Ais development Strategies

AIS Development Strategies

Chapter 11

Learning Objectives

• Describe how organizations purchase application software, vendor services, and hardware
• Explain how information system departments develop custom software
• Explain how end users develop, use, and control computer-based information systems
• Explain why organizations outsource their information systems, and evaluate the benefits and risks of this strategy

Learning Objectives

• Explain the principles and challenges of business process management
• Describe how prototypes are used to develop an AIS, and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of doing so
• Explain what computer-aided software engineering is and how it is used in systems development

How to Obtain an AIS

• Purchase
• Develop in-house
• Outsource to outside organization

Purchasing

• Select a vendor (from referrals, trade shows, etc.)
• Request for proposal (RFP) that meets needs
• Evaluate proposals
• Top vendors invited to give demonstrations on how their system will fit your needs
• Make a final selection based upon your criteria

Develop Software In-House

• Advantages
• Provides a significant competitive advantage
• Risks
• Requires significant amounts of time
• Complexity of the system
• Poor requirements defined
• Insufficient planning
• Inadequate communication and cooperation
• Lack of qualified staff
• Poor top management support

End-User Computing

Advantages

• Allows for end-users to create, control, and implement simple systems
• More likely to meet user needs
• Saves time
• Frees up system resources
• Easy to use and understand

Disadvantages

• Lack of testing of application and possible calculation errors
• Inefficient systems
• Poorly controlled
• Poorly documented
• System incompatibilities
• Duplication of data
• Increase costs in later years with upgrades

Outsourcing

Advantages

• Allows companies to concentrate on core competencies
• Asset utilization
• Access to greater expertise and better technology
• Lower costs by standardizing user applications and splitting development and maintenance costs between projects
• Less development time
• Elimination of peaks-and-valleys usage
• Facilitates downsizing

Disadvantage

• Inflexibility
• Loss of control
• Reduced competitive advantage
• Locked-in system
• Unfulfilled goals
• Poor service
• Increased risk

Business Process Management Systems

• Automate and facilitate business process improvements using:
• Process engine to model and execute applications and business rules
• Business analytics to identify issues, trends, and opportunities
• Collaboration tools to remove communication barriers
• Content manager to store electronic documents and images

Prototyping

Advantages

• Results in well-defined user needs
• Higher user satisfaction and involvement
• Faster development time
• Fewer errors
• Opportunities to suggest changes
• Less costly

Disadvantages

• Requires significant user time
• Resource efficiency may not be achieved
• Inadequate testing and documentation
• Negative behavioral reactions
• Continuous development of iterations leaves a feeling of no project completion

Computer-Aided Software Engineering (CASE)

Advantages

• Improved productivity
• Improved program quality
• Cost savings
• Improved control procedures
• Simplified documentation

Disadvantages

• Incompatibility with other systems
• Unmet expectations

Thank You