5. Definition

The very first part of the SLC is to define the problem.

The system analyst must determine why a new system is required.

After all, if there isn't a problem to start with, why would an organisation incur huge costs to develop a new one?

In the definition stage the role of the analyst is to scope out the problem.

The analyst has a number of methods available to do this :-

• Interviews with management to get their viewpoint
• Interviews with staff to understand the limitations of the current system
• Other methods that will be discussed later in this mini-web