Cycle of Information Systems

LIFE Cycle of Information Systems Information systems can be understood as having a life cycle analogous to living organisms. Understanding where a system is in its life cycle can provide insight into the most appropriate steps to be taken to properly manage the system. Major phases in the life cycle of information systems include a definition or specification phase, an acquisition or development phase, an implementation and deployment phase, an operation and maintenance phase, and a disposition phase. 

The earliest phase of an information system cycle, the definition phase involves recognition of and explicit justification of the requirement for the system, includmg detailed analysis of how information is presently being handled and how the new system would change and improve upon current practices. Success of later phases depends on the care with which the definition and specification are carried out. 

Although it is possible for a laboratory to develop its own LIS, most healthcare institutions lack the expertise to do this, and when facing a build-or-buy decision they usually come down on the side of buy. The identification of suitable commercial vendors usually begins with a request for information (RFI), providing basic information about the vendor and its software offerings, followed by a request for proposal (REP), which asks the vendors to respond to a set of more 

Once LIS software has been selected, the next step is implementation, a process that usually requires many weeks of concerted effort on the part of both the vendor and the laboratory. The success of an LIS depends directly on how well it is configured to fit the requirements of the laboratory. Transition from a prior information system usually requires extensive training or retraining of laboratory personnel and revision of standard operating procedures. Most implementations also encounter unexpected problems that require additional time and resources. 

Most large laboratories will require 12 to 18 months at a minimum, arid frequently more, to progress through the first three phases of definition, acquisition, and implementation. 

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