Registry
Module Specifications
Archived Version 2014 - 2015
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Description A module which provides students with an understanding of the theory and practice associated with the development of Information Technology-based applications and solutions. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Learning Outcomes 1. Describe systems that exist within a variety of organisations. 2. Demonstrate the stages of the systems development life cycle. 3. Critique a system proposal. 4. Describe how a feasibility study on a proposed system is carried out. 5. Evaluate the techniques used by a Project Manager to schedule activities and resources. 6. Translate data requirements into a database design using a data modelling technique 7. Translate system requirements into a system design using a process modelling technique 8. Contrast the different options for sourcing the development of an information system 9. Describe the features of Extreme Programming, Agile Methods, Scrum | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml |
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Indicative Content and
Learning Activities DEGREE LEVEL B: SYSTEMS PLANNING (CB)UNIT 1: SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT LIFE CYCLE THE SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT LIFE CYCLE 1-1 SDLC MODELS 1-1 TRADITIONAL (SEQUENTIAL) SDLC MODEL 1-2 TRADITIONAL SDLC STAGES 1-2 METHODICAL APPROACH TO SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT 1-3 AGILE SDLC MODELS 1-4 AGILE SDLC STAGES (HIGH-LEVEL VIEW) 1-5 CHOOSING THE RIGHT SDLC METHODOLOGY 1-6 WHAT IS A SYSTEM? 1-6 WHO IS INVOLVED IN THE SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT PROCESS? 1-8 WHAT IS A SUBSYSTEM? 1-10 SUMMARY 1-12 UNIT 2: TYPES OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS TRANSACTION PROCESSING SYSTEMS (TPS) 2-1 BATCH & ON-LINE TPS 2-4 MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS (MIS) 2-5 DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEMS (DSS) 2-7 REQUIREMENTS FOR INFORMATION SYSTEMS 2-9 UNIT 3: SYSTEMS PLANNING SYSTEMS PLANNING 3-1 INITIATING DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS 3-3 UNIT 4: FEASIBILITY STUDY FEASIBILITY STUDY 4-1 WHAT BENEFITS WILL THE SYSTEM PROVIDE? 4-6 DECIDING THE FEASIBILITY OF A SYSTEM 4-7 REPORTING BACK TO THE I.T. EXECUTIVE 4-7 TERMS OF REFERENCE 4-8 EXAMPLE TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR A PERSONNEL RECORDS SYSTEM FOR A MULTINATIONAL ORGANISATION 4-10 UNIT 5: COMMUNICATION DIFFERENT TYPES OF COMMUNICATION 5-2 PARTICIPATION OF USERS IN SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT 5-4 INTERVIEWING 5-5 MEETINGS 5-9 MAKING A PRESENTATION 5-11 WRITTEN REPORTS 5-13 MANUALS AND TECHNICAL WRITING 5-15 UNIT 6: PROJECT MANAGEMENT PROJECT MANAGEMENT 6-3 PROJECT PLANNING 6-4 CRITICAL PATH ANALYSIS 6-7 MEASUREMENT OF SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT EFFORT 6-8 PROJECT MONITORING 6-11 COMPUTERISED TOOLS FOR PROJECT MANAGEMENT 6-11 ORGANISATION OF THE SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES 6-12 RISK MANAGEMENT 6-13 UNIT 7: SYSTEMS ANALYSIS WHAT IS SYSTEMS ANALYSIS? 7-1 WHY IS SYSTEMS ANALYSIS NECESSARY? 7-2 WHAT DOES THE SYSTEMS ANALYST DO? 7-3 FACT-FINDING TECHNIQUES 7-4 SCOPING THE SYSTEM 7-7 UNIT 8: DATA MODELLING ENTITY-RELATIONSHIP MODELLING 8-1 ENTITY 8-2 MORE THAN ONE OCCURRENCE 8-4 UNIQUELY IDENTIFIABLE 8-4 THERE MUST BE DATA 8-4 OF INTEREST TO THE SYSTEM 8-5 THE SYSTEM ITSELF DOES NOT APPEAR AS AN ENTITY 8-5 STUDY THE DOCUMENTS USED IN THE SYSTEM 8-5 ATTRIBUTES 8-6 RELATIONSHIPS 8-8 IDENTIFYING RELATIONSHIP CARDINALITY 8-9 A TECHNIQUE TO IDENTIFY RELATIONSHIPS 8-10 CHECKLIST FOR AN E-R DIAGRAM 8-17 COMPUTERISED TOOLS 8-18 RELATIONAL MAPPING RULES 8-18 INTEGRITY CONSTRAINTS 8-21 DATA DICTIONARY 8-23 OPERATIONS ON TABLES & CONSTRAINT VIOLATIONS 8-24 IS THE DATA ANALYSIS SECTION COMPLETE? 