AirTrafficControl - "The successful introduction of an information system is dependant on the comprehensive analysis of existing procedures"

“The successful introduction of an information system is dependant on the comprehensive analysis of existing procedures”

The System Life Cycle stages are vital to the introduction of a new information system. They must all be carried out thoroughly. The specification section is a very important stage. Ensuring that every detail of the existing system is noted is essential for recreating the new system. A lot of research needs to be carried out in order to make the most of the new system. Employees on the data processing level must be consulted regularly, as the system will be used primarily by this group. This proved a problem for the Air Traffic Control system, as the designers did not consult the end users as much as they should have done. This mistake could result in software having to be changed at a very late stage, causing many more problems, taking more time and costing much more too, such as what happened with the air traffic control system. The design section is also very important and involves a lot of consultation with the end users. The design of the system is crucial for making the system work as well as possible, involving what the system will look like, how it will operate, what platform it will operate on, etc. The implementation of the system is also very important, but it relies heavily on the design. Of course the actual production of the system is very important, but the backbone of production is the design section. By far the most important stage is the Analysis of the existing information system, with Design coming a close second. Any new information system relies on the existing principles of what the system does, the practical elements and also who is using it. This should all be covered before starting to build a new information system.