Software and Hardware

Web Servers, Network Routers
Video Conferencing System	Zoom, Microsoft Teams	Webcams, Microphones, Internet Routers

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6. Emerging Trends in Software and Hardware

Trend	Impact on Business Analysts
Cloud Computing	Shift from on-premise hardware to cloud-hosted software (e.g., AWS, Azure).
Mobile and Responsive Apps	Need to gather requirements for mobile software compatibility.
IoT (Internet of Things)	Incorporation of smart hardware devices (e.g., sensors, smart meters).
Cybersecurity Solutions	Ensuring secure software and hardware solutions.
AI and Machine Learning	Requirement for AI-enabled software running on high-performance hardware (e.g., GPUs).

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7. Software and Hardware Requirements Example (for BA)

Sample Requirement Document:

Requirement Type	Description
Software	"The system must run on Windows 11 and support Microsoft 365 integration."
Hardware	"The client device must have at least 16GB RAM and a quad-core processor."

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8. Common Tools for Business Analysts Related to Software and Hardware

Tool	Purpose
Jira, Trello	Manage software development tasks.
Confluence, SharePoint	Document software and hardware requirements.
Balsamiq, Figma	Mockups for software interface.
Excel, Google Sheets	Hardware/software inventory lists.
Visio, Lucidchart	Diagrams for software systems and hardware architecture.

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✅ Summary Table

Aspect	Key Takeaways
Software	Programs and apps running on computers/devices.
Hardware	Physical parts like computers, servers, routers.
BA's Role	Gather, define, and manage software/hardware requirements.
Importance of Understanding Both	To design efficient, cost-effective, and functional solutions.
Tools and Trends	Cloud, IoT, AI, cybersecurity, mobile apps.