Glossary continued

Feasibility Study (FS)

Sometimes done prior to a project’s inception but always benefiting from coming under the auspices of formal governance.

An FS is conducted at the highest level of detail possible, while still achieving its mandate. The goal is to achieve 80% of the benefit of a full study in 20% of the time (or better)

Full Study

A full study takes place after completion of a feasibility or other earlier, high level study or pre-project work.

In the full study all aspects of requirements analysis and specification are taken to their detailed level to allow logical and physical design to proceed.

Impact Assessment (IA)

One of the formal products produced by suppliers (either internal IS or external suppliers) when an existing computer / technology system is to be modified.

Invitation To Tender (ITT)

A request for suppliers to bid for work. The FS report or Business Requirement Specification document will form an integral part of the ITT.

Logical Data Model (LDM)

The LDM is a logical data structure diagram plus a structured description of each entity and relationship. Each entity’s attributes (e.g. stock code, min stock holding, min order quantity, product description, primary identifier) are recorded.

Logical Data Structure (LDS)

aka entity relationship diagram (ERD). A diagram that shows each entity connected to others it has a direct relationship with by a relationship line. This shows how one of a particular entity can be related to one or more of another e.g. a customer can place many orders but an order can only be placed by one customer.

Requirement Definition (RD)

This is the recording of a requirement and all its details in a structured and precise way. It is used in many places and times throughout the project lifecycle.

Not to be confused with Requirements Specification – a stage of SSADM in which the requirements become fully defined.

Structured Systems Analysis and Design Methodology - SSADM

A tailorable set of structured techniques and tools, useful for many project profiles and suited to reporting and control under all formal project management methods.

Technical System Option - TSO

There are two places when these come into play. The first can happen during Feasibility Study – e.g. fulfilling the requirements as understood at the high level is going to need either an upgrade to our servers or a web-services solution where we rent server space.

The second is after logical system design where the really detailed requirements are understood. This could be the same sort of consideration as above and is also going to include options like fat/thin clients, storage area networks, three tier / two tier architecture and many other things resulting from the specifics of the project.