Course Description

Are you involved in systems development? Do you need to get a better understanding of approaches as well as the tools and techniques that will help you in the development of software solutions? If the answer to both those questions is ‘yes’, then this course is for you.

We’ll look at systems development lifecycles and approaches, systems modelling and specification techniques as well as quality assurance and testing tools, and much, much more. In fact, our course covers all of the topics within the BCS syllabus and that means you’ll develop a strong understanding of Systems Development which will enable you to aim for higher level Solution Development qualifications.

Target Audience

Business Analysts, project managers, solution and systems developers and anyone who requires a practical understanding of systems development lifecycles and approaches. Foundation in Systems Development is also a Knowledge-based specialist module on the BCS (ISEB) International Diploma in Solution Development.

Course Content

Introduction to systems development

• The scope of systems development
• Systems development and other disciplines
• Offshoring and outsourcing of systems development work

Lifecycle types and their rationales

• Lifecycles – waterfall, ‘V’ model, incremental, evolutionary
• The Unified Process
• Adaptation and customisation of the lifecycles
• Roles and responsibilities in systems development
• Project lifecycles

Business analysis

• Definition of business analysis
• Business analysis in the systems development lifecycle
• Outcomes from business analysis

Requirements engineering

• Introduction to requirements engineering
• Requirements elicitation techniques
• Types of requirements
• Documenting requirements
• Prioritising requirements
• Managing requirements
• Analysing and validating requirements

Making a business case

• Assessing feasibility
• Elements of a business case
• Identifying, evaluating and selecting options
• Cost/benefit analysis
• Impact and risk analysis

Programming and development approaches

• Drivers affecting the choice of approach
• Approaches described: agile software development; object-oriented development; service-oriented development; open source development; Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) solutions

Systems modelling and specification techniques

• Reasons for modelling
• Modelling from different perspectives – process, data and business rules
• Modelling dynamic behaviour
• Modelling the user interface
• Cross-referencing different modelling techniques
• Documentation and specification

Systems design

• Systems design in context
• Objectives and constraints of design
• Input design, data verification and data validation
• Input and output technologies
• Process and data design
• Code and security design

Systems architecture

• Types of architecture
• Stakeholders and roles in architecture
• Management of the architecture
• The tiered approach to IT systems development
• Service-oriented architecture and service-oriented development applications

Quality and Testing

• The definition of software quality
• Objectives, limitations and principles of testing
• Static and dynamic testing
• Confirmation and regression testing

Implementation and changeover

• File and data creation
• Data mapping and conversion
• Supporting documentation
• Training
• System implementation

Evaluation and maintenance

• Maintenance in the systems development lifecycle
• Metrics for evaluating a software project
• Post-implementation and post-project reviews
• Testing in the maintenance stage

Software support tools

• Configuration management tools
• Computer-aided software engineering (CASE) tools
• Computer aided software testing (CAST) tools

BCS Foundation in Systems Development Certification

During this three day course you’ll receive all the training you need to prepare for the BCS Foundation in Systems Development certificate multiple choice examination, which is held on the final afternoon of the course. A pass in this exam means you’ve not only earned your Foundation qualification, but you’ve achieved a certificate that contributes to the BCS International Diploma in Solution Development.