Structured Analysis & Design

Where to start documenting a Legacy System

Rosie D — 2020-01-23T15:15:01Z

Hello, I've been tasked with documenting one of our legacy system. Oh and by the way, the only documentation is the code base. I've started with the intergrations, since that will allow the team to look at the poslibility of finding a vendor to possibly help with parts of this. I've documented legacy systems in past with documentation available. Any advice would be much appreciated.

Handling conflicts regarding tech stack management while implementing feature requirements

Analyst_Jith — 2021-06-14T17:11:27Z

Hey! Everyone Imagine yourself bein a consultant/analyst on an open-source SaaS development project, where the team members are geographicaly dispersed. How do you handle the requirements analysis if there is potential challenge or conflct in the tech stack management, and the development and operations rteams have opposing views on how a feature should turn out to be? I would appreciate a specific case that you encountered as a BA and the structured approach you undertook to resolve the issue and to keep the backlog and changes to the minimum.

Decision table

PM_NEW — 2021-03-19T20:34:36Z

I wonder if you guys can help me to understand and calculate this below. thank you. Generate- File. Note Table. Ascending Group.

x	-	-	-	-	- Open output employee
1	2	3	4	5	6 Move.... to Dept-Code. 1000 2001 2002 3004 7777 9990.
1	2	3	4	5	6 Move.... to Dept-Name. Stamping Assenbly Sales Maintenance Personnel Administration.
x	x	x	x	x	x Perform output-header thru output-header-exit
x	x	x	x	x	x Perform output-Details thru output-Details-exit
-	-	-	-	-	x Close employee

if output-header writes one record and output details writes 10 records, how many record will be written to employees? 66, 77, 88,99, 166?

Tools like Visual use Case

rinu 007 — 2018-08-14T17:40:05Z

i am been impressed with to a product called visual use case. where it creates activity and flow diagrams automatically by just typing few lines. i can create use cases with it easily. i was wondering if there is any product similar to this to create UML diagrams easily by just typing some text.

Spoken Querying with SQL

Vraj — 2020-01-30T05:56:59Z

We have built this system that enables practitioners to dictate SQL queries with multimodal interaction (speech- and touch-based correction) on emerging environments such as smartphones/tablets. This allows users to compose ad hoc queries over arbitrary tables and even slice and dice their data on the go. Although the current project is done in an academic research environment, we want to understand how this can be useful in an industrial setting. It would greatly help our research project if you can fill out this questionnaire: 'https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe14TTwGyaLtK0DL80h3OY20rLrQoEPpHu5hyRr9HVdxGZEuQ/viewform?usp=sf_link' class='_1FRfMxEAy__7c8vezYv9qP'>https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe14TTwGyaLtK0DL80h3OY20rLrQoEPpHu5hyRr9HVdxGZEuQ/viewform?usp=sf_link

Code Repository Policy

Ktynna — 2019-05-12T17:40:29Z

Hi Team, I need help with preparing a code repository policy document

UML: Use Case diagram for Create Invoice

David Jacobs — 2019-11-18T16:44:01Z

Hello all I've just joined Modern Analyst and would like to ask for some advice. I want to draw a use case diagram for Create Invoice (this is an example I am working on for my own edification). I have two use case ovals, Create Invoice (Header) and Create Invoice Line. This may not be the best way to approach it but it seems to me to be a two-way extend relationship. The user can create an invoice header and optionally create lines (or add lines later). And the user can create invoice lines, sometimes having to create a header first where one does not exist. In UML would this be best as Create Invoice without the detail or drawn as how? I believe a two-way extend is not a recommended construct for use case diagrams. Many thanks in advance for any thoughts. David Jacobs, business analyst

Tasks Involved as a BA in application lift and shift.

April — 2019-05-22T01:18:18Z

Hello All, I would like to know the list of activities that are required for a BA w.r.t an application lift and shift change. This is not a version upgrade project. On the high level how do I approach it ? Cheers,

Can you help with a systems analysis and design case?

JAlbin — 2018-04-11T23:35:41Z

Hello.

First off, if this topic does not belong here, I apologize.

