Annaliza E. Nebres

OOC

Book Review

                   Book: Systems Analysis and Design

                   Author: Kendall and Kandall

                   Reference no.: QA 76.9 S88 K45 2005

Quotations (Chapter 6)

          “ As the systems analyst presenting a prototype of information system they are keenly interested in the reactions of users and management to working with prototype and how good the fir is between their need and the prototype features of the system”.

Prototyping

(Four Kinds of Prototyping)

Prototyping is a worthwhile technique for quickly gathering information. For effective prototyping, it should come first in the system development life cycle in the second phae (determination phase). Using prototyping, the systems analyst seeks initial reactions from the users and the management to the prototype.

Prototypes have four kinds; patched-up prototype; non operational prototype; first-of-a-series prototype and selected features prototyped.

Patched up prototype is the first conception which something to do with constructing a system that works but is patched up or patched together. It is usually used in engineering to bread boarding; working model at an intergraded circuit. One example is a working model that has necessary features but is efficient. In this case of prototyping the users can interact with the system, getting accustomed to the interface and types of output available. It may be inefficient but with written rapidly with the objective it become workable.

Non operational prototype is the second conception, that a non working scale model that is set up to test as certain aspects of design. The good example of this is a full-scale model of an automobile that is used within the tunnel test. The car is not operational but the size and the shape of the auto is precise. The non working scale model of an information system might produce when the coding required by the application is too extensive but when a useful idea is gained through the prototyping of the input and output only. The undue cost and input would not be prototype. Some decision of the system like utility can be based on a prototyped input and output.

Full-of-a-series prototype the third conception after called pilot, involves creating a first full-scale model of a system. This prototyping is very useful when there are many installations of the same information system. It allows the users to experience realistic interaction with the new system but it minimizes the cost of preventing any problems that it presents. One example is found in banking installation for electronic funds transfer. First the full-scale prototype is installed in one or two locations and if it becomes successful it will install in all locations.

Selected featured prototype the fourth conception concerning in building an operational model includes some but not all of the features that the final system will have. When prototyping information system, some but not all essential features are include. This is where you select the features that the systems only need. The system is accomplished in modules so that if the features that are prototype are evaluated as successful. They can be incorporated into the larger. The prototypes done in this manner are part of the actual system.