8-26 NORMALISATION 8-26 THREE STAGES OF NORMALISATION 8-27 SUMMARY 8-34 UNIT 9: PROCESS MODELLING DATA FLOW DIAGRAMS 9-2 THREE LEVELS OF DIAGRAM 9-7 EXAMPLE OF A D.F.D. 9-9 SUMMARY OF D.F.D.’S 9-11 COMPUTERISED TOOLS 9-11 OTHER SYSTEM DESCRIPTION TECHNIQUES 9-11 CONTROL STRUCTURES 9-12 LANGUAGE RESTRICTIONS 9-12 SUMMARY OF PROCESS MODELLING 9-16 COMBINING THE DATA AND PROCESS MODELS 9-16 FUNCTIONAL SPECIFICATION 9-17 SUMMARY 9-18 UNIT 10: SYSTEMS DESIGN WHAT IS SYSTEMS DESIGN? 10-1 SYSTEMS ARCHITECTURE 10-3 ISSUES SURROUNDING THE CHOICE OF RELATIONAL DATABASE 10-6 SUB-SYSTEMS 10-8 INTERFACES 10-11 USABILITY 10-13 SECURITY 10-14 PROTOTYPING 10-16 SUMMARY 10-17 UNIT 11: BUILDING THE REQUIRED SYSTEM TEAMS INVOLVED 11-1 STRUCTURE OF DEVELOPMENT TEAMS 11-3 DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENT 11-5 DEVELOPMENT SCHEDULE 11-5 CONTROLLING CHANGES 11-6 DOCUMENTATION USED 11-6 QUALITY ASSURANCE 11-8 WALKTHROUGHS 11-10 SUMMARY 11-11 UNIT 12: TESTING THE DEVELOPED SYSTEM TYPES OF TESTING TEAMS 12-1 STRUCTURE OF TESTING TEAMS 12-3 ENVIRONMENT REQUIREMENTS 12-4 TESTING SCHEDULE 12-4 DOCUMENTATION USED 12-4 TRACKING SYSTEM 12-6 TESTING PHASES 12-8 MULTI-USER TESTING 12-10 EDUCATION & TRAINING 12-12 SUMMARY 12-13 UNIT 13: IMPLEMENTING THE NEW SYSTEM SETTING UP THE PRODUCTION ENVIRONMENT 13-1 CONVERSION STRATEGIES 13-4 CONVERSION PERIOD 13-5 PEOPLE INVOLVED 13-8 SUMMARY 13-9 UNIT 14: MAINTAINING AND ENHANCING THE NEW SYSTEM POST-IMPLEMENTATION REVIEW 14-1 LIVE ISSUES 14-2 CONTROLLING AND MANAGING CHANGES 14-3 RELEASING THE NEW VERSION OF THE SYSTEM 14-7 SUMMARY 14-8 UNIT 15: OTHER APPROACHES TO SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT OUTSOURCING 15-1 OFFSHORE DEVELOPMENT 15-6 PURCHASING OFF-THE-SHELF SOLUTIONS 15-7 BRING IN EXTERNAL RESOURCES 15-8 SUMMARY 15-9 UNIT 16: DEVELOPING MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS TYPES OF MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS 16-1 SYSTEMS PLANNING 16-2 FEASIBILITY STUDY 16-3 SYSTEMS ANALYSIS 16-3 SYSTEMS DESIGN 16-4 SYSTEMS BUILD 16-6 TESTING A MIS 16-6 IMPLEMENTING THE NEW MANAGEMENT SYSTEM 16-7 SUMMARY 16-8 UNIT 17: AGILE METHODOLOGIES AGILE METHODOLOGIES 17.2 THE AGILE MANIFESTO 17.2 SCRUM 17.4 ROLES 17.4 THE SPRINT 17.4 BACKLOGS – PRODUCT BACKLOG, SPRINT BACKLOG 17.4 MEETINGS 17.6 OUTCOME – POTENTIALLY SHIPPABLE PRODUCT INCREMENT 17.7 UNIT 18: EXTREME PROGRAMMING WHAT IS XP? 18.1 VALUES OF XP 18.2 PRINCIPLES OF XP 18.3 PRACTICES OF XP 18.5 COROLLARY PRACTICES 18.7 XP AND SCRUM 18.8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Indicative Reading List | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other Resources None | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Programme or List of Programmes |
CSSE | Cert in Software Sys & Entrepreneurship |
IS | BSc in Management of Info Tech/Info Syst |
IT | BSc in Information Technology |
ITS | Diploma/BSc in Information Technology |
- See the module specification for CB in 2003 - 2004
- See the module specification for CB in 2004 - 2005
- See the module specification for CB in 2005 - 2006
- See the module specification for CB in 2006 - 2007
- See the module specification for CB in 2007 - 2008
- See the module specification for CB in 2008 - 2009
- See the module specification for CB in 2009 - 2010
- See the module specification for CB in 2010 - 2011
- See the module specification for CB in 2011 - 2012
- See the module specification for CB in 2012 - 2013
- See the module specification for CB in 2013 - 2014
- See the module specification for CB in 2014 - 2015
- See the module specification for CB in 2015 - 2016
- See the module specification for CB in 2016 - 2017
- See the module specification for CB in 2017 - 2018
- See the module specification for CB in 2018 - 2019
- See the module specification for CB in 2019 - 2020
- See the module specification for CB in 2020 - 2021
- See the module specification for CB in 2021 - 2022
- See the module specification for CB in 2022 - 2023
- See the module specification for CB in 2023 - 2024
- See the module specification for the current year