Preparing for Analysis › Define Project Scope

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Analyzing Interactions

Define Project Scope

Defining the scope of a project is a critical task of analysis. By defining the project scope, you identify the elements in the business that must be examined or changed.

Correct scoping is critical to the success of any development project. Focus on the fewest possible objects that satisfy the business objectives of the development project, with a minimum of objects that immediately influence the project.

The project scope includes:

• Business activities to be supported

  These are modeled in the information architecture as a set of business functions and processes.

• Data that are needed by those activities

  These are modeled in the information architecture as a set of subject areas and entity types.

• Business systems and data stores to be developed
• Current business systems and data stores to be modified, reused, interfaced, or replaced
• Packaged solutions to be evaluated to determine their suitability to support some or all of the requirements
• Organizational elements that are involved in executing the business activities

  Example: organizational units, roles, skills, and locations

• Availability of alternative information technology to support business requirements

  Example: client/server techniques for distributing processes and data

• Other development efforts within the business that include developing or improving business processes, information systems, or information technology

Review the project scope throughout analysis to ensure its ongoing validity.

You can use cluster analysis to define and confirm the scope of activities and data based on the use of data by activity. This technique already have been used in the ISP to define the initial project scope. Defining clusters, groups of activities, and data minimizes interactions with other activities and data outside the scope. You can identify potential coordination requirements by examining data that activities and other projects use.

Business activities and data that is defined using CA Gen form the basis of the starter analysis model for the project.