3. Investigation and Analysis

In order to reach this stage in the SLC, management would have listened to the alternative solutions presented by the system analyst and have decided to either commission a brand new IT system or have changes made to their current system.

During the earlier 'definition' phase the analysis looked superficially at the current system and the potential benefits of a new system.

During this 'investigation and analysis' phase they will carry out very detailed investigations in order to fully understand the current system and the proposed new system.

The current system

• how staff / customers interact with the current system i.e. how tasks are carried out
• how other systems interact with the current system
• what is good about the current system
• what causes problems with the current system
• which parts of the system are critical to the business

The proposed new system

• what the new system is expected to be able to do
• how the new system is expected to do this
• what people want from the new system
• which working methods from the old system should be incorporated into the new system