System Analysis and Design - Short Question Answer

Here in this section of System Analysis and Design Short Questions Answers, We have listed out some of the important Short Questions with Answers which will help students to answer it correctly in their University Written Exam.

1. What is the difference between an information system and a computer application?

Usually a computer application is a single computer program that may or may not be connected to a database.

An information system is normally multiple computer programs that are connected to a database and thus provide as output various types and quantities of information.

2. What is the purpose of systems analysis? Why is it important?

The purpose of systems analysis is to enable the system developer to understand the user's requirements.

Without a good analysis of the user's needs and requirements the new system will be inadequate in its solution or erroneous in its implementation.

3. What is the difference between systems analysis and systems design?

Systems development is systematic process which includes phases such as planning, analysis, design, deployment, and maintenance. 

Systems Analysis


Systems analysis is to determine the “what” the new system should do. It is discovery and understanding.

It is a process of collecting and interpreting facts, identifying the problems, and decomposition of a system into its components.

System analysis is conducted for the purpose of studying a system or its parts in order to identify its objectives. It is a problem solving technique that improves the system and ensures that all the components of the system work efficiently to accomplish their purpose.

Analysis specifies what the system should do.

Systems Design


Systems design is to determine “how” the new system should be built. It is structure and architecture.

It is a process of planning a new business system or replacing an existing system by defining its components or modules to satisfy the specific requirements. Before planning, you need to understand the old system thoroughly and determine how computers can best be used in order to operate efficiently.

System Design focuses on how to accomplish the objective of the system.

System Analysis and Design (SAD) mainly focuses on −

  • Systems
  • Processes
  • Technology
4. What is the purpose of the system development life cycle (SDLC)?

It provides a framework, including methodologies, models, tools and techniques, to build and deploy an information system.

Its purpose is to provide structure and organization to the development process.

5. What are the 6 core processes for software systems development?

The six core processes for software systems development are

  1. Identify the problem.
  2. 2. Plan and monitor the project.
  3. 3. Discover and understand the requirements.
  4. Design the system components.
  5. 5. Build, test, and integrate the system components.
  6. 6. Finalize testing and deploy the solution.
6. What is meant by Agile Development and iterative development?

Agile development is a philosophy of systems development that emphasizes flexibility to handle changing requirements during the development project.

Iterative development is a broader term that defines several iterations of defining and building the new system.

It is an approach to incrementally build a new system. Agile development is one methodology that supports iterative development.

7. What is the purpose of a System Vision Document?

The System Vision Document is a brief statement which describes the overall objective of the new system.

Its purpose is to provide basic information about the need and solution approach to assist the client in deciding whether to approve a development project.

8. Give an example of a business problem.

The answer should focus on the business needs of the problem.

Business problems that are applicable for information systems include either a business process that requires or processes information.

The other type of applicable business problem entails producing reports or providing critical information to the organization.

For example, the self-insured health insurance program needs to project expenses for the next year based on past claims, changes in employee demographics, and estimated increases in health care costs. Notice that this example has an extensive requirement for information that can best be provided by a computer system.

9. What is System?

A collection of interrelated components that function together to achieve some outcome.

10. What is Information System?

A collection of interrelated components that collect, process, store, and provide as output the information needed to complete business tasks.

11. What types of information systems are found in most organizations?

Customer relationship management system, Accounting and financial management system, Manufacturing management system, and Human resources management system, Knowledge management system, Business intelligence system, Supply chain management system, Collaboration support system. 

12. Describe a business problem your university has that you would like to see solved. How can information technology help solve it?

Some likely answers are the following:

  • It takes too long to register each semester (put registration on the Web);
  • information about open seats in course sections is out of date (use real-time updating in the course enrollment database);
  • information about required texts is only at the bookstore (add required text information to the Web so students can purchase texts anywhere);
  • too many parking spaces are sold for student parking lots (develop a DSS/KBS to forecast parking demand and balance the number of permits sold), and so on.