Evaluation

The Role of Evaluation in the Systems Life Cycle

• Evaluation is the final stage in the systems life cycle, where the success and effectiveness of the system contrary to the original objectives are measured.
• It involves assessing whether the system is meeting the set requirements as per the System Requirements Specification (SRS).
• Here, feedback from users is collected and analysed to understand their level of satisfaction with the system.
• All aspects of the system, including its performance, reliability, security, and user-friendliness, are gauged in the evaluation stage.
• Issues and problems identified in the system are recorded and used to make necessary adjustments or improvements in future iterations.
• The evaluation should address if the system is fit for purpose, meeting the needs of users, and is able to perform its intended functions.

Key Elements of Evaluation

• Feedback is an essential part of the evaluation process. Users provide critical and valuable information on how the system operates in the real world.
• Surveys and questionnaires may be used to gather user opinions about the system’s performance and functionality.
• A review of system metrics, such as system uptime, error rates, and response times, may also be included to assess how well the system is performing.
• If the system is not satisfying the needs of the users, a plan of action for improvements is devised, outlining the updates or changes required in future versions of the system.
• Recording and reviewing lessons learned during the life cycle of the system is another key feature of the evaluation stage. It helps in improving the success rate of future projects.
• The aim of the evaluation phase is not only to assess the final implementation but also to discover where improvements can be made. Therefore, it is treated as a continuous process rather than a one-time activity.