Business INFORMATION SYSTEMS
B6-BIS-20
System Development-Build &
Implement
Learning objectives
• After this lecture, you will be able to:
– state the purpose of the build phase and its
difference from changeover and
implementation;
– specify the different types of testing required for
a system;
– select the best alternatives for changing from an
old system to a new system;
– recognise the importance of managing software,
IS and organisational change associated with
the introduction of a new BIS.
System build and implementation
• System build: The creation of software by
programmers involving programming, building release
versions of the software and testing by programmers
and end-users. Writing
of documentation and training may also occur at this
stage.
• System implementation: Involves the transition or
changeover from the old system to the new and the
preparation for this such as making sure the hardware
and network infrastructure for a new system are in
place; testing of the system and also human issues of
how best to educate and train staff who will be using or
will be affected by the new system.
• Maintenance: Deals with reviewing the IS project and
acting on problems with the system.
• Change management: The period of migration from
Software quality
• The quality of the software is dependent on
two key factors:
– the number of errors or bugs in the software;
– the suitability of the software to its intended
purpose, that is, does it have the features
identified by users which are in the
requirements specification?
Examples of sources of introducing errors
Ideal proportions of time for
different project phases
Data migration
• Data migration: Data migration is the
transfer of data from the old system to the new
system. When data are added to a database,
this is known as populating the database.
• Import and export: Data can be ‘exported’
from an old system and then ‘imported’ into a
new system.
Testing
• Test specification: A detailed description of
the tests that will be performed to check the
software works correctly.
• Test plan: Plan describing the type and
sequence of testing and who will conduct it.
Maintenance
• Maintenance: Maintenance occurs after the
system has been signed off as suitable for
users. It involves reviewing the project and
recording and acting on problems with the
system.
Post-implementation review
• Post-implementation review: A meeting
that occurs after a system is operational to
review the success of the project.
• The review could include the following:
– faults and suggested enhancements with
agreement on which need to be implemented in
a future release;
– success of system in meeting its budget and
timescale targets;
– success of system in meeting its business
requirements – has it delivered the anticipated
benefits described in the feasibility study?
– development practices that worked well and
poorly during the project.
Change management
• The main activities undertaken by a manager of
systems development projects are essentially
concerned with managing change. Managing change
takes different forms.
1. Software change management
– Managing technical changes to the software
requirements as the system is developed through
prototyping and testing.
2. Information system change management
– How organisations can manage the transition or
changeover to a new information system from an old
system.
3. Organisational change management
– How the introduction of a new system can affect the
business users and action that can be taken to manage
this organisational change. The role of organisational
Alternative changeover methods for
system implementation
Assessing different changeover
methods
Achieving organisational change
• Resistance to change may manifest itself in the
following ways:
– Aggression – in which there may be physical sabotage of
the system, deliberate entry of erroneous data or abuse
of systems staff.
– Projection – where the system is wrongly blamed for
difficulties encountered while using it.
– Avoidance – withdrawal from or avoidance of interaction
with the system, non-input of data, reports and enquiries
ignored, or use of manual substitutes for the system.
• Training plays an important role in overcoming
resistance to change.
Thank you!
