SR-Rm-022: Information System Architecture
Service Request SR-rm-022 Part 3
BSA 375
February 04, 2013
After describing the information system architecture which includes data, processes, interfaces and network, in addition to the application architecture and process design, we can now move forward to the implementation and operation phase. There are seven major activities that take place in the implementation and operation phase. These phases must be managed effectively in order for the project to be successful. The seven phases consist of: * Coding * Testing * Installation * Documentation * Training * Support
It will take a team of experts in each phase to put their skills and knowledge to ensure the successful completion of them. Each of the phases …show more content…
plays an important role in the development of the new system. Below is a breakdown of each phase.
Coding
As the new Human Resource system is being design for Riordan Manufacturing, it is important that all essential features and function are taken into consideration to ensure that there are now flaws in the development of the module.
The goal of the coding phase is the process or translation of the system design into computer code by a programming team. In order to keep the cost down in this phase, a well written code must be simple and clear. Simplicity and clarity of the program code will reduce the testing and maintenance efforts since the cost of testing and maintaining software is much higher than the cost of code itself. The team of programmers can use different platforms that may guide them in the coding process of the new system. One platform that the programmers can use is the Iterative method. With Iterative method, the basic idea behind is to develop a system through repeated cycles (iterative) and in smaller portions at a time (incremental), allowing software developers to take advantage of what was learned during development of earlier parts or versions of the system. Learning comes from both the development and use of the system, where possible key steps in the process start with a simple implementation of a subset of the software requirements, and iteratively enhance the evolving versions until the full system is implemented. At each iteration, design modifications are made and new functional capabilities are added (Mohyeddin, A. A., & Fereidoon, A. A. …show more content…
2012).The coding phase of the system development can be completed by the team of programmers tackling one area at a time.
System Testing Once the new system has been properly installed, configured, and customized to the user’s liking, it is time to test the system prior to deployment. In this testing phase, the phase confirms that the software runs and behaves as expected, as well as to meet the customers’ expectations. During the testing phase, the project team fine tunes all the requirements to meet the business model process. The results of program and system testing are important deliverables from the testing process because they document the tests, as well as the test results (Valacich, George, & Hoffer 2012). There are different types testing that the project team can implement: * Unit Testing - Testing a small single development object to the requirements in a functional specification. * Integration Testing - Testing end-to-end business processes including any customizations, enhancements, or interfaces to external systems. * Customer Acceptance Testing – The final round of integration testing in which key users develop realistic business scenarios that represent how the system will need to work after it goes live. * Security Testing – Testing of all roles within the company that are set up in the system if they have access or not and unauthorized access is appropriately denied. * Performance Load Testing - Business transaction volumes and concurrent user activities are tested with expected peak load (and then some) to confirm that response times are acceptable. These stress tests must pass predetermined acceptance criteria or performance thresholds (SM Thacker & Associates. 2000).
Installation This is the stage where the old HR system is either be replaced or integrated with the new system. With installation of the new system, Riordan employees that are used to the old HR system must give up reliance on the current system and begin to rely on the new system. There are four different approaches concerning the installation a new system. These four approaches are: * Direct * Parallel * Single location * Phased
After some research, the best approach to take to for the installation phase would be Phased Installation. In the “Phased” approach, the old system is taken over by the new system one step at a time until the new system completely has taken over the old system. There are positive aspects of using this approach: * Limits potential harm and costs from system error or failure to certain business function. * Each of the phases is small and more manageable. * Risks are spread over time.
With positive aspects there are also negative aspects of this type of approach. The negative side of this approach is: * Conversion is constant and may extend over a long period causing frustration and confusion for users.
* The old and the new system must be able to work together and able to share data, in which more programming will be required to bridge the two systems together (Valacich, George, & Hoffer 2012).
The benefit of using the “Phased” approach outweighs the risk factors in this installation process.
Documentation In this stage, documentation is needed to show the written or visual information about the new system. Such user documentation includes guides and manuals for end-users, as well for the system administrators. However, system documentation is intended specifically maintenance programmers. By having user documentation for the new system, employees in the HR department will be more at ease when making the transition from the old system to the new one. The user documentation will provide instructions on how to get started with the new system and how the system functions. As for System documentation, the Information System personal or the system administrators would like to have system technical details document, in order to guide them when upgrades and maintenances are required.
Training
Once the system has been tested and it is ready to go live, the employees have to be train in order to work with the new system on a daily basis.
Training is necessary for all employees that will be dealing with the new HR system. Depending on the skill level and knowledge of each individual, training course will be provided by the company. A popular learning method that is being use by different corporations is e-learning, an online course. These types of courses can be purchase by a third party vendor or they can be prepared by the corporation in house training staff. E-learning provides simulations, online access to mentors and experts, e-books, and video on-demand. This type of service is inexpensive and employees can train and learn at their own
pace.
System Support In the system support stage it is important to keep the system running smoothly throughout the entire organizational framework. In order to do this, technical support and user support must be put in place when schedule upgrades and system maintenances are required. One form of technical support will be a help desk center for end-users. The help desk will be the first place that users should call for any types of assistance with the system. For system maintenance, measures need to be put in place to ensure the safety of all data stored. Support measure needs to include recovery and backup, PC maintenance, disaster recovery, and setting up user groups. By having these measures put in place, data in the system will be protected and be available for retrieval when needed.
References
SM Thacker & Associates. (2000). Testing your ERP Computer Software Using a Conference Room Pilot. Retrieved January 5, 2008 fromhttp://www.smthacker.co.uk/conference_room_pilot.htm
MOHYEDDIN, A. A., & FEREIDOON, A. A. (2012). Modeling of polymer/clay nanocomposites by an iterative micromechanical approach.Archives Of Mechanics, 64(6), 541-554.
