System analysis is a process by which activities in an organization are evaluated to identify the objectives and how they can be achieved. It involves methodological study that analyzes data processing in a business firm and recommends on ways of achieving the set goals. It gives a guideline on how experts in various areas can combine their expertise to meet the future needs. System analysis is applied in various production activities. It is applied in business to examine whether all organizational activities are performed to the best quality standards (Kock, 2007). The process is done in majorly six steps: problem identification, feasibility study, system identification and design, system implementation and system evaluation. System design suggests changes that are used to transform the present system through performance alteration. This paper highlights the differences between system analysis and system design.
System analysis is the step that follows the development of a new system. It involves a comprehensive study of the existing system, directing the specification of developing the new system. It gives a detailed study of the operational performance undertaken by the system, and gives the relationship that exists between the system and its external surroundings. It is a detailed procedure where data are collected based on the available files and the deal handled by the system. Comparatively, business design phase is the most significant section in the development of the newly formed system (Shelly & Rosenblatt, 2012). The process occurs in two steps: the preliminary and structure design. In the preliminary stage, the new characteristics of the innovated system are outlined. The implementation cost and beneficial outcomes are approximated. The detailed stage of this phase is computer oriented and formulated at this stage.
System analysis also differs from system design in that the analysis phase aims at determining business requirements, whereas design determines the ways through which the specified system implementations can be met. The analytical stage includes practices that are structured to file function and characteristics of the new system. During the design phase, the features included in the analysis part are retained. Design is meant to figure out on the ways of creating a system that will contain all the features required as stated in the analysis stage. System analysis is a problem-solving step aimed at bringing solutions to the problems faced by an organization, whereas system design gives specifications and direction on how to solve the problems facing that particular organization. In addition, system analysis is the third step in the system development life cycle (Shelly & Rosenblatt, 2012).
Business analysts determine the software’s prerequisite and stipulation. The analyst provides the guidance for the program development and design. The analyst’s tasks in the information and technology project involve building and programming the sections of the development process of the system. The analyst undertakes the research process on application of information technology and ways of improving the effectiveness of the system. The analysts test the new system design and repair the problems detected in the system. In the process of solving the problem, data modeling is used to bring the remedy to the identified problems (Kock, 2007).
System analysis and design are phases that are used in the system development cycle. They are used to validate the suitability of the new system invented. They are also used in various projects as a gold standard to ensure that the objectives stipulated in the project are achieved. Business analysis entails several stages that are used to define problems in an organization and possible solutions to these problems.
References
Kock, N. (2007). Systems analysis & design fundamentals a business process redesign approach. Thousand Oaks, Calif: Sage Publications.
Shelly, G. & Rosenblatt, H. (2012). Systems analysis and design. Boston: Course Technology Cengage Learning.
