SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT LIFE CYCLE ( SDLC )

 Phases of system Development life cycle (SDLC)

Businesses and organizations use various types of information systems to support the many processes needed to carry out their business functions. Each of these information systems has a particular purpose or focus, and each has a life of its own. This "life of its own concept in called the systems development life cycle or SDLC, and it includes the entire process of planning, building, deploying, ring. updating, and maintaining an information system.

Planning:

Planning the system requires the user to define what the problem is. The planning may also in  how the user would like to solve the problem. Once the problem is determined, and one or more solutions have been selected, planning to implement the solution begins. Multiple scenarios determine the best course of action for implementing the system.

Course of action should be well documented and take into consideration a schedule showing anticipated start and completion times of activities leading to the objectives, knowing expenditures required to achieve objectives, scheduling regular status reviews, implementing policies and procedures for decision making, and defining a standard level of performance.

Analysis:

The analysis phase involves gathering requirements for the system. The system analysis phase focuses on what the system will do in an effort that views all stakeholders, as viable sources of information. In the analysis phase, a significant amount of time is spent talking with stakeholders and reviewing the stakeholder's input.

Along with meeting with stakeholders, the analyst must meet with end users to understand what the user's needs are and to learn about problems that affect the current system in order to assist with designing a new and more efficient system.

Design: 

The design phase is concerned with the physical construction of the system, Included are the design or configuration of the network (hardware, operating system, programming, etc.), design of user interfaces (forms, reports, etc.), design of system interfaces (for communication with other systems), and security issues. It is important that the proposed design be tested for performance, and to ensure that it meets the requirements outlined during the analysis phase. In other words, the main objective of this phase is to transform the previously defined requirements into a complete and detailed set of specifications which will be used during the next phase.

Implementation:

Initiating a project first requires the documenting of needs or requirements. Clear objectives should be developed from this study with reasons for selecting the objectives. Deliverables then need to be documented along with the project scope. Scope can be refined during this initialization process Assumptions and constraints should also be documented. This information will become the projects charter and the basis for initiating the project. The project then follows the PLAN-DO CHECK-ACT.

Testing:

is a crucial phase in the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) that ensures the delivery of high-quality software products. It involves evaluating the software's functionality, performance, and security to identify defects and errors. Various testing techniques, such as unit testing, integration testing, system testing, and acceptance testing, are employed to validate the software against requirements. Testing activities include test planning, test case development, test environment setup, test execution, defect reporting, and test closure. Effective testing helps reduce costs, improves customer satisfaction, and mitigates risks associated with software development, ultimately ensuring the delivery of reliable and efficient software products.

Maintenance / Support:

Maintenance and support covers all activities that are required once the system is in place. Activities include, but are not limited to:

✓ Phone support for users

Physical onsite user support

Resolving any issues that may arise with the new system

✓ Providing support materials/tools for users