System planning

System Fundamentals

Identify the context for which a new system is planned

Identifying the context for which a new system is planned is an important step in the system development process. The context refers to the environment in which the system will be used, including the users of the system, the tasks the system will support, and the overall goals and objectives of the system. Understanding the context helps to ensure that the system is designed and developed in a way that meets the needs of the users and supports the overall goals of the organization. To identify the context for a new system, it may be helpful to consider the following questions:

   # Who will be using the system?
   # What tasks will the system be used to perform?
   # What are the overall goals and objectives of the system?
   # What constraints or limitations exist that could impact the design or development of the system?
   # What are the current processes or systems in place that the new system will need to integrate with or replace?

Real-world practical advice

You should always be nervous when there is more than one person in charge of a project. We call this double-headed management, and it is very dangerous because you may get two very different specifications about the system. It is always a good idea to have only one single person who describes what a system should do. In project management, we call this a "senior customer" or a "senior user".

Standards

• Identify the context for which a new system is planned.
• Identify the relevant stakeholders when planning a new system.

Provide an answer from a number of possibilities. Recognize and state briefly a distinguishing fact or feature.

The circumstances that form the setting for an event, statement, or idea, and in terms of which it can be fully understood and assessed.

Provide an answer from a number of possibilities. Recognize and state briefly a distinguishing fact or feature.

Produce a plan, simulation or model.