System Design

The design phase decides how the system will operate in terms of the ,

• Hardware

• software

• Network infrastructure

• User interface

• Forms

• Reports

• The special programs

• Databases

• Files that will be needed

The design phase has four steps

1. Design strategy

1. Architecture design

1. Database and file specifications

1. Program design

Design Strategy  

The design strategy tell followings 

1. The system will be developed by the company's own programmers?
2. The system will be out sourced to another firm (usually consulting firm)?
3. The company will buy an existing software package?

Architecture Design

Basic architecture design for the system that describes the hardware,software and network infrastructure that will be used.

The interface design specifies how the users will move through the system and the forms and reports that the system will use.

Database and file specifications

The database and files specifications define exactly what data will be stored and where they will be stored.

Program design

Program design defines the programs that need to be written and exactly what each program will do.

Architecture design, interface design, database and file specifications, and program design are called system specification.

System specification is handed to the programming team for implementation.

At the end of the design phase,the feasibility analysis and project plan are reexamined and revised, and another decision is made by the project sponsor and approval committee about whether to terminate the project or continue.