Chapter 3: System Development Life Cycle
and Alternative Approaches
Compiled by: Mulatu Y. (MSc)
Debark University
Department of Information Technology
July 2025
Compiled by: Mulatu Y. (MSc) (Debark University) System Analysis & Design July 2025 1 / 14
System Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
Core Concept
A structured methodology for building information systems through
sequential phases from planning to maintenance
Key Characteristics:
Phased Approach: Divides development into manageable stages
Milestone-Driven: Formal deliverables at each phase
User Involvement: Stakeholder participation throughout
Documentation Focus: Comprehensive system records
Primary Objectives:
Ensure system quality and alignment with requirements
Manage project risks and resource allocation
Establish clear project control points
Compiled by: Mulatu Y. (MSc) (Debark University) System Analysis & Design July 2025 2 / 14
SDLC Phase Framework
1.
Planning 4. Imple-
2. Analysis 3. Design
& mentation
Selection
Requirements Spec Design Spec Operational System
Feasibility Study
Feedback
Loop
5. Main-
tenance
System Updates
Compiled by: Mulatu Y. (MSc) (Debark University) System Analysis & Design July 2025 3 / 14
Phase 1: Planning & Selection
Primary Activities: Feasibility Factors:
1 Project identification and Economic: Cost-benefit analysis
prioritization Technical: Technology
2 Preliminary feasibility analysis availability
3 Resource allocation planning Operational: Organizational fit
4 Initial risk assessment Schedule: Time constraints
5 Project charter development Legal: Regulatory compliance
Key Deliverables:
Critical Success Factor
Project scope statement
Early stakeholder engagement and
Feasibility report realistic scope definition
Baseline project plan
Work breakdown structure
Compiled by: Mulatu Y. (MSc) (Debark University) System Analysis & Design July 2025 4 / 14
Phase 2: System Analysis
Core Objectives: Techniques Used:
Understand current system Interviews and surveys
Define functional requirements Observation and job shadowing
Identify improvement Document analysis
opportunities Joint Application Design (JAD)
Develop logical models Prototyping
Key Activities: Deliverables:
1 Requirements elicitation Requirements specification
2 Process modeling (DFDs) Use case models
3 Data modeling (ERDs) System proposal document
4 Alternative solution evaluation
Compiled by: Mulatu Y. (MSc) (Debark University) System Analysis & Design July 2025 5 / 14
Phase 3: System Design
Primary Focus: Key Deliverables:
Architectural design System architecture diagram
Interface design UI prototypes
Database design Database schema
Security design Class diagrams
Network design Deployment diagram
Design Approaches:
Critical Considerations
Logical design
Modularity and coupling
(technology-agnostic)
Cohesion and decomposition
Physical design
(implementation-specific) Design pattern selection
Compiled by: Mulatu Y. (MSc) (Debark University) System Analysis & Design July 2025 6 / 14
Phase 4: Implementation
Core Activities: Installation Approaches:
1 System coding and testing Direct: Immediate cutover
2 Hardware/software installation Parallel: Dual system operation
3 Data conversion Phased: Gradual
4 User training implementation
5 System documentation Pilot: Single location first
Testing Strategies: Risk Factors:
Unit testing Insufficient testing data
migration
Integration testing
Inadequate training
System testing
Resistance to change
Acceptance testing
Compiled by: Mulatu Y. (MSc) (Debark University) System Analysis & Design July 2025 7 / 14
Phase 5: Maintenance
Maintenance Types: Maintenance Process:
Corrective: Fixing defects 1 Change request submission
Adaptive: Environmental 2 Impact analysis
changes 3 Change implementation
Perfective: Enhancements 4 Validation testing
Preventive: Future-proofing 5 System redeployment
Key Metrics:
Mean Time Between Failures
Maintenance Challenge
(MTBF) Typically consumes 60-80% of total
Maintenance cost ratio system budget
Backlog index
User satisfaction index
Compiled by: Mulatu Y. (MSc) (Debark University) System Analysis & Design July 2025 8 / 14
Rapid Application Development (RAD)
Core Principles:
Time-boxing: Fixed development cycles RAD Life Cycle
Prototype iteration: Evolutionary design
Tool-based: CASE tools utilization
User involvement: Continuous feedback
Components:
Requirements planning workshop
User design workshops
Construction phase
Cutover implementation
When to Use:
Well-understood requirements
Time-sensitive projects
Highly interactive systems
Compiled by: Mulatu Y. (MSc) (Debark University) System Analysis & Design July 2025 9 / 14
Agile Methodologies
Core Values: Benefits:
Individuals and interactions Faster ROI realization
Working software Adaptable to changes
Customer collaboration Higher user satisfaction
Responding to change Early risk mitigation
Popular Frameworks: Challenges:
Scrum Requires cultural change
Extreme Programming (XP) Documentation gaps
Kanban Scalability issues
Feature-Driven Development Measurement difficulties
Key Practices:
Iterative development
Daily stand-ups
User stories
Continuous integration
Compiled by: Mulatu Y. (MSc) (Debark University) System Analysis & Design July 2025 10 / 14
Comparative Methodology Analysis
Characteristic Waterfall RAD Agile
Requirements Fixed Evolving Dynamic
User Involvement Limited High Continuous
Delivery Approach Single Incremental Iterative
Duration Long Medium Short cycles
Risk Level High Medium Low
Documentation Extensive Moderate Minimal
Best For Stable requirements Known requirements Changing requiremen
Selection Criteria:
Project size and complexity
Requirements stability
Team expertise
Organizational culture
Risk tolerance
Compiled by: Mulatu Y. (MSc) (Debark University) System Analysis & Design July 2025 11 / 14
Project Management Framework
Key Processes: Critical Success Factors:
1 Initiation: Project definition Clear objectives and scope
2 Planning: Scope, schedule, Stakeholder engagement
resources Effective communication
3 Execution: Task implementation Risk management
4 Monitoring: Performance Change control process
tracking
5 Closing: Formal acceptance
Planning
Core Deliverables: Initiation
Project charter Execution
Work breakdown structure Closing
Gantt chart Monitoring
Risk register
Communication plan
Compiled by: Mulatu Y. (MSc) (Debark University) System Analysis & Design July 2025 12 / 14
Chapter Synthesis
Key Insights:
SDLC provides structured framework for system development
Methodology selection depends on project characteristics
Agile approaches offer flexibility for dynamic environments
Effective project management is critical success factor
Maintenance consumes majority of system budget
Industry Trends:
71% of organizations use Agile approaches (Standish Group)
Hybrid methodologies increasing by 23% annually (Gartner)
DevOps adoption growing for continuous delivery
Next Chapter: Object-Oriented Analysis and UML Modeling
Compiled by: Mulatu Y. (MSc) (Debark University) System Analysis & Design July 2025 13 / 14
Discussion Points 1. When would you choose
Waterfall over Agile?
2. How to balance documentation needs in RAD?
3. Managing scope creep in iterative approaches
Case Study Analysis: Wednesday 3-5 PM
Compiled by: Mulatu Y. (MSc) (Debark University) System Analysis & Design July 2025 14 / 14