BCS Certificate in Systems Development Essentials

Overview

As people move into analysis, from either a business or technical background, they need to acquire a fundamental understanding of the systems development process, and the role and responsibilities of systems analysts and designers.This course provides these essential foundations and goes on to focus on systems investigation and quality assurance, as these underpin all successful systems development projects. It also examines how the systems development effort could be organised, and distinguishes between generic lifecycle types, methods and approaches. At the end of the course delegates may sit an examination to attain the BCS Business Systems Development certificate in Systems Development Essentials. (These delegates should also book course code SDEEX-2). This course may be taken as part of the QA programme leading to the BCS Diploma in Systems Development.

This is an intensive three day course that places emphasis on the practical application of the analysis skills covered. Delegates participate in exercises, and case study tasks. Those delegates taking the ISEB certificate will need to spend 60-90 minutes each evening on revision and example examination questions.

The recommended combination and sequence of courses for delegates wishing to complete QA's programme leading to the BCS Systems Development Diploma is (1) Systems Development Essentials, (2) either Systems Modelling Techniques (UML) or Systems Modelling Techniques (Structured), (3) Systems Design & Implementation Techniques, (4) Software Testing Foundation.

Prerequisites

• Those who are new to analysis and need to acquire and practise the fundamental skills of Systems Development.
• Those wishing to attain the ISEB Certificate in Systems Development Essentials. (These delegates should also book course code SDEEX-2). Candidates with special examination requirements should consult the BCS web site (www.bcs.org.uk) for the ISEB Special Needs policy. Note that the BCS must be advised at least four weeks in advance of any special requirements.
• No prior knowledge of analysis techniques is expected.

Photographic identification for exams and BCS reasonable adjustments policy

• If you are taking a BCS exam you must bring photographic identification (passport, driving license or student card) as it is a BCS requirement to produce it for the invigilator prior to the exam. Failure to produce a valid form of photographic identification will result in a candidate not being able to sit the exam.
• The BCS also allow additional time for candidates who have a disability or whose business language is not English. Candidates can request this additonal time in line with the BCS reasonable adjustments policy. If you believe you qualify please contact our examination administration team as early as possible. At least three weeks notice will be required for processing and delegates failing to advise QA and provide proof if requested by the BCS may not be allowed the additional support offered via this BCS policy.

For any questions about what form of identification is acceptable, or for more information about the BCS reasonable adjustments policy, please contact your Account Manager or the QA Examination Administration team on 44 (0)1793 696273.

Delegates will learn how to

• Identify the tasks and disciplines required for systems development and implementation.
• Investigate a system
• Interpret business requirements and produce systems requirements
• Quality assure the systems requirements documentation
• Design test cases for the requirements
• Describe the commonly-used development lifecycles defined in the syllabus.
• Describe in detail one methodology that embraces one (or more) of these lifecycles
• Describe the structure and activities of this methodology
• Describe, interpret and quality assure the key models that the selected methodology uses for defining the process, static and event perspectives of the system
• Make effective use of different methods of interpersonal communications.
• Identify different architecture for systems development solutions
• Conduct a system review
• Explain how CASE tools might be used to support the method

Course Outline.

The Role of the Systems Analyst and DesignerIdentify the actors/roles and responsibilities within systems development and implementation; Characteristics of the systems analyst/designer

Systems ArchitectureDifferent levels of architecture: Enterprise, Systems, Infrastructure; Inputs at: Enterprise level, Systems level, Infrastructure level; Impacts of design decisions

Development ApproachesComponent-based; Evolutionary/iterative/agile; Bespoke development; Software package solutions; Other appropriate approaches

Systems Development LifecyclesWaterfall; V model; Incremental; Spiral; Other appropriate lifecycles; Structure and content of a chosen representative method

Methodologies How to interpret three representative models from the method, showing: Process perspective, Data perspective, Event perspective; Products within the chosen method

Systems Investigation Interviewing; Other fact finding approaches: Workshops, Prototyping, Questionnaires, Scenario analysis, Observation, Documentation Analysis; Human aspects of systems investigation and introducing change

Defining RequirementsFunctional Requirements Definition; Non-Functional Requirements Definition; Documenting system requirements

System Design, Implementation and MaintenanceDesign principles and constraints (legal, ethical, financial); Sign off and hand over; Aspects of the production environment; Post-implementation reviews; Different types of maintenance

Quality Assurance Definitions of quality; Requirements-driven testing; Types of walkthrough and inspection; Post-project reviews; Service Level Agreements

CASE tools Features; Lifecycle coverage; Requirements traceability; Advantages and disadvantages

Case Study
Throughout the course a case study is used to reinforce and practise the topics discussed

Related training courses

• BCS Certificate in Systems Modelling Techniques (Structured)
• Systems Modelling Techniques (UML)
• BCS ISTQB Software Testing Foundation (inc examination)