Final answer:
The six phases of systems analysis and design constitute the systems development life cycle (SDLC), which is characterized by its iterative nature through design, prototyping, evaluation, and refining stages. This process emphasizes a strategy that incorporates defining problems and applies basic sciences with mathematics to improve systems.
Step-by-step explanation:
Systems analysis and design is a six-phase problem-solving procedure for examining and improving an information system. The six phases make up the systems development life cycle (SDLC), which can be viewed as a structured framework for developing information systems. Throughout this iterative process, defining the problem is crucial, and it involves understanding the needs, the market, constraints, and resources available.
The Engineering design process emphasizes that designing a system is a decision-making process that often involves iteration, where the basic sciences and mathematics are applied to convert resources to meet specific needs. This aligns with the concept of spiral design process, where changes to a design are made and then evaluated, improving the initial design through multiple iterations, and ensuring the science and reasoning behind decisions are well-documented.
However, it is important to note that each step in the sequential process of systems analysis and design should properly follow the previous one. Nevertheless, as the process unfolds, prototyping and evaluating the design often lead to a deeper understanding of the design's strengths and weaknesses, resulting in necessary changes and improvements.