Lecture 3

Problem Definition

Step 2: Problem
Statement
Output from Step 2:

Step 2: Output Example

GoodsAreUs:

Give to the stakeholders for comments and

feedback

Step 3: Identify the Stakeholders and the Users

Stakeholder:
Anyone who could be materially affected by the
implementation of a new system or application
Many stakeholders are users of the system, and
their needs are easy to focus on
However, some stakeholders are only indirect
users

Non-user stakeholder needs must also be

identified and addressed

Step 3: Identify the Stakeholders and the Users

How we identify stakeholders? Ask questions:

Who are the users of the system?

Who is the customer (economic buyer) for the system?
Who else will be affected by the outputs the system produces?
Who will evaluate and approve the system when it is deployed?
Are there any other internal or external users of the system
whose needs must be addressed?
Who will maintain the new system?
Is there anyone else who cares?

GoodsAreUs :

Step 4: Define the Solution System Boundary

System Boundary:
defines the border between the Solution (our
system) and the Real World (things that interact
with our system)

Technique:
Identify the Input/Output information

in

System

out

Step 5: Identify the Constraints to be Imposed on

the Solution
Constraint: A restriction on the degree of freedom
we have in providing a solution
Constraint has the potential to severely restrict our
ability to deliver a solution as we envision it
A variety of sources of constraints must be
considered e.g.
schedule,
return on investment,
budget for labor and
equipment,
environmental issues,
operating systems,
databases,
hosts and client systems,
technical issues,

political issues within the

organization,
purchased software,
company policies and
procedures,
choices of tools and languages,
personnel or other resource
constraints,
and a host of other
considerations

Step 5: Identify the Constraints to be Imposed on

the Solution (cont.)
Potential Sources of System Constraints
(cont.):

Key Points?
Problem Analysis is:
process of understanding the causes of realworld problems
Identification of stakeholders and their needs
Understanding of the likely boundaries of the
solution
Elicitation of constraints

before development begins!

Assignment (Group )
Make a group of 4 people
Deadline: 9th of March 2016
Minimum 15 Pages
Font Size 12 , Line Space 1 , Font Times New Roman
Take a real problem occurring in any Organization
Address the following of the Problem

Gain agreement on the problem definition

Understand the root causes
Identify the stakeholders and the users
Define the solution system boundary.
Identify constraints to be imposed on the solution