression is to follow this course with IS-610, System Design. Majors in Information Systems will follow IS-610 with TE-698 Comprehensive Project I and TE-699 Comprehensive Project II. 

The course is designed to cover the process of analyzing and documenting  business systems. Usually, this is done with the intent of automating and/or computerizing it but this does not have to be the case. Some of the concepts covered include data gathering techniques, data-flow diagramming, creating data dictionaries, writing process specifications as well as generating entity-relationship diagrams and  state-transition diagrams. The primary methodology covered is that of the standard structured SDLC (System Development Life Cycle). However, the course also covers the Object Orientated approach to system development as well. 

Each student is expected to select a system to analyze and document throughout the semester, preferably from a real life situation. This can come either from their own work environment or from some other business situation. It is suggested that this same system be further developed during the System Design course and, hopefully, programmed and implemented as the Comprehensive Project. 

Attendance at class sessions is not mandatory. However, attendance is strongly encouraged in order to participate and contribute to classroom discussion, a key element in the course. The course includes a strong Internet component that requires the student to do almost weekly projects using WEBCT. Internet access is mandatory. Several CASE tools will be used during the semester and will be required for several projects. In addition, the student will be expected to prepare a presentation of their case study to present before the class or a similar group.

Grading
10 Homework @15 points  10 Quizzes @5 points 200 676-750 A
Test One 100 601-675 B
Test Two 100 526-600 C
Project 200 451-525 D
Five Minute Drills@ 10 points each 100
Class Participation 50
Total 750
 

Schedule of Classes (Subject to Change) 

No Date Topic(s)

Text (Chapters)
1 21-Aug Introduction 
Administrative Matters 
Assuming the Role of Systems Analyst		 1
2 28-Aug Organizational Style 
Feasibility		 2/3
3 04-Sep Data Flow Diagrams 9
4 11-Sep Data Dictionaries 10
5 18-Sep Process Specifications 11
6 25-Sep Sampling Data 
Interviewing		 4/5
7 02-Oct Questionnaires 6
8 09-Oct Decision Making 
Prototyping		 7/8
9 16-Oct Relational Database Design 17
10 23-Oct Relational Database Design 17
11 30-Nov Object Orientated Analysis  22
12 06-Nov State Transition Diagrams  22
13 13-Nov Decision Support Systems 12
14 20-Nov Thanksgiving Break
15 27-Nov Preparing the Systems Proposal 13/14
16 04-Dec Project Presentations: Final Exam
17 11-Dec Project Presentations: Final Exam