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Chapter 13 Building Information Systems 529

The systems designer details the system specifications that will deliver
the functions identified during systems analysis. These specifications should
address all of the managerial, organizational, and technological components of
the system solution. Table 13.1 lists the types of specifications that would be
produced during systems design.
Like houses or buildings, information systems may have many possible
designs. Each design represents a unique blend of all technical and organi-
zational components. What makes one design superior to others is the ease
and efficiency with which it fulfills user requirements within a specific set of
technical, organizational, financial, and time constraints.

The Role of End Users
User information requirements drive the entire system-building effort. Users
must have sufficient control over the design process to ensure that the system
reflects their business priorities and information needs, not the biases of the
technical staff. Working on design increases users’ understanding and accep-
tance of the system. As we describe in Chapter 14, insufficient user involve-
ment in the design effort is a major cause of system failure. However, some
systems require more user participation in design than others, and Section 13.3
shows how alternative systems development methods address the user partici-
pation issue.

COMPLETING THE SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

The remaining steps in the systems development process translate the solution
specifications established during systems analysis and design into a fully
operational information system. These concluding steps consist of program-
ming, testing, conversion, production, and maintenance.

TABLE 13.1 DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS
OUTPUT PROCESSING DOCUMENTATION
Medium Computations Operations documentation
Content Program modules Systems documentation
Timing Required reports User documentation
INPUT Timing of outputs CONVERSION
Origins MANUAL PROCEDURES Transfer files
Flow What activities Initiate new procedures
Data entry Who performs them Select testing method
USER INTERFACE When Cut over to new system
Simplicity How TRAINING
Efficiency Where Select training techniques
Logic CONTROLS Develop training modules
Feedback Input controls (characters, limit, Identify training facilities
Errors reasonableness) ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES
DATABASE DESIGN Processing controls (consistency, record counts) Task redesign
Logical data model Output controls (totals, samples of output) Job design
Volume and speed requirements Procedural controls (passwords, special forms) Process design
File organization and design SECURITY Organization structure design
Record specifications Access controls Reporting relationships
Catastrophe plans
Audit trails

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