Information system development

Information system development is the process of creating or modifying an existing information system to meet the needs of an organization. It involves identifying the requirements of the system, defining the scope of the system, designing the system architecture, developing the system components, testing the system and implementing the system. The project management of an information system development project typically includes planning, organizing, directing and controlling the project scope, schedule, budget and resources. It also involves monitoring, evaluating and controlling the project work, quality and risks to ensure the system is delivered on time and within budget.

Example of information system development

• Healthcare Information System Development: Healthcare information system development involves developing systems to collect, store, manage, analyze, and interpret patient information. Examples of healthcare information system development include creating electronic medical records (EMRs), developing patient portals, and creating telemedicine platforms.
• Educational Information System Development: Educational information system development involves developing systems to manage student information and learning resources. Examples of educational information system development include creating student information systems (SISs), developing learning management systems (LMSs), and creating online learning platforms.
• Financial Information System Development: Financial information system development involves developing systems to manage financial data and transactions. Examples of financial information system development include creating financial reporting systems, developing customer relationship management (CRM) systems, and creating payment processing platforms.

Best practices of information system development

1. Establish a Clear Project Vision: Before starting the system development process, the project manager should establish a clear vision of the system requirements and objectives. This will help ensure that everyone involved in the project is on the same page and working towards the same goal.
2. Define the Project Scope: It is important to define the scope of the project early on to ensure that the project’s goals and objectives are achievable. Defining the scope should include determining the features, timeline, budget, and resources required to complete the project.
3. Develop a Detailed Project Plan: After the project scope has been established, the project manager should develop a detailed project plan. The plan should include all of the tasks, timeline, budget, and resources needed to complete the project.
4. Secure Resources: It is important to secure all necessary resources prior to beginning the system development process. This includes personnel, hardware, software, and tools.
5. Monitor Project Progress: The project manager should monitor the project progress throughout the system development process. This includes tracking progress, budget, and resources to ensure that the project remains on track.
6. Manage Risks: It is important to identify and manage risks associated with the project. The project manager should identify any potential risks and develop a plan to mitigate them.
7. Test and Validate System: After the system is developed, it should be tested and validated to ensure that it meets the requirements and objectives established in the project plan.
8. Implement System: After the system has been tested and validated, it should be implemented in the organization. This includes training personnel and documenting system procedures.
9. Monitor System Performance: After the system is implemented, the project manager should monitor the system performance to ensure that the system is meeting the established objectives.

When to use information system development

Information system development is used in a wide variety of applications, including:

• Automating business processes: Information system development can be used to automate manual business processes, such as customer relationship management (CRM), enterprise resource planning (ERP) and supply chain management (SCM).
• Developing customer-facing web applications: Information system development can be used to create customer-facing web applications, such as online shopping carts, interactive product catalogs or customer portals.
• Enhancing customer service: Information system development can be used to develop customer service applications, such as customer self-service systems and customer case management systems.
• Developing mobile applications: Information system development can be used to create mobile applications, such as mobile banking and mobile gaming.
• Integrating systems: Information system development can be used to integrate multiple systems, such as data warehouses, customer databases and financial systems.
• Developing decision support systems: Information system development can be used to create decision support systems, such as data warehouses and data mining tools.

Steps of information system development

Information system development is a process that involves many steps and phases. The following are the steps in the information system development process:

• System Requirements Analysis: This involves understanding the needs of the organization and defining the scope of the system. This includes identifying the stakeholders, gathering and analyzing system requirements, and creating a system architecture.
• System Design: This includes designing the system databases, interfaces, and components, and creating a system prototype.
• System Development: This involves creating the system components, coding and testing the system, and integrating the various components.
• System Implementation: This involves deploying the system and training users on how to use it.
• System Maintenance: This involves monitoring and managing the system, making modifications, and troubleshooting any issues that may arise.

Advantages of information system development

Information system development can bring great benefits to an organization by improving its operational efficiency, data security, and cost-effectiveness. The following are some of the advantages of information system development:

• Increased Efficiency: Information system development enables organizations to automate their processes and workflows, allowing them to achieve higher levels of efficiency and productivity. Automation can reduce manual errors, improve accuracy and reduce the time required to complete tasks.
• Improved Data Security: Information system development provides organizations with improved data security. By implementing effective security protocols, organizations can reduce the risk of data breaches and protect sensitive information from unauthorized access.
• Cost Savings: Information system development can also help organizations save money. By automating workflows and reducing manual processes, organizations can reduce labor costs and achieve cost savings. Additionally, by taking advantage of cloud-based systems, organizations can reduce their IT infrastructure costs and eliminate the need to purchase and maintain expensive hardware.
• Improved Decision Making: Information system development can also improve decision-making processes. By providing access to accurate, up-to-date data, organizations can make informed decisions that are based on reliable data.
• Improved Customer Service: Information system development can also improve customer service by enabling organizations to respond quickly to customer inquiries and requests. Automated processes can help organizations manage customer relationships and provide customers with a better overall experience.

Limitations of information system development

Information system development projects are complex, long-term projects that require significant resources, technical expertise, and collaboration between multiple stakeholders. There are several limitations of information system development that can affect the success of a project, including:

• Budget constraints - Information system development projects can be expensive and require a significant amount of financial resources, making it difficult to develop a system within budget.
• Time constraints - Information system development projects often have tight deadlines, making it difficult to develop a system within the given timeline.
• Technical difficulties - Information system development projects can be complex and require technical expertise, making it difficult to develop a system without the necessary technical skills.
• Lack of collaboration - Information system development projects require collaboration between multiple stakeholders, making it difficult to coordinate efforts without proper communication and coordination.
• Legacy systems - Information system development projects can be hindered by legacy systems, as it can be difficult to integrate the new system with existing systems.
• User resistance - Information system development projects can be met with resistance from users, as they may be unwilling to use the new system due to lack of familiarity.

Information system development — recommended articles

Project management information system — Information technology management — Outsourcing project — Bim in construction — Enterprise information system — Availability of information — Software development process — Business process management — Computer department

References

• Barki, H., & Hartwick, J. (2001). Interpersonal conflict and its management in information system development. MIS quarterly, 195-228.