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92 Part 1 • SyStemS analySiS FundamentalS

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HYPERCaSE ExPERIENCE 3.2

“Sometimes the people who have been here for some time are 2. Using the software evaluation guidelines given in the chap-
surprised at how much we have actually grown. Yes, I do admit ter, do a brief evaluation of GEMS, a software package
that it isn’t easy to keep track of what each person is up to or even used by the Training and Management Systems Department
what purchases each department has made in the way of hardware employees. In a paragraph, briefly critique this custom soft-
and software. We’re working on it, though. Snowden would like ware by comparing it with COTS software such as Microsoft
to see more accountability for computer purchases. He wants to Project.
make sure we know what we have, where it is, why we have it, 3. List the intangible costs and benefits of GEMS, as reported
who’s using it, and if it’s boosting MRE productivity, or, as he so by employees of MRE.
delicately puts it, ‘to see whether it’s just an expensive toy’ that we 4. Briefly describe the two alternatives Snowden is considering
can live without.” for the proposed project tracking and reporting system.
5. What organizational and political factors should Snowden
HYPERCASE Questions consider in proposing his new system at MRE? (In a brief
paragraph, discuss three central conflicts.)
1. Complete a computer equipment inventory for the Training
and Management Systems Department, describing all the
systems you find. Hint: Create an inventory form to simplify
your task.

Figure 3.HC1
The reception room resembles a typical corporation. While you are in this HyperCase
screen, click on the small red directory if you want to visit an MRE employee.

Summary
The five major project management fundamentals that a systems analyst must handle are (1) project initiation—
defining a problem, (2) determining project feasibility, (3) activity planning and control, (4) project schedul-
ing, and (5) managing systems analysis team members. When faced with questions of how businesses can