Systems Analysis and Design, Part 2
Question 1: Define and discuss the role of the MIS steering committee, including its three main functions.
Answer 1: A steering committee is a group of people who are brought together on a long-term but not necessarily permanent basis to provide direction, guidance, and control over a specific project. The MIS steering committee controls computer resource use within the firm. This group usually consists of several higher-level executives as well as lower-level managers and temporary consultants. The three main functions of the MIS steering committee are:To establish policies. These policies are based on ensuring necessary computer support for the firm’s overall goals.Fiscal control. The steering committee must approve any requests involving funds for computers and information resources within the firm.Conflict resolution. The MIS steering committee will deal with any conflicts between groups regarding the use of computer resources.Decisions made by the MIS steering committee are based on executive strategies involving both the entire firm and MIS resources in general. Computer resources typically become more readily available, with better planning and control, under the guidance of the steering committee.
There are lots of good resources about Systems Analysis that you can find available.
Question 2: Define the purpose and role of project management, as well as two major tools used for project management.
Answer 2: Project management breaks a project down into steps, determines when those steps must occur, how long they will take, and what personnel must be available to implement them. Project management helps organize project teams for specific projects and assigns project leaders to direct the project. These teams are typically short-lived and move on to other projects upon project completion.Tools for project management include:Gantt chart. This is a bar chart in which the bars represent the time duration necessary for each individual phase of the project. This chart makes it easier to see where project elements overlap, which elements are dependent on other elements, which need specific personnel, and which will involve the greatest time commitment. Network diagram. A network diagram identifies the various activities in a project and links them graphically through arrows. This diagram shows the sequence of events in a project and how they are interconnected. Network diagrams are also called Critical Path Method (CPM) or Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) charts.
Question 3: Define systems architecture and its importance to a system.
Answer 3: Systems architecture involves a description of the various elements of a system, including software, hardware, and any other elements and how they are organized. Systems architecture helps define the existing structure of a system and how all its pieces interact, allowing those who make changes to see how a change in one portion of the system might affect other portions of the system. Some types of systems architecture are:Collaborative systems.Social systems.Manufacturing systems.Strategic systems.IT systems.The type of systems architecture used is determined by the function and characteristics of the original system.
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