Cape Breton University

 

Systems Analysis

 

Math 271 (Fall 2009) Course Outline

 

Instructor: Dr. George Chen

Office: A129 G

Phone: 563-1825

Email: george_chen@cbu.ca

Homepage: http://faculty.cbu.ca/gchen

Office hour: Mon., Tue., Thur. Fri. 10:30-11:20; Tue. 2:30-3:20

 

Textbook: Essentials of Systems Analysis and Design (fourth edition)

Author: Valacich, George, Hoffer

 

Prerequisites:

One 3-credit programming course, preferably Math 187 plus some basic Object-oriented programming

 

Course Description:

The main focus of this course is the analysis of software systems. Techniques for structured and object-oriented software analysis are examined. Although emphasis is placed on analysis, the topics will also cover software design and development, data model design and the common gateway interface (web client and server).

 

Course Contents (subject to change):

 

  1. Introduction to systems analysis -- how to develop information systems, how to analyze business needs, and how to find requirements of an information systems that is constructed to fulfill these needs; what is the role of the systems analyst.
  2. Software design life cycle -- seven steps of the systems development cycle will be analyzed.
  3. Introduction to dataflow diagrams -- discuss content diagram, dataflow diagram and their relations, rules, decompositions, consistent and balancing; the difference between logical and physical dataflow diagrams.
  4. Logical modeling -- analyze structure English, decision table and decision tree.
  5. Introduction to data mode and database -- discuss conceptual data modeling, data dictionary, E-R diagram, simple data mode and database design and simple structured query language.
  6. Object Oriented Analysis and design -- introduce unified modeling language, include use of case, class, sequence, collaboration, state diagrams.
  7. The common gateway interface and web applications – platform chosen, basic HTTP, HTML, URL, implementation of database, simple client and server page design by using Apache, PHP and MySQL.

                

Marking Scheme:

               Assignments             20%

               Projects                    30%

               Final                         50%

 

Remark:

Your class attendance will affect your final grade.

 

Problems with this course?

 

If you have having difficulty with the academic content of the course, that is exactly what the instructor's office hours are for.  Consult the instructor during office hours (or, by appointment, at another mutually agreed time) to get help with the ideas that are bothering you.

 

If you feel there are problems with other aspects of the course (e.g., scheduling, grading formula, teaching style, etc.), the steps to follow are these:

 

If the problem concerns any aspect of the lecture portion of the course confer with the instructor in the course. 

 

If no satisfactory resolution comes from the preceding step, confer with the Chair of the Department

 

If no satisfactory resolution comes from the preceding step, contact the office of the Dean of Science and Technology at 563-1110 or by visiting B214.  The Dean's secretary will arrange an appointment with the Dean in an effort to resolve the problem.

 

As a general rule, the lab and classroom instructors in a given course should be given every opportunity to address student complaints before any other action is taken.  In particular, students should avoid asking any instructor other than the Chair of the department involved or the Dean of the School to whom the instructor reports to intervene in a problem with another instructor's course.