My problem: I'm a university student working on a B.S. in CIS. I have a Systems Analysis and Design class where we are to construct a system based on a fictional business case. This is a group project which consists of four members. The problem is that two of us (including myself) are concentrating in Networking and the other two in Web Design, so our aptitude for systems analysis and design is not great and we are struggling quite immensely to come up with a simple solution. We are overthinking it and it's becoming increasingly frustrating. What I am wanting to know is if I can find help here. You can find the business case here: 'https://drive.google.com/open?id=1WZKfOr93UOC6gEZXapYk9EVn8QYlC12J' style='color: #0079d3;'>https://drive.google.com/open?id=1WZKfOr93UOC6gEZXapYk9EVn8QYlC12J

You will also see the levels of DFD we have created; use these as a reference at your own discretion. Essentially, we would like to make this system as simple as possible as long as it also meets the case requirements. We are using Vizio to create the DFDs and we will be using MS Access to demonstrate the ERD (where we connect the tables) and to actually build the system and query reports from it. I would like to know if we're on the right track. Where we are struggling the most is coming up with all the necessary tables needed for the ERD. In the DFD, we have three tables, but after trying to build the system with them, it seems we do not yet meet the requirements from the case (cries internally)

Thanks.

Code-based reverse analysis

EminovITAnalyst — 2018-01-12T06:34:16Z

Dear all, Could you please help me with the following question: Can a flow-diagram for a processes be generated based on a binary-code(deployed and running on server), which is decompiled to high-level language ? This seems to be the only option to me to produce the flow diagram, since I have no any documentation on the software to describe its flow. Best regards, and thank you for your comments.

Gap Analysis

Nick — 2014-04-02T10:46:45Z

Hi all, Having recently qualified as a business analyst, I've been tasked with carrying out a business system gap analysis. The company I work at is at that critical stage of having undergone significant growth over the last 10 years picking up a lot of legacy systems with no defined processes and completely lacking in any IT strategy. My main concern at the moment - prior to establishing the 'to be' business system with senior managers - is that there is no defined 'mission statement', vision or overall business strategy. Brief 'cup of coffee' chats have given me a worrying insight that the senior managers really don't know what the overall mission, objectives, strategy and tactics are, or indeed what the differences between them are. So I guess I'm asking for advice as to how to go about eliciting this information - it almost feels like I need to actually define what the company strategy is which is a rather daunting task! Or is it actually necessary? If, through the interviews, I establish consensual KPIs, CSFs and the 'to be' business activity model, is that enough to compare against the 'as is' business system? I know this is an amazing opportunity so I really want to nail it! Thanks, Nick

ERD & DFD

beanykenny — 2016-11-17T12:39:07Z

'/Portals/0/Users/157/45/108445/G00316008_Kenny.pdf'>G00316008_Kenny.pdf I've been the task of designing a system for a bank. Above is the Feasibility and Scope, I need to design the ERD and DFD but I have no clue if I'm going the right way. ALL help would be appreciated!!!

Advice for a Front-end UI/UX BA moving into Middleware?

AperryBA — 2016-03-25T19:38:07Z

So I have recently moved from my comfort zone of defining mobile and web front-end UI/UX BA requirements to defining requirements for Middleware systems. I have very little experience in this space. I have always worked with a web service BA or a tech lead who has been able to clearly communicate 'you need to send these data points, with these acceptable field lengths and allowed characters.' I am having a hard time conceptualizing this new world where the beginning and end out put is solely service requests and responses (irrespective of what the web application does with this data upon receipt). Any advice for this former UI/UX (WYSIWYG) BA turned systems BA?

Object Oriented Analysis & Design

Mhd_JN — 2014-09-10T19:17:05Z

Good evening every body I am very proud to be a member of this Community I hope to introduce something here. I wonder if here issues regarding OBJECT ORIENTED ANALYSIS DESIGN ? Many thanks

Technical Use Case - any other alternatives

cisco.leon — 2015-07-13T17:14:23Z

A team member is being ask to produce Technical Use cases on a project. It seems to relate to creating test cases to describe the functions and exception handling of a particular API. An API that resolves user permissions for a given system. Use Case just doesn't feel right here but I'm at a loss as to what exactly to prescribe. Activity Diagram or Sequence perhaps. Its just very strange to see in a UseCase the step where 'Developer check if Method X is present.'.

