The Traditional Systems Life Cycle

The Traditional Systems Life Cycle

The Systems Life Cycle methodology has six stages. It partitions the

system development process into distinct stages and develops an

information system sequentially, stage by stage. The six stages and a

detail definition of each are as follows:

Stage 1 - Project Definition

Determines whether the organization has a problem and whether that

problem can be solved by building a new information system. The

following questions are answered: Why do we need a new system project?

What do we want to accomplish? If a project is called for, the project

definition stage identifies general objectives, specifies the scope of

the project and develops a project plan that can be shown to

management.

Stage 2 - Systems Study

This stage analyzes the problems of the existing system (manual or

automated) in detail, identifies objectives to be attained by a

solution to these problems, and describes alternative solutions. The

systems study phase examines the feasibility of each solution

alternative for review by management. The following questions are

answered:

What do the existing systems do?

What are their strengths, weaknesses, trouble spots, and problems?

What should a new or modified system do to solve these problems?

What user information requirements must be met by the solution?

What alternative solution options are feasible?

What are their costs and benefits?

Answering these questions requires extensive information gathering and

research; sifting through documents, reports, and work papers produced

by existing systems; observing how these systems work; polling users

with questionnaires; and conducting interviews. All of the information

gathered during the system study phase will be used to determine

information system requirements. The systems study stage describes in

detail the remaining life cycle activities and the tasks for each

phase.

Stage 3 - Design

This stage produces the logical and physical design specifications for

the solution. Design and documentation tools (flow diagrams, structure

charts, system flowcharts, etc.) are used to develop formal

specifications.

Stage 4 - Programming