Life cycle Approach :While several organizations are moving to prototyping in developing

Decision Support Systems, certain large projects still demand the System
Development Life Cycle (SDLC) approach. These projects have many users and
require the expertise of several different people. The prototyping approach does not
work in such a case because it is difficult to have the prototype development by a
team of experts and tested by several different users.
The Life Cycle approach offers a structured, well-defined methodology to
design, test and implement a new system. It structures the creative process and
avoids wastage of time due to excessive testing and reworking. Control procedures
can be laid down for each step of the cycle and there is a general agreement on the
inputs, outputs and processing methodology.
In general, the SDLC has the following phases :1.
2.
3.
4.

Definition.
Development.
Installation.
Operation.

Definition refers to the phase where the information needs are defined. Feasibility
studies and cost-effectiveness studies are also undertaken at this stage. These
requirements are then translated into a physical system consisting of input forms,
procedures, programs, output reports, etc. this is the Development stage and it
consists of using system design, computer programming and procedure
development to construct a new system. Once constructed and tested, the third
phase of Installation begins, where the new system is installed and operators/users
are trained to use the new system. Once training is over, the fourth phase,
Operation, begins. Operation also consists of maintenance procedures, where
changes may be made to the system based on new requirements or where existing
parts of the system are not as efficient as they.
Information System Development Life Cycle
The Information System Development Life Cycle (ISDLC) is an established concept in
the MIS arena. The traditional approach to the ISDLC is that a development project has
to undergo a series of phases where the completion of each is a prerequisite to the
commencement of the next and where each phase consists of a related group of steps.

The ISDLC, as mentioned above, is appropriate for class one and perhaps class two
development situations. The general scheme for the ISDLC is similar almost
everywhere. It typically contains four major phases consisting of several steps each:

The Definition Phase: Consisting of preliminary analysis, feasibility study,

information analysis, and system design.

The Construction Phase: Consisting of programming, development of

procedures, unit testing, quality control, and documentation.

The Implementation Phase: Consisting of user training, conversion of old

systems to new systems, thorough field testing, and then a move to full operations.

The Maintenance Phase: After the system is in full operation, updates are made
to assure continued operations as new equipment or upgrades to operating systems
occur. Enhancements to the system can also be made to meet changing user
requirements.
The traditional approach advocates a rigid ISDLC in order to assure control over the
development process. In practice, however, development processes are not that rigid.
They vary with respect to the complexity of the system under development, the
importance attached to that system, and the user's environment. When the development
needs of classes of situations (three, four, and five) are considered, the various steps
from the ISDLC will probably be performed but not necessarily in the same order. For
example, the testing, quality control, and documentation steps may not occur until
everybody involved is satisifed with data models or with prototypes of systems.