UC Name	Developer API and Policy Logic
Actors:	Developer, Developer Components, Security Service
Description:	The purpose of this use case is to document how Developer API and Policy Logic works confirming permissions for a user.
Pre-Conditions:	1. The Authorization Service is running successfully 2. The Security Service is running successfully 3. User connected to the network to access the DB in the respective environment (INT, QA, PROD)
Post-Conditions:	1. Return True or False for permissions aligned to a particular user
Triggers:	Developer confirms permissions for a particular user by using “HasPermissions” method.
Assumption	Existing application data is correct
Risk	Existing application data is incorrect
Rules	Developer has access to the network to access environment specific DB.
Main Flow (MF01):	Return Scope Tree Nodes (GetScopeTree)
	Step	User Action	System Action
	1	Developer confirms user permission by using the method: “HasPermissions(userId, permissionsId, scopetreenodeId)”	System configures IAuthZManagerFactory
		N/A	System creates IAuthZManager to request user permissions
		N/A	System request IAuthRepository to provide user permissions
		N/A	IAuthRepository checks the service client memory cache for the user. If user exists in cache, steps 5 or otherwise 8.
		N/A	Systems pulls user application permissions and scope tree nodes from cache.
		N/A	System resets cache timer
		N/A	System returns True or False for user – HasPermissions method. Note: Please refer Policy Logic Diagram for Permissions.
		N/A	IAuthRepository invokes GetUserPermissions service – Please follow steps in “Permissions and Scope Tree Services – Return Scoped User Application Permissions” use case.
		N/A	IAuthRepository invokes GetScopeTree service - Please follow steps in “Permissions and Scope Tree Services – Return Scope Tree Nodes” use case.
		N/A	IAuthRepository invokes GetDefault service – Steps will be included in the Permissions and Scope Tree Services use case.
		N/A	System will store Scoped User Permissions, Scope Tree Nodes, and Default Scope Tree information for the user in the service client memory cache.
		N/A	System returns True or False for user – HasPermissions method. Note: Please refer Policy Logic Diagram for Permissions.

.net codes review for application integration

vinay — 2014-08-08T16:21:54Z

Hello There, I have recently taken over a Business Systems Analyst role to integrate multiple .net based applications into a single platform. One of my assignment is to identify Business Rules and Technical Requirements for the new platform from the existing application codes. I am kinda new to this structure, though i have reviewed VB and HTML codes in the past to derive business rules and requirements. I need suggestions and advises on how do I give best to gather business rules and requirements just by going through the C# codes from the existing applications. Thank you.

The Good, Better, Best of Requirements Traceability

Meta BA — 2014-05-08T00:09:42Z

First, there are two purposes for tracing requirements. One is allocating requirements within the scope of a projects. It would answer a questions like, 'Do these solutions requirements meet all the stakeholder and business requirements?' The other is is creating relationships between things to assess impact. This may not be during a project, it may be at enterprise analysis. It answers a question like, 'I want to change this aspect of the system, what are all the impacted processes, business rules, functions, etc'

The Good: In Document Requirements Tracebility

If you working in your standard Word document you start with your high level required capabilites at the top of the document, you can either list each requirement that relates to it that exist in the sub requirements or you can list the related high level requirements within the sub-level requirements

The Better: Excel Requirements Tracebility

One way to trace requirements, is by creating a requirements traceability matrix in excel. This would be most likely be used to determine if maybe every solution requirement is aligned to a design specification. See excel requirements traceability matrix example

The Best: Requirements Management Tool Traceability

Requirements management tools not only give you the ability to create relationships on the fly. You could trace busines requirements to solution requirements, to business rules, to business process, etc. Then some time after the fact you can create reports that are actually valuable to someone and can be used to make informed decision about your solution. See business requirements tool requirements traceability matrix example Good luck with your future tracing and please share any other recommendations for requirements traceability management

Best way to graph/draw an ETL data flow

blasto — 2014-01-17T19:08:25Z

I am re-posting this stackoverflow question on behalf of a poster -http://stackoverflow.com/questions/21193833/best-way-to-graph-an-etl-data-flow

I found the following Version 1 in one of our detailed design documents. If I were going to create it, I would have probably displayed it as shown in Version 2

However, I'm thinking that there probably is a more common standard way of showing the flow of data by programs acting on it and that, while I prefer version 2, it probably is unnconventional and non-standard.

In Version 1, programs are shown as boxes. In Version 2, programs are depicted as arrows indicating that they are moving data from one table to another.

Q: What is the better more accepted way? Sequence Diagrams? If Sequence Diagrams were used, I think it wouldn't show the flow of data from one table to the next as well...

Version 1:

Version 2:

I need Business Requirements Process Flow

Visu — 2014-01-23T12:28:14Z
Hi to all I'm collecting business requirements from stakeholder's based on that I have to create functional specification. stakeholders are using predefined templates ,on that templates they enter the information after that ,they enter into records books also. The templates contain different fields and the record book contain different fields in some areas some fields are same. Based upon this how can I design and write my functional specification. Regards, Viswa.

UML - Business Use Case Question

AllGreenLights — 2014-01-04T14:17:08Z
Hello, Are external systems not depicted in business use case diagrams? I'm asking b/c I'm looking at an example where the external system is in the system use case package and role map, but not the business use case. Thanks

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