Information Systems 2003 Outcome 2                                Name:

 

                            

Section 1:     33 Marks - Short Answer – 50 Minutes

 

  1. Information systems can be categorized into different types based on the job they fulfill in an organization. Describe each of the following:
    1. Decision Support System

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

    1. Expert System

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

    1. Transaction Processing System

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

3x2=6 marks

  1. List the five phases of the system development life cycle.
    1.  _________________________
    2.  _________________________
    3.  _________________________
    4.  _________________________
    5.  _________________________
5 Marks
  1. A range of factors promote organizational change.
    1. Identify one area that provides impetus for change

___________________________________________________________________________

    1. Give a detailed example of this factor that promoted change

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

1+2=3 Marks
  1. System analysis is considered by some to be the most important phase of the SDLC.
    1. Describe the purpose of system analysis

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

    1. Explain why it is considered so important

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

2+2=4 Marks


 

  1. During analysis the system analyst must collect data and used a range of collection methods.
    1. Identify one data collection method

___________________________________________________________________________

    1. List one advantage and one disadvantage of this method

Advantage:__________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

Disadvantage:________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

1+2=3 Marks
  1. List two tools that could be used to document a system

 Tool 1:____________________________________________________________

 Tool 2:____________________________________________________________

2 Marks
  1. During the initial phases of the SDLC a range of alternative designs or options would be presented to the organization’s management. They would assess these against a range of indicators and factors to measure how beneficial or practical the development of an information system would be to the organization
    1. Identify one category they would use to asses this feasibility

 _____________________________________________________________________________     

b.      Describe what they would be assessing in that area.

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

1+2=3 marks

  1. a. Name one phase of the SDLC where the use of a context diagram would be appropriate.

 

            _______________________

           

b. Explain the purpose of a context diagram.

 

______________________________________________________________________________     

 

1+2=3 marks

  1. How does a physical design differ from a logical design?

 

______________________________________________________________________________     

______________________________________________________________________________     

2 marks

  1. State two reasons why a programmer should include internal documentation when writing programs

 

______________________________________________________________________________     

______________________________________________________________________________     

2 marks

 

 

 

Section 2:

Case Study 75 Marks Short Answer and Extended Response

Zoom

 

Zoom Merchandise was founded in 1979. The company distributes a range of Formula1, Indy, Nascar, V8 Supercars, Street Machines (cars that have been restored or modified) and other automotive competition merchandise.

 

Zoom have created a range of very popular products; including t-shirts, caps, sweaters, photos, and videos relating to each event. They sell their products from merchandise tents at events such as the Grand Prix in Melbourne, Summernats in Canberra, and the Indy race on the Gold Coast, and they follow the Supercar Series around the country. They also have a mail order catalogue that is sent out four times a year, for those that are interested and are unable to attend all events.

 

The company’s influence has spread throughout Australia, and has growing interest from overseas enthusiasts. The company’s management see that this as a prime opportunity to expand their business using newer, efficient, and effective methods of online merchandising. They are committed to providing the best products at the lowest price, and the best possible service to their customers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Corporate Management

 

President and Chief Executive Officer: Loreena Wild, MBA, has 28 years of experience in marketing, advertising, and business administration. She joined the company at the beginning of 1999, and has been asked to oversee the rejuvenation and overhaul of the company's advertising and financial procedures.

Vice President: Lyndon Hew, Ph.D. MBA, has been with the company for 20 years. He has overseen the expansion of their merchandising and the advent of the quarterly catalogue.

Head of Media: Jae McLachlan, Ba. Marketing and Advertising. This involves managing all public relations, magazine advertising, and the coordination of the catalogue.

Head of Financial Services: Billy Kreviazuk, Ba. Accounting. He is responsible for financial decision-making and the coordination of all debit and credit accounts. All orders and payments are processed through his department.

Head of Warehouse: Marcus Strozzi, Bach. of Commerce. Oversees the distribution of all the merchandise.




Current Practice

 

Ordering a product through the catalogue

Ø      Catalogues are sent four times a year using their customer database. Customer’s call a toll free number and are added to the database or fill in a customer form at any event.

Ø      Customers fill in the order form attached to the catalogue.

Ø      The customer sends in the order form and the attached customer details form via return mail to Head Office.

Ø      Payment for the goods ordered is also included, either cheque, money order, or by providing credit card details.

Ø      The Head Office receives the order and accesses the customer’s file and then creates an electronic order, this records the order and all financial information, which is stored in the orders file. Once the order is recorded a receipt is stored.

Ø      A duplicate receipt is printed and stored in a filing cabinet alphabetically according to the surname of the customer.

Ø      The Head Office sends, through internal mail, a printout of the summary of all orders for that week to the warehouse and a copy to Financial Services

Ø      The warehouse fills each order; it and the receipt are sent to the customer.

Ø      The customer receives ordered merchandise between 6-8 weeks after placing an order.

Ø      The process is repeated for each new order the customer places.

 

Company Concerns

Ø      In producing the report for the Head of Financial Services it has been