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Systems Analysis & Design

Systems analysis, modelling, and professional practice

79 structured topics, each reinforced with plain-language teaching, memory hooks, hands-on practice, retrieval, teach-back, speed recall, professional transfer and spaced review.

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How mastery works

1. Five-year-old simple

Every new term is explained without assumed knowledge and linked to a familiar picture.

2. Do it

Guided labs, typing, diagrams, configurations, queries or professional artefacts turn words into usable skill.

3. Retrieve it

No-peeking recall, teach-back and 60-second checks force the brain to retrieve instead of recognise.

4. Use it professionally

Failure modes, security, evidence, capstones and spaced repetition build degree and workplace fluency.

Course topics

  1. What is a System? — Boundaries, components, environment
  2. Systems Thinking — Holistic view and emergence
  3. Types of Systems — Open, closed, deterministic
  4. System Components — Input, process, output, feedback
  5. Finding Stakeholders — Identify all affected parties
  6. Stakeholder Analysis — Power-interest matrix
  7. Requirements Gathering — Functional and non-functional
  8. Elicitation Techniques — Interviews, workshops, observation
  9. Requirements Documentation — SRS and specification formats
  10. Requirements Validation — Review and verification
  11. Use Case Basics — Actors and interactions
  12. Use Case Diagrams — UML diagram notation
  13. Use Case Descriptions — Detailed scenario writing
  14. Include & Extend — Relationship stereotypes
  15. User Stories — As a... I want... So that...
  16. Acceptance Criteria — Given-When-Then format
  17. User Story Mapping — Organizing user journeys
  18. Process Modelling Intro — Understanding workflows
  19. Data Flow Diagrams — DFD fundamentals
  20. DFD Levels — Context, Level 0, Level 1
  21. DFD Notation — Processes, stores, flows
  22. BPMN Basics — Business Process Modelling
  23. Flowcharts — Process flow visualization
  24. Swimlane Diagrams — Cross-functional processes
  25. Data Modelling Basics — Conceptual, logical, physical
  26. ERD Introduction — Entity-Relationship Diagrams
  27. Entities & Attributes — Defining data structures
  28. Relationships — One-to-one, one-to-many, many-to-many
  29. Cardinality & Modality — Relationship constraints
  30. Normalization — 1NF, 2NF, 3NF
  31. ERD Design Mastery — Complex diagram creation
  32. Class Diagrams Intro — Classes, attributes, methods
  33. UML Notation — Visibility, types, stereotypes
  34. Class Relationships — Association, aggregation, composition
  35. Inheritance in UML — Generalization & specialization
  36. Interfaces in UML — Abstract classes and interfaces
  37. Design Patterns Intro — Common UML patterns
  38. Sequence Diagrams — Object interactions over time
  39. Messages & Lifelines — Synchronous, asynchronous calls
  40. Combined Fragments — Loops, alternatives, options
  41. State Machine Diagrams — Object states and transitions
  42. Activity Diagrams — Workflow modelling in UML
  43. Project Planning Basics — Scope, time, cost
  44. Work Breakdown Structure — Decomposing deliverables
  45. Gantt Charts — Project timelines
  46. Critical Path Method — Identifying critical tasks
  47. PERT Analysis — Probabilistic scheduling
  48. Kanban & Trello — Visual workflow boards
  49. Resource Allocation — Assigning people and resources
  50. SDLC Overview — Software development lifecycle
  51. Waterfall Model — Sequential phases
  52. V-Model — Verification and validation
  53. Iterative Model — Repeated refinement
  54. Spiral Model — Risk-driven development
  55. Prototyping — Rapid prototype development
  56. Agile Principles — Agile manifesto values
  57. Scrum Framework — Roles, events, artifacts
  58. Scrum Roles — Product Owner, Scrum Master, Team
  59. Sprint Planning — Planning sprint work
  60. Daily Scrum — Standup meetings
  61. Sprint Review — Demonstrating work
  62. Retrospectives — Continuous improvement
  63. Kanban Method — Flow-based work management
  64. Risk Management — Identify and mitigate risks
  65. Risk Assessment — Impact and probability
  66. Risk Mitigation — Strategies and contingencies
  67. Security Fundamentals — Authentication and encryption
  68. Security Requirements — Specifying security needs
  69. Testing Strategies — Unit, integration, UAT
  70. Test Planning — Test cases and scenarios
  71. Quality Assurance — QA processes and standards
  72. Compliance & GDPR — Data protection regulations
  73. Documentation Standards — Technical and user docs
  74. DevOps for Systems — CI/CD in system projects
  75. Cloud Deployment — Deploying systems to cloud
  76. Microservices Architecture — Service-oriented design
  77. API Design — REST, GraphQL for systems
  78. Systems Integration — Connecting disparate systems
  79. Legacy System Migration — Modernizing old systems

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