What is the system development cycle?

General Computer Question 27: What is the  system development cycle?

Answer:   Today, the development of a computer system is generally based on a  systems development cycle model. In such a model, the systems development process is broken down into a number of manageable phases. By breaking the task down into smaller units, the systems analyst can receive feedback at each stage of development and can thus assure the effectiveness and success of the system. This systems development cycle approach also reduces the cost of systems development because the greatest expenditures are made during the later phases of the cycle (the earlier stages mostly involve planning). Although individual organizations may break the systems development process down differently, the best approach is to break the task down into small, manageable units. For example, we could break the systems development task down into the following five phases:

• Phase 1: Problem definition (gather information, observe users, prioritize tasks, analyze written documentation, determine cost-effectiveness, prepare a report).
• Phase 2: Feasibility analysis (put together a study team, determine the impact, interview users, produce data flow diagrams, determine costs, rank the proposed solutions, prepare a report).
• Phase 3: Solutions analysis (determine the steps that must be undertaken to implement the new system, analyze user reports and compare to system purposes, determine organizational responsibilities, prepare an analytical report of the proposed system).
• Phase 4: System specification (determine which system - both hardware and software - would meet the needs described in the steps above and determine costs and impact on the organization for that system).
• Phase 5: Implementation (purchase the system components, develop a continuing data collection system, develop an implementation schedule, specify the steps for a  parallel conversion method while continuing to use the existing system or a  phased conversion to phase in the new system gradually, or a  direct conversion in which the new system immediately replaces the existing system.)