IS 240: Systems Analysis & Logical Design
Fall 2010
Course Description
Students learn to elicit, organize, and analyze
requirements for new and existing information systems. Coverage
emphasizes current practice; including use case analysis, the Unified
Modeling Language, and iterative project methodologies. CASE tools are
used as appropriate. As part of a team project, students develop
requirements for a database application of limited scope and then
prototype and/or evaluate systems that meet the requirements.
Prerequisite: IS100
Learning Objectives
- To learn the rudiments of systems analysis, including assessing business needs,
articulating needs into projects, assessing project feasibility, and
specifying functional and information requirements.
- To develop communication skills needed to carry out systems analysis.
- To gain proficiency with the tools of the trade.
- To complement other courses in project management, database management, and application development.
Instructor
Vishnu Vinekar
Dolan School of Business, Room 1117
Phone: (203) 254-4000 x2831
Email: v vinekar
[AT] fairfield [DOT] edu
Office Hours: Tuesdays 2:00-2:30pm and 6:15-7pm. Thursdays 6:15-7pm.
Other times are by appointment only.
Textbook
Satzinger, Jackson, and Burd. 2008. Systems Analysis &
Design in a Changing World, Fifth Edition, Thompson.
Student Responsibilities/Grading Criteria
- Quizzes (15% weight each). There will be three
quizzes, each covering a few chapters of the textbook plus any class
notes or other materials.
- Team Assignments (50% weight). Each team
will complete three short projects designed to illustrate how the
theory applies to a real project. Work is completed in groups of 4
students each, with exceptions permitted only with the explicit
permission of the instructor. To ensure that each team has
sufficient diversity and depth to complete the projects, the
instructor will review all teams and make adjustments as needed.
- Conspicuous Professionalism (5%). Every student
will start out the semester with 5 professionalism points toward
their course grade. Unprofessional behavior (e.g., showing up
unprepared for class) will result in points being deducted.
Conversely, conspicuous sustained professionalism will result in up
to 5 extra credit points being added as warranted.
- Homework Exercises (non-graded). Homework
and extra reading assignments will be assigned to help you prepare for
class and quizzes. No attempt will be made to grade homework, though you
are welcome to request feedback and guidance from the instructor as
needed.
Grading Policies
- Grades become final one week after assignments have been
returned.
- Some assignments are graded provisionally, with the
expectation that you will revise to improve your grade.
- Assignments and exams are not collaborative unless you
have been explicitly told otherwise. Violation of this policy will
result in an automatic F for the course. You have been
warned.
- Do your own work, even on the group assignments. While the
University's plagiarism policy does not generally apply to the kind of
creative/novel work in this class, you are still expected to “pledge”
assignments when required by your instructor. Failure to do so results
in a zero for the assignment.
Course Calendar
The following is subject to change. Monitor the website for
announcements. Items in italics are carried out with your project
teams.
Week |
Lecture Topics & Exercises |
Reading |
Sept 2 |
Introduction |
|
Sept 7 |
The Systems Analyst |
Ch 1 |
Sept 14 |
Development Strategies |
Ch 2 |
Sept 21 |
Project Initiation and Planning,
Project #1 Due |
Ch 3 |
Sept 28 |
Project Initiation Workshop |
|
Oct 5 |
Quiz #1, System
Requirements |
Ch 4 |
Oct 12 |
No Tuesday class,
Requirements Modeling Overview |
Ch 5 |
Oct 19 |
Requirements Modeling Overview
Project #2 Due |
Ch 5 |
Oct 26 |
Use Case & Process Modeling |
|
Nov 2 |
Quiz #2, Entity Modeling |
|
Nov 9 |
OO Analysis, UC Diagrams |
Ch 7 |
Nov 16 |
SS Diagrams, CASE Tools |
|
Nov 23 |
No Class |
|
Nov 30 |
System Evaluation, Quiz #3 |
Ch 8 |
Dec 7 |
Project #3 Practice |
|
Final Project Presentations: Friday, December 17th @
3:00pm
The instructor reserves the right to change the course schedule. All
changes will be announced in class. It is your responsibility to keep
track of any changes.