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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">The argument is getting confusing with the purposes of both steps not being clear.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">The analysis is done to determine the problems that need to be solved in the
<b>old system</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">The SRS is the
<b>solution</b> to these problems and by definition has included all the considerations from the old system that needed to be solved.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">It may need to include elements of the old system that were documented in the analysis that are required to be kept or adapted in the new system.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">The tools used for both may be the same but clearly different purposes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> sofdev-bounces@edulists.com.au [mailto:sofdev-bounces@edulists.com.au]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Mark<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, 20 March 2017 2:04 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> Year 12 Software Development Teachers' Mailing List <sofdev@edulists.com.au><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Year 12 SofDev] Diagrams in the SRS - of which system?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">OK... we seem to be here for the full <b>half-hour</b> argument. (Cracks knuckles).<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Let's leave the rarefied atmosphere of VCE IT and set foot in
<i>The Real World</i> to see what an SRS contains.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Again: Facts. Not opinions.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.fdot.gov/it/PDM/3_Requirements/Software_Requirement_Specification_Template.docx" target="_blank">http://www.fdot.gov/it/PDM/3_Requirements/Software_Requirement_Specification_Template.docx</a><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">No, can't see any references to documenting existing systems or practices there...<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.slideshare.net/iamtheuser/srs-software-requirement-specification-template" target="_blank">https://www.slideshare.net/iamtheuser/srs-software-requirement-specification-template</a><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">There is no "Description of existing system" in that template.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://techwhirl.com/writing-software-requirements-specifications/" target="_blank">https://techwhirl.com/writing-software-requirements-specifications/</a><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><i>(BTW - this is a good SRS summary - you might want to read it!)</i><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">It says, "<span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#111111">Several standards organizations (including the IEEE) have identified nine topics that must be addressed when designing and writing an SRS:</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:15.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#111111"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">1.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#111111">Interfaces<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:15.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#111111"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">2.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#111111">Functional Capabilities<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#111111"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">3.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#111111">Performance Levels<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#111111"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">4.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#111111">Data Structures/Elements<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#111111"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">5.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#111111">Safety<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#111111"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">6.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#111111">Reliability<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#111111"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">7.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#111111">Security/Privacy<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#111111"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">8.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#111111">Quality<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:15.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#111111"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">9.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#111111">Constraints and Limitations"<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#111111">There is no mention of a description of the old/existing system...</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#111111">And, finally, the grand-daddy IEEE SRS template... </span><a href="http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/720574/" target="_blank">ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/720574/</a><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">No. I can't find <b>any</b> section that involves describing the old/existing system.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#111111">So.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#111111">Here's a fun challenge for those of you who believe an SRS should document the old system:
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<i>Find any real, reputable SRS that includes any diagrams or other descriptions of the
<b>old</b> system</i>.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">I'll wait over here.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Regards,<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Mark<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">On 20 March 2017 at 12:49, Adrian Janson <<a href="mailto:janson.adrian.a@gmail.com" target="_blank">janson.adrian.a@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Me too!! (sorry Mark - that was for you!)<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">OK - my 2c worth.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">By definition an SRS is a tool that is used to lay out the specifications that will be required to be addressed by a new system. It is not a design tool and is the result of analysis that is done to determine the needs of the organisation
in regards to their information system. I feel like everyone agrees on this point - so it's probably not necessary to harp on it too much more.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">However, the investigation of the existing system - network diagram, UCD, DFDs and other tools that might be used - are all necessary to get a feel for what the existing system does and doesn't do. While I understand where Mark is coming
from with his analogy, I feel that coming into an organisation as a contracted IT professional and being handed an SRS and being told to get to work is not realistic. You need to have an understanding of what is in existence.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">What elements of the existing information system will be kept and integrated with the new system?<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">How will the implementation of the new system impact on what is already in place?<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Without that understanding (yes - looking back to look forward), I don't see how you can possibly begin designing a new system. Many of us have done LMS changeovers or large scale implementations and have been on staff for years prior -
and even in this case, it would be a brave person who would design a new system without strongly documenting the existing system first.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Cheers,<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Adrian Janson<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="color:#500050"><huge snip></span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">-- <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.5pt">Mark Kelly</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:mark@vceit.com" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:9.5pt">mark@vceit.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://vceit.com" target="_blank">http://vceit.com</a><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Powered by <b>Mitochondria.</b><o:p></o:p></p>
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