BSA 375
February 04, 2013
After describing the information system architecture which includes data, processes, interfaces and network, in addition to the application architecture and process design, we can now move forward to the implementation and operation phase. There are seven major activities that take place in the implementation and operation phase. These phases must be managed effectively in order for the project to be successful. The seven phases consist of: * Coding * Testing * Installation * Documentation * Training * Support
It will take a team of experts in each phase to put their skills and knowledge to ensure the successful completion of them. Each of the phases …show more content…
plays an important role in the development of the new system. Below is a breakdown of each phase.
Coding
As the new Human Resource system is being design for Riordan Manufacturing, it is important that all essential features and function are taken into consideration to ensure that there are now flaws in the development of the module.
The goal of the coding phase is the process or translation of the system design into computer code by a programming team. In order to keep the cost down in this phase, a well written code must be simple and clear. Simplicity and clarity of the program code will reduce the testing and maintenance efforts since the cost of testing and maintaining software is much higher than the cost of code itself. The team of programmers can use different platforms that may guide them in the coding process of the new system. One platform that the programmers can use is the Iterative method. With Iterative method, the basic idea behind is to develop a system through repeated cycles (iterative) and in smaller portions at a time (incremental), allowing software developers to take advantage of what was learned during development of earlier parts or versions of the system. Learning comes from both the development and use of the system, where possible key steps in the process start with a simple implementation of a subset of the software requirements, and iteratively enhance the evolving versions until the full system is implemented. At each iteration, design modifications are made and new functional capabilities are added (Mohyeddin, A. A., & Fereidoon, A. A. …show more content…
2012).The coding phase of the system development can be completed by the team of programmers tackling one area at a time.
System Testing Once the new system has been properly installed, configured, and customized to the user’s liking, it is time to test the system prior to deployment. In this testing phase, the phase confirms that the software runs and behaves as expected, as well as to meet the customers’ expectations. During the testing phase, the project team fine tunes all the requirements to meet the business model process. The results of program and system testing are important deliverables from the testing process because they document the tests, as well as the test results (Valacich, George, & Hoffer 2012). There are different types testing that the project team can implement: * Unit Testing - Testing a small single development object to the requirements in a functional specification. * Integration Testing - Testing end-to-end business processes including any customizations, enhancements, or interfaces to external systems. * Customer Acceptance Testing – The final round of integration testing in which key users develop realistic business scenarios that represent how the system will need to work after it goes live. * Security Testing – Testing of all roles within the company that are set up in the system if they have access or not and unauthorized access is appropriately denied. * Performance Load Testing - Business transaction volumes and concurrent user activities are tested with expected peak load (and then some) to confirm that response times are acceptable. These stress tests must pass predetermined acceptance criteria or performance thresholds (SM Thacker & Associates. 2000).
Installation This is the stage where the old HR system is either be replaced or integrated with the new system. With installation of the new system, Riordan employees that are used to the old HR system must give up reliance on the current system and begin to rely on the new system. There are four different approaches concerning the installation a new system. These four approaches are: * Direct * Parallel * Single location * Phased
After some research, the best approach to take to for the installation phase would be Phased Installation. In the “Phased” approach, the old system is taken over by the new system one step at a time until the new system completely has taken over the old system. There are positive aspects of using this approach: * Limits potential harm and costs from system error or failure to certain business function. * Each of the phases is small and more manageable. * Risks are spread over time.
With positive aspects there are also negative aspects of this type of approach. The negative side of this approach is: * Conversion is constant and may extend over a long period causing frustration and confusion for users.
* The old and the new system must be able to work together and able to share data, in which more programming will be required to bridge the two systems together (Valacich, George, & Hoffer 2012).
The benefit of using the “Phased” approach outweighs the risk factors in this installation process.
Documentation In this stage, documentation is needed to show the written or visual information about the new system. Such user documentation includes guides and manuals for end-users, as well for the system administrators. However, system documentation is intended specifically maintenance programmers. By having user documentation for the new system, employees in the HR department will be more at ease when making the transition from the old system to the new one. The user documentation will provide instructions on how to get started with the new system and how the system functions. As for System documentation, the Information System personal or the system administrators would like to have system technical details document, in order to guide them when upgrades and maintenances are required.
Training
Once the system has been tested and it is ready to go live, the employees have to be train in order to work with the new system on a daily basis.
Training is necessary for all employees that will be dealing with the new HR system. Depending on the skill level and knowledge of each individual, training course will be provided by the company. A popular learning method that is being use by different corporations is e-learning, an online course. These types of courses can be purchase by a third party vendor or they can be prepared by the corporation in house training staff. E-learning provides simulations, online access to mentors and experts, e-books, and video on-demand. This type of service is inexpensive and employees can train and learn at their own
pace.
System Support In the system support stage it is important to keep the system running smoothly throughout the entire organizational framework. In order to do this, technical support and user support must be put in place when schedule upgrades and system maintenances are required. One form of technical support will be a help desk center for end-users. The help desk will be the first place that users should call for any types of assistance with the system. For system maintenance, measures need to be put in place to ensure the safety of all data stored. Support measure needs to include recovery and backup, PC maintenance, disaster recovery, and setting up user groups. By having these measures put in place, data in the system will be protected and be available for retrieval when needed.
References
SM Thacker & Associates. (2000). Testing your ERP Computer Software Using a Conference Room Pilot. Retrieved January 5, 2008 fromhttp://www.smthacker.co.uk/conference_room_pilot.htm
MOHYEDDIN, A. A., & FEREIDOON, A. A. (2012). Modeling of polymer/clay nanocomposites by an iterative micromechanical approach.Archives Of Mechanics, 64(6), 541-554.