IFSM 300 IT Requirements

Overview of IT Requirements for a System to Improve the Process at UMUC Haircuts

For your Case Study Stage 1 assignment, you performed a Five Forces Analysis and justified Myra’s chosen strategy for competitive advantage and the business process that she would like to improve through the application of technology.

For your Stage 2 assignment, you identified the inputs, processing, and outputs of Myra’s selected business process. Those inputs, processing, and outputs form the functional (business) requirements for an IT system to improve the process.

In Stage 3, you will define the IT requirements by evaluating their applicability and importance in a new system to be implemented to improve the identified business process for UMUC Haircuts. The requirements that are identified as relevant to the business process will form the IT (technical) requirements for a system. In evaluating and selecting an IT system, both the functional (business) requirements and the IT requirements need to be considered. The areas that need to be considered in developing the IT requirements are listed below in the Table of IT Requirements. Depending on the specific process being improved and the data it uses, the areas listed will vary in both relevance and importance. For example, in a system to handle applications for Social Security, security and privacy are extremely important; but for a system to list what movies are being shown, privacy is not applicable at all. Your analysis must relate to the process Myra seeks to improve.

When both the functional (business) and technical (IT) requirements are identified, the system requirements are complete enough that you can then begin looking for a specific solution to meet the needs of UMUC Haircuts. Researching and finding an appropriate system to improve the process at UMUC Haircuts will be done in Stage 4.

Analysis of IT Requirements:

· IT Requirement: The areas to be considered are listed in the table. Be sure to research each term to ensure understanding as to whether and how it would apply to the UMUC Haircuts process being improved and the data it uses. A table of sources of the definitions of the requirements is provided below to assist you. Be sure you use a definition that applies to IT and this assignment, and not a generic definition of the term.

· Rankings: High/Medium/Low Importance or Relevance or Not Applicable (N/A): You will rank each requirement as to how important or relevant it is to the process being improved and the data it uses. Each will be ranked as High, Medium or Low, or Not Applicable to the process and its data.

· Explanation of Ranking: Using the definition of the term you researched and the ranking you selected, provide an explanation and tell how this requirement applies to the UMUC Haircuts process and the data it uses, or why it does not apply. All requirements must be ranked and a thorough explanation that demonstrates understanding of the topic must be provided. Please note that even N/A items require an explanation. A minimum of three good sentences should be used for each explanation.

The responses that you enter into the table for each requirement must be aligned to the specific business process to be improved and the data it uses, and must be appropriate to the UMUC Haircuts business. Be sure to consider the type of data (inputs and outputs – from Stage 2) that the system will handle as you determine the applicability and importance of each consideration. If a requirement is not relevant to the process, mark it “N/A.” Remember to provide a thorough explanation for every item under consideration, including those marked N/A.

Do not try to create a reason if there is none, but carefully analyze each requirement and determine whether it applies and how. Explanations must provide enough information to convey the reasoning behind the ranking and to demonstrate that you understand the requirement. DO NOT copy definitions into the table; use your own words to explain the terms.

Example: If the process to be improved is the method for customers to use to pay for their haircuts or salon visits, then for the requirement of Usability, the following might be entered. Note the thorough explanation of the ranking that demonstrates an understanding of usability.

Requirement

High/Medium/Low Importance or Relevance or Not Applicable (N/A)

Explanation for Ranking

Usability

High

Since the customers will use a system to make their payments, it must be easy to understand and easy to use. It would be inappropriate to require any training for customers. If it is too complicated, customers will not use it. In addition, front desk staff should be able to easily learn the system without extensive training. That is an entry level job with frequent turnover.so having a system that is intuitive and easy to navigate is critical.

Course Resources (for Weeks 1-5)

Where to find the definitions of IT Requirements

Usability