Mastering Design Specifications in Modern System Analysis

1. Modern Systems Analysisand DesignFourth EditionJeffrey A. Hoffer Joey F. GeorgeJoseph S. Valacich Chapter 13 Finalizing Design Specifications

2. Learning Objectives • Discuss how design specifications vary based on system development methodology. • Define quality requirements and write quality requirement statements. • Read and understand a structure chart. • Explain the roles of prototyping and CASE tools in design specifications. • Discuss the application of design specifications to Agile Methodologies.

4. The Process of Finalizing Design Specifications • Less costly to correct and detect errors during the design phase • Two sets of guidelines: • The quality requirements statements • The quality requirements themselves • Deliverable: a set of design specifications for the entire system, with detailed functional descriptions of each system component

5. Characteristics of Quality Requirement Statements • Correct: accurately describe functionality to develop • Feasible:possible within time and resource constraints • Necessary: something the users really need • Prioritized: ranked based on level of importance • Unambiguous: clear to anyone who reads the description • Verifiable: possible to determine if requirement has been met

6. Characteristics of Quality Requirements • Complete: not missing any key description information • Consistent: does not conflict with other requirements • Modifiable: easily changed, with a history kept of changes • Traceable: to its original source

7. Design Specification Document • Contains: • Overall system description • Interface requirements • System features • Nonfunctional requirements • Other requirements • Supporting diagrams and models

8. Computer-based requirements management tools make it easier to keep documents up to date, add additional requirements and link related requirements

9. Structure Chart • A hierarchical diagram that shows how an information system is organized: • Shows how an information system is organized in hierarchical models • Shows how parts of a system are related to one another • Shows breakdown of a system into programs and internal structures of programs written in third- and fourth-generation languages

10. Structure Chart Symbols Structure chart is composed of modules, self-contained system components defined by their function. Modules are functions or subroutines in the resulting computer program.

11. Structure Chart Symbols Data couple: diagrammatic representation of data exchanged between two modules Flag: diagrammatic representation of a message passed between two modules Flags and data couples are parameters and return values in the resulting computer program.

12. Structure Chart Symbols Conditional calls: only one of the subordinates is called. Conditional call is implemented by an IF statement in the computer program.

13. Structure Chart Symbols Repetitivecalls: subordinates are called repeatedly until terminating condition is met.

14. Structure Chart Symbols Predefined module: function is dictated by a preexisting part of the system.

15. Structure Chart Symbols Embedded module: subordinate module is important logically but code is contained in superior module.

16. Order of execution is basically left-to-right, depth first. You use the returned data couple from the left module as you go to the right module.

17. Because of redundancy of Validate Data module, the order of sub-module calls for Get Valid B is right to left. Again, the received data couple B from Read B is subsequently sent to Validate Data.

18. Pseudocode • Method used for representing the instructions inside a module • Language similar to computer programming code • Two functions: • Helps analyst think in a structured way about the task a module is designed to perform • Acts as a communication tool between analyst and programmer

19. Evolutionary Prototyping • Begin by modeling parts of the target system. • If successful, evolve remaining system from prototype. • Prototype becomes actual production system. • Often, difficult parts of the system are prototyped first. • Exception handling must be added to prototype.

20. Throwaway Prototyping • Prototype is not preserved. • It is developed quickly to demonstrate unclear aspect of system design. • CASE tools aid this approach,

21. Agile Methodologies • Requirements  functional design  code • Design specifications come from code instead of verbal text descriptions • Example: eXtreme Programming’s Planning Game • Two techniques: • Simple design: uncomplicated program component to solve current (not anticipated) problem • Refactoring: make a program simpler after adding a new feature

22. Factors Distinguishing Agile and Traditional System Development

23. Summary • In this chapter you learned how to: • Discuss how design specifications vary based on system development methodology. • Define quality requirements and write quality requirement statements. • Read and understand a structure chart. • Explain the roles of prototyping and CASE tools in design specifications. • Discuss the application of design specifications to Agile Methodologies.