Application System Boundaries

To determine the boundaries of an application system, it is important to examine the application system from both functional and technical perspectives.

A single application system will normally have the following characteristics:

1. Consistent user interface design with and application behavior
2. Common architecture (e.g. program language, program design)
3. Shared application system components (e.g. visual objects, programs, database tables)

When undertaking an analysis of a computer systems, it is important to verify the presumed scope of the application system and to identify all interface or integration points it has with other application systems.

The scope of the application system affects the systems analysis effort.  Scope is also significant when formulating system maintenance, enhancement or replacement options.