This book provides a set of tools and techniques for the systems practitioner who needs to design and implement a computer-based information system from a user's partially formed idea. It then underpins these descriptive tools and techniques with academic theories and ideas. Using actual case studies to illustrate the concepts, the authors aim to present a coherent methodology and comprehensive coverage of the roles and tasks of the systems developers and users during the life-cycle of a project Designing Information Systems focuses on the processes, methodologies, and approaches involved in designing information systems. The book first describes systems, management and control, and how to design information systems. Discussions focus on documents produced from the functional construction function, users, operators, analysts, programmers and others, process management and control, levels of management, open systems, design of management information systems, and business system description, partitioning, and leveling. The text then takes a look at functional specification and functional analysis, procedures and rules, and data modeling and data analysis. Concerns cover charting conventions and data modeling concepts, domains and domain integrity, deciding the most appropriate design solutions, and presentation of solutions to the user community. The manuscript examines implementation, user participation, aspects of human-computer interaction, project management, and system evaluation. Topics include appraisal of the simple approach, system evaluation with multiple purposes, data flows, data analysis and the data model, approaches to user involvement, and post-implementation evaluation and audit. The text is a valuable source of data for computer programmers and researchers wanting to explore how information systems are designed. Content: Front Matter, Page iii Copyright, Page iv Preface, Pages v-vii Chapter 1 - System basics, Pages 3-11 Chapter 2 - Describing systems, Pages 12-36 Chapter 3 - Management and control, Pages 37-48 Chapter 4 - How to design information systems, Pages 51-66 Chapter 5 - Functional specification and functional analysis, Pages 67-110 Chapter 6 - Procedures and rules, Pages 111-132 Chapter 7 - Data modelling and data analysis, Pages 133-166 Chapter 8 - How the system behaves, Pages 167-206 Chapter 9 - System evaluation, Pages 207-237 Chapter 10 - The data dictionary, Pages 241-261 Chapter 11 - Project management, Pages 262-285 Chapter 12 - Aspects of human–computer interaction (HCI), Pages 289-312 Chapter 13 - User participation, Pages 313-322 Chapter 14 - Implementation, Pages 325-340 Answer pointers, Pages 341-359 Index, Pages 361-367 Aimed at both students and practitioners, this text aims to present a comprehensive methodology for the implementation of computer-based information systems. Providing both tools and techniques for design and implementation, it also presents theories and case studies.
