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List and discuss two issues that arc likely to cause system failure in each of the following stages of a system development life cycle

      

List and discuss two issues that arc likely to cause system failure in each of the
following stages of a system development life cycle:
(i) Testing.
(ii) Project definition.
(iii) Design.
(iv) Requirement analysis.

  

Answers


gregory
Testing
This refers to the process of uncovering errors in programs thus enabling them to be
rectified.
Issues that are likely to cause system failure:
1. Poor test data
This may result in errors going undetected thus resulting in a system full of undetected errors.
2. Poor planning
Lack of a testing strategy could result in too little time being allocated to testing thus resulting
in incomplete testing. A poorly tested system would thus be liable to failure.
3.Lack of cooperation from end users in producing test cases
This would result in poor test data and hence a poor system.
4.Bias towards certain system aspects and neglect of other system aspects
Neglect of system modules during testing could compromise the quality of the system thus
making it liable to failure.
(ii) Project definition
This refers to the process of identifying an information systems problem and selection of a
solution in the form of a project to solve the information system problem. Project definition
also involves planning for the initial stages of the project.
Issues likely to cause system failure: 1.
Selection of an unsuitable project
A project may be unsuitable because it doesn‘t add value to an organization. Such a project
may produce a failure of a system since it will fail in accomplishing the strategic aim of any
organization of having a favourable competitive advantage.
2. Poor project planning
This may result in a project not being allocated adequate resources thus resulting in a poor
system which is liable to fail.
(iii) Design
This refers to the process of transforming system requirements into a form that can be
implemented to produce a working system.
Issues that are likely to cause system failure:
1.Poor design specifications- likely to result in a low quality system being developed.
2.Inadequate time for design- results in quality of design specifications
beingcompromised hence compromising the quality of the developed system.
3.Poor systems requirements specifications- likely to influence the quality of the
designspecifications since the design specification is produced from the requirements
specification. The end result is a poor quality system.
(iv) Requirements analysis
This refers to the process of determining the system requirements for a system to be
developed.
Issues that are likely to cause system failure
1.Poor cooperation form end users- results in scanty system requirements which result
ina =half baked‘ system.
2.Poor cooperation from management- also results in a poor requirements
specificationwhich compromises the quality of the developed system.
3.Short allocated time- this forces the IS development staff to rush through
therequirements analysis stage and thus produce a sketchy requirements specification.
The end result is a poor quality system.
4.Inadequate funding- poor funding for information gathering activities such
asquestionnaires may prove a bottleneck in the requirements analysis process thus
resulting in a poor requirements specification
gregorymasila answered the question on November 22, 2017 at 15:21


Next: A clear statement of information needs is fundamental for good system design. Explain the factors that may contribute or influence management information needs.
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