Page 492 - Using MIS

460 Chapter 12 Information Systems Development

Business Analysts
Systems Analysts

Informa
on System
Business Process Management
Development

Applica
on Development

Hardware Software Data

Programmers
Database Designers
Test Personnel
Figure 12-4 Hardware Specialists
Role of Development Personnel Systems Analysts

Business process management is a technique used to create new business processes and
to manage changes to existing processes. Except for start-ups, organizations already have
processes, in one form or another, in varying levels of quality. If they did not, they wouldn’t
be able to operate. Therefore, BPM is, in most cases, used to manage the evolution of existing
business processes from one version to an improved version. We’ll discuss BPM in Q2 and Q3.
As shown in Figure 12-3, the systems development life cycle (SDLC) is a process that can be
used to develop both information systems and applications. The SDLC achieved prominence
in the 1980s when the U.S. Department of Defense required that it be used on all software and
systems development projects. It is common, well-known, and often used but, as you’ll learn,
frequently problematic. You need to know what it is and when and when not to use it. We’ll dis-
cuss the SDLC in Q4 and Q5.
Scrum is a new development process that was created, in part, to overcome the problems
that occur when using the SDLC. Scrum is generic enough that it can be used for the develop-
ment (and adaptation) of business processes, information systems, and applications. We’ll dis-
cuss scrum in Q6.
Personnel that take the most active and important role for each of these processes are
shown in Figure 12-4. A business analyst is someone who is well versed in Porter’s models (see
Chapter 3) and in the organization’s strategies and who focuses, primarily, on ensuring that
business processes and information systems meet the organization’s competitive strategies. As
you would expect, the primary focus of a business analyst is business processes.
Systems analysts are IS professionals who understand both business and information
technology. They focus primarily on IS development, but are involved with business analysts
on the management of business processes as well. Systems analysts play a key role in moving
development projects through the SDLC or scrum development process.
Applications are developed by technical personnel such as programmers, database design-
ers, test personnel, hardware specialists, and other technical staff. Systems analysts play a key
role in developing applications requirements and in facilitating the work of the programmers,
testers, and users.
Because applications development involves technical details that are beyond the scope of
this introductory class, we will only be peripherally concerned with applications development
here. If you have a technical bent, however, you should consider these jobs because they are
absolutely fascinating and are in extremely high demand.