Additional information
by Patrick McDermott (Author)
This document contains Lecture Notes and supplements, primarily PowerPoint presentations, for the class X422 Introduction to Information Systems Analysis and Design at the University of California Berkeley Extension. They are designed as a resource for students who take the class. This is the first course in a series covering information analysis and logical specification of the system development process in an organizational context. It emphasizes the interactive nature of the analysis and design process. Today, more than ever, it is important to formulate plans and ideas in some structured manner before attempting to develop a solution to a problem or procedure. Most everything we do in life is a part of some system. In order to understand any system, the system must be analyzed. By the same token, to be able to design any system, one must have extensive knowledge about what the design objectives are. This course explores systems analysis and design from the early days of second generation systems development up to and including graphical user interface design and development (GUI). This course then, is intended to teach the beginning student to think in terms of the "big picture" in problem solving and designing systems by defining specific objectives. This is the Black & White edition of this book; a full-color edition is also available.
Author Biography
PATRICK McDERMOTT was a professional economist before he became a computer programmer, and so understands both the art of business and the science of Information Systems, and strives to connect the two in his writing and teaching. He is the author of Zen & the Art of Systems Analysis, and co-author of Workflow Modeling: Tools for Process Improvement and Application Development. His undergraduate degree was in Economics "with Honors" from The California State University at Sacramento. He has Master of Science in Information Systems from the University of San Francisco, a Professional Certificate in Computer Programming "with Distinction" from the University of California at Berkeley Extension and a Professional Award from The University of California at Santa Cruz Extension. He has been working in the Computer Industry for over twenty years, as a programmer, analyst, developer, consultant, manager and trainer. Employers have included the California Division of Labor Statistics & Research and American President Lines. He teaches seminars at the University of California, Berkeley and Extension and programming classes at the College of Alameda and Laney College.
