Course: ISEB Systems Development Essentials Workshop - 5 day

This challenging and rewarding course is essential for anyone concerned with the age old problem of specifying, developing and delivering the RIGHT system rather than one which is sadly disappointing in its ability to meet business expectations.

Thorough investigation and analysis are essential if the many pitfalls on the road to successful implementation of IT systems are to be avoided. This is true in all development environments, from traditional Structured Methods to approaches such as Rapid Application Development and Object Oriented Analysis through to the Agile development approaches.  Whether the approach is predictive or adaptive analysts need to demonstrate particular skills and techniques which lead to a disciplined and professional end result.

This practical residential workshop provides these skills and allows the participants to practise what they learn as they learn it. The course comprises a substantial amount of case study work in teams, which simulates the work of a systems analyst. This provides valuable experience in investigation, requirements gathering, modelling and specification analysis of information, quality assurance and other essential systems analysis techniques.

Who will the course benefit?

The skills acquired on this course will benefit anyone involved in systems development. This includes new entrants to IT, anyone moving into an analysis role, systems analysts who want to consolidate their existing skills and user staff involved in an IT project (e.g. in a RAD environment). The course encourages a user-centred approach which focuses on providing solutions which meet the needs of the business.

Course Objectives

To provide the skills and techniques required to be an effective and professional systems analyst.

Skills Gained

This course will enable delegates to:

    * Understand the phases of system development within traditional, iterative, and agile development projects.
    * Investigate a system and analyse the results.
    * Make effective use of different methods of interpersonal communication.
    * Plan and conduct searching and effective interviews.
    * Interpret business requirements and produce system requirements.
    * Quality assure the requirements documentation and develop test cases.
    * Develop, interpret and quality assure process, data and event models of requirements.
    * Plan for successful system implementation.
    * Assess the impact of COTS (Commercial Off The Shelf) Packages on their development approach.

Pre-Requisites

None, but the course assumes a basic knowledge of computers to the level covered in

Course Content

Introduction and Stages of Development

The phases of system development within traditional structured, iterative and agile project life cycles.
The objectives of systems analysis and the role of the analyst/designer.
Human issues in development.

Systems Investigation

Methods of gathering information and requirements, document analysis, workshops, use of questionnaires, observation, the planning, preparation and conduct of effective interviews.

Information Analysis

Analysing an existing system and identifying its strengths and weaknesses.
Evaluating new system requirements against business objectives.

New System Requirements

Specifying the requirements, requirements based testing and developing test cases.

Modelling Techniques

Process modelling ,data modelling and event modelling.
CASE tool support.
The Object Oriented approach.

Quality Assurance

Quality assurance of requirements, models, test plans and test specifications.
Reviews, walkthroughs, inspections. post implementation reviews.

Implementation Planning

Issues to consider when planning the implementation of a system, including development, data conversion, education, training and changeover strategy.
Estimating and the development plan.

Commercial Off-The-Shelf Packages (COTS)

The impact on the development process.
Package selection.

Practical sessions

The course is supported through out by a case study to give the delegate practical experience of all the techniques learnt.

Examinations

On completion of this course delegates may wish to sit for the ISEB Certificate in Systems Development Essentials.