ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Systems analysis

Systems analysis is like the grown-up version of playing with Lego. Imagine you have a huge set of Lego pieces laid out in front of you, and you want to build something awesome with them. To do that, you need to understand how each of the pieces you have can fit together to form a coherent structure. You might start by sorting the different pieces into groups that work well together, and then start experimenting with different combinations to see what works best.

Now imagine that instead of Lego pieces, you have a bunch of things that a company needs to work well. Maybe you have computers, software programs, people who work there, and data that needs to be organized. Systems analysis is the process of figuring out how all of these things fit together so that the company can function smoothly.

The first step in systems analysis is to define the problem that needs solving. For example, the company might need a new system for tracking customer orders. Next, we would identify all of the different components that would be needed to make that system work, like a database for storing customer information, a user interface for entering new orders, and a delivery system for shipping products.

Once we have a complete list of all the components that need to come together to create the new system, we start examining how they all fit into the bigger picture. We might start by drawing a diagram that shows how everything is related, and by identifying all of the different ways that data flows through the system. This helps us spot potential problems and come up with ways to optimize the system.

Once we've mapped out the system, we can start designing it in more detail. We'll need to figure out what programming languages and tools we'll need to create the different parts of the system, and we'll need to develop a plan for how everything will fit together.

Finally, we'll test the system to make sure it actually works the way we want it to. We might do this by simulating real-life situations and seeing how the system responds. Then, once we're confident that the system is working as intended, we'll deploy it for the company to start using.

So, just like with a Lego creation, systems analysis involves identifying all of the pieces you need to accomplish a goal, figuring out how those pieces fit together, and then building the final result. By using this process, companies can create systems that work efficiently and effectively to accomplish their goals.