additional systems analysis work, or stop all further work. Depending on their decision,
your next task as a systems analyst will be one of the following:
1. Implement an outsourcing alternative. If outsourcing is selected, you will work
with representatives of the service provider to achieve a smooth transition to the
new environment.
2. Develop an in-house system. Begin systems design tasks, as described in
Chapters 8, 9, and 10.
3. Purchase or customize a software package. Negotiate the purchase terms with the
software vendor for management approval. Then, if the package will be used
without modification, you can begin planning the systems implementation phase.
If you must make modifications to the package, your next step is to start the systems design phase. If the vendor will make the modifications, then your next step
is to start planning the testing and documentation of the modifications as part of
the systems implementation phase, which is described in Chapter 11.
4. Perform additional systems analysis work. Management might want you to investigate certain alternatives further, explore alternatives not examined, develop a
prototype, reduce the project scope because of cost constraints, or expand the
project scope based on new developments. If necessary, you will perform the
additional work and schedule a follow-up presentation.
5. Stop all further work. The decision might be based on your recommendation,
a shift in priorities or costs, or for other reasons. Whatever the reason, if that is
management’s decision, then you have no additional tasks for the project other
than to file all your research in a logical location so it can be retrieved if the
project is reopened in the future.
After the presentation and management decision, you will begin a transition to the
systems design phase of the SDLC. If you are developing an in-house system or modifying a package, you will build a model of the proposed system and start designing the
system’s output, input, files, and data structures. The following sections describe several
tools and techniques that can assist you in that process, including prototyping, CASE
tools, and alternative graphical tools.