Problem One
Jackie O, investments manager, has submitted numerous requests for a new investment tracking system. She needs to make quick decisions regarding possible investments and divestments. One hour can cost her thousands of dollars in profits for her company.She has finally given up on Information Systems for not giving her requests high enough priority to get service. Therefore, she goes to a computer store and buys a microcomputer along with spreadsheet, database, and word processing software. The computer store salesperson suggests she
- build a database of her investements and options,
- subscribe to a computer investment database (accessed via a modem in the microcomputer),
- feed data from her database and the bulleten board in to the spreadsheet,
- play "what if" investment games on the spreadsheet, and then
- update the database to reflect her final decisions.
After she discusses her plans with Jack, a systems analyst at another company, he suggests she take a systems analysis and design course before begininning to use the spreadsheet and database. The manager at the local computer store, on the other hand, says she doesn't need any systems analysis and design training to be able to develop systems using the spreadsheet and database programs. His reasoning is that spreadsheets and database tools are not programming languages; therefore, she shouldn't need analysis and design to bulid systems with them.
Is the computer store manager correct? Why or why not? Can you convince Jackie to take the systems analysis and design course? What would your arguments be?
posted by robott_rock @ 8:33 AM
5 Comments:
first question:
Spreadsheet and database tools are not programming languages. Does Jackie need systems analysis training to be able to develop systems using the spreadsheet and database programs? Why or why not?
second question:
Why should Jackie take the a systems analysis and design course?
notes:
Most information systems projects involve working as a team. Usually one or more of the stakeholders (team members) takes on the role of project manager to ensure that the system is developed on time, within budjet, and of acceptable quality. Most project managers are experienced systems analysts.
Jackie's going to need to have a very good understanding of how the system she works with now works before she can try to create a similar system. To build a database of her investements and options she may need more complex (possibly constanly changing) information that comes from a number of different departments of her company.
What's her current perspective?
Cause and effect. Does Jackie have a good understanding of the cause? Why is Info Systems taking so long to deal with her problem? Are they prioritizing different things, like things that directly affect the infrastructure of the company for instance?
Page 12:
Many organizations consider information systems to be essential to their ability to compete or gain competative advantage. Most organizations have come to realize that all workers need to participate in the development of information systems. Therefore, information systems development is a relevant subject to you regardless of whether or not you are studying to become an information systems professional.
In response to the computer store manager's comment, "spreadsheets and database tools are not programming languages; therefore, she shouldn't need analysis and design to build systems with them":
Spreadsheets and database tools are not programming languages, true, but Jackie wants to use them to build an information system. Effectively designing, building and implementing that system, making all of the components work well together, along with working well within the larger system of the company, is what the class will help her accomplish.
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