System Development Life Cycle

The system development life cycle (SDLC) is a way to plan and implement an information system in an organization. The SDLC has four major phases within this cycle, which are planning and analysis, design, implementation, and maintenance. The four phases identify the scope of the new system. The phases help understand and document the business needs and processing requirements of the new system (Satzinger, Jackson, & Burd, 2009). The phases also design the solution system in regard to the requirements defined and decisions made during analysis (Satzinger, Jackson & Burd, 2009). The phases build, test, and install the reliability of the system, and it keeps the system running productively (Satzinger, Jackson, & Burd, 2009).

Planning and Analysis

The planning and analysis phase is pretty self-explanatory it is the process of performing a system analysis, and planning further actions required after analysis. The planning and analysis phase involves health information management professionals assisting in the planning and analysis of system development. Health information technology professional are involved in this phase as end users who identify necessary functions of a new or existing information system (Satzinger, Jackson, & Burd, 2009). The new system is typically part of the health information management department so having this department involves help determine the costs and benefits of the new system (Satzinger, Jackson, & Burd, 2009). The involvement of the health information management department also prepares a report that justifies proceeding with analysis and design of the new system.

The system analysis defines the whats of the project. According to Health Information Management Technology, the whats are:

* What are the current healthcare business practices?

* Which current organizational structure will be using this product?

* What are the users' needs for this project?

* What system interfaces are used in this project?

* What legal issues are involved with this project?

* What training methods are used currently (Johns, 2007)?

The planning and analysis phase also collects information about the information system requirements. The collection of data is done by reviewing existing documentation, forms, and databases (Satzinger, Jackson, & Burd, 2009). The planning and analysis phase involves research and site visits. The analysts observe the work environment and learn how forms are used in the organization.

Design Phase

After the analysis phase is complete the system needs to be designed. The design of the system will describe the system's how's. According