SADM 7/ed – CTTS Case Study – Milestone 8: System Proposal Solution Page: 8-2
MILESTONE 8 – THE SYSTEM PROPOSAL
: Activity 1 – Candidate Matrix
T
his matrix could be could completed many ways. Very few students should come up with the same answer unless additional constraints are provided to them to narrow down their list of choices.
Students should have brainstormed and researched alternative candidate solutions and described the candidates in the candidate matrix. At least one of the solutions should include a software package (buy solution). While it may be difficult for them to find a single software package that supports most of the requirements for a new customer response system, it is highly likely that they can find a package that supports some functions.
The important thing for the students to realize is that a variation in one of the cells of the matrix constitutes a different candidate. Therefore, one could come up with several different candidates. The matrix appearing on the next pages is one example of a possible solution.
Instructor Notes:Characteristics / Candidate 1 / Candidate 2 / Candidate 3
Description of System / SQL Server database for back-end. ASP .NET web application written for service request system. VB .NET desktop application written for component & configuration system. / MySQL database for back-end. Both service request system and component & configuration system written as web applications in PHP. / Purchase i-Sight Service and Complaint Management for service request system. Write VB .NET desktop application for component & configuration system.
Portion of System Computerized
Brief description of that portion of the system that would be computerized in this candidate. / Entire Customer Technology Tracking System. / Same as candidate 1 / Same as candidate 1
Benefits
Brief description of the business benefits that would be realized for this candidate. / Fully supports user requirements. We have the tools and competencies to develop this quickly. / Fully supports user requirements. This solution would be 100% web application and probably more portable should we decide that we want to sell the system to others. / Fully supports user requirements. Would have the benefit of getting the service request system running immediately and the entire system finished more quickly.
Servers and Workstations
A description of the servers and workstations needed to support this candidate. / No additional servers or workstations. / Same as candidate 1 / Same as candidate 1
Software Tools Needed
Software tools needed to design and build the candidate (e. g., database management system, emulators, operating systems, languages, etc.). Not generally applicable if applications software packages are to be purchased. / · Microsoft SQL Server
· Windows Internet Information Server
· Visual Studio .NET / · Free MySQL database server
· Any web server running on office server and, remotely, on technician notebooks / · Microsoft SQL Server
· Windows Internet Information Server
· Visual Studio .NET
Application Software
A description of the software to be purchased, built, accessed, or some combination of these techniques. / Custom solution / Same as candidate 1. / i-Sight system plus custom-written add-ons.
Method of Data Processing
Generally some combination of: on-line, batch, deferred batch, remote batch, and real-time. / Client/Server with distributed data
N-Tier Web Architecture / N-Tier Web Architecture / Same as candidate 1.
Output Devices and Implications
A description of output devices that would be used, special output requirements, (e.g. network, preprinted forms, etc.), and output considerations (e.g., timing constraints). / Existing LAN Printers / Same as candidate 1 / Same as candidate 1
Input Devices and Implications
A description of Input methods to be used, input devices (e.g., keyboard, mouse, etc.), special input requirements, (e.g. new or revised forms from which data would be input), and input considerations (e.g., timing of actual inputs). / Keyboard and Mouse
Would need to add barcode scanners for technicians' notebooks. / Same as candidate 1 / Same as candidate 1
Storage Devices and Implications
Brief description of what data would be stored, what data would be accessed from existing stores, what storage media would be used, how much storage capacity would be needed, and how data would be organized. / Microsoft SQL Server, which fully supports data replication and synchronization. / MySQL supports data replication and synchronization. Or we could write our own synchronization routines by logging offline SQL statements and running them later against the master server. / i-Sight database plus Microsoft SQL Server. The database management system used for i-Sight is not currently known. There could be data integration issues.
: Activity 2 – Technical Memo
A
nswers will vary depending on whether barcode scanning or data synchronization is researched and depending on what products are currently on the market. Look for correct and thorough analysis of the solution alternatives and for an understanding of how each solution alternative would fit the user requirements.
Prepared by Gary B. Randolph for
Systems Analysis & Design Methods 7ed
by J. L. Whitten, L. D. Bentley, & K.C. Dittman Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 2007