In systems analysis and design, what is the comprehensive outline of phases and activities that guides teams to develop successful information systems end-to-end?

Introduction / Context:
Organizations need a disciplined roadmap to move from a business need to a working, maintainable information system. That roadmap standardizes how requirements are gathered, solutions are designed, built, tested, deployed, and maintained. The term for this complete outline is foundational in IS education and practice.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The method spans feasibility, analysis, design, implementation, testing, deployment, and maintenance.
• It is process-oriented, not a single tool or cutover technique.
• Goal: increase success rates, quality, and alignment with business value.

Concept / Approach:

The System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) formalizes phases and deliverables. Regardless of methodology flavor (waterfall, iterative, spiral, agile-adapted SDLCs), the life cycle ensures traceability from requirements to operation, incorporating quality assurance, risk management, and change control.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Standard textbooks and frameworks (PMBOK-aligned) reference SDLC as the umbrella process.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

CASE tool: Software that supports modeling/coding, not the process itself.

Phased Conversion: A specific deployment approach, not a full life cycle.

Success Factors: A list of enablers, not the procedural outline.

None: Incorrect because SDLC exactly fits.

Common Pitfalls:

Equating agile with “no SDLC”—agile still follows a life cycle, just iteratively.

Final Answer:

System Development Life Cycle