The System Development Life Cycle at Work: An Examination of a Successful Private
Branch Exchange (PBX) Installation
Ron Davis
Auburn University
Auburn, AL
Tel: 334.844.6524
davisjr@auburn.edu
Houston Carr, Ph.D.
Auburn University
Auburn, AL
Tel: 334.844.6522
houston@business.auburn.edu
Jeremy Stafford
Auburn University
Auburn, AL
Tel: 334.844.6524
staffje@business.auburn.edu
mailto:smatei@yahoo.com
mailto:houston@business.auburn.edu
mailto:staffje@business.auburn.edu
RUNNING HEAD: The SDLC at Work
2
Abstract
This article analyzes an installation of a Private Branch Exchange (PBX) at a
private medium-sized southeastern college and the role that the Systems Development
Life Cycle (SDLC) played in this project. The SDLC is described and is followed by an
illustration of how the steps of the SDLC were implemented in the LaGrange College
PBX project. This examination reveals that following the guidelines of the SDLC is
fundamental to the success of an information systems installation project. The article also
asserts that the analysis and general design phase is the most important step of the SDLC
and an extremely detailed model showing the requirements of the system must be
developed early in the process.
RUNNING HEAD: The SDLC at Work
3
Introduction
Founded in 1831, LaGrange College (LC) is a southeastern liberal arts college
located about sixty miles southwest of Atlanta, Georgia. Roughly 1,000 students are
enrolled and approximately 200 full and part-time staff members are employed on a 120-
acre campus. In the spring of 2000, the college decided to examine its existing telephone
service. The college had been using BellSouth ESSX©, which is a form of centrex service,
for many years. Although ESSX had performed adequately during this time, the college
felt that this service wo
