Ash INF340 discussions

Week 1

Discussion1

Building a System

Selecting Software Why is it important to use systems analysis and design methodologies when building a system? Why not just build the system in whatever way seems to be “quick and easy”? What value is provided by using an “engineering” approach? Also, Give a specific example of an organization (not one listed in the book) that does a good job of this and why. Respond to at least two of your classmates’ postings.

Review the criteria for selecting off-the-shelf software presented in this chapter. Use your experience and imagination and describe other criteria that are, or might be used to select off-the-shelf software in the real world. For each new criterion, explain how its use might be functional (i.e., it is useful to use this criterion…), dysfunctional, or both. Respond to at least two of your classmates’ postings.

Week 2

Managing Projects

Take a tour of FastTrack Schedule 9's top features. See how you can use the leading easy-to-use project management software for planning, tracking, and visualizing project goals on a Mac or PC.

For your discussion question, explain how three features of the FastTrack Schedule 9’s features will help you manage information systems projects. Be specific in relating the feature to the systems tasks you would want to achieve with it. Respond to at least two of your classmates’ postings.

Cost-Benefit Analysis

Imagine that you are interviewing for a job when the interviewer asks you which cost-benefit analysis technique is best for assessing a project’s economic feasibility. What would your response be? Respond to at least two of your classmates’ postings.

Week 3

Business Processes

When conducting a business process re-engineering study, what should you look for when trying to identify business processes for change? Why? Give a specific example. Respond to at least two of your classmates’ postings.

Disruptive Technologies

What are disruptive technologies and how do they enable organizations to change their business processes radically? Give a specific example. Respond to at least two of your classmates’ postings.

Week 4

Diagramming Tools

Discuss the importance of diagramming tools for process modeling. Without such tools, what would analysts do to model diagrams? Respond to at least two of your classmates’ postings.

System Development Approaches

Select one of the system development approaches (structured, information, engineering, and object-oriented) and give an example of a business process or problem that would use that approach. Provide supporting rationale. Respond to at least two of your classmates’ postings.

Week 5

Alternative Solutions

How do analysts generate alternative solutions to information systems problems? Respond to at least two of your classmates’ postings.

Evaluation of Learning

List three things you learned from this class and how you will apply them. In addition, list three things you learned from your learning community of peer learners and the instructor. Respond to at least two of your classmates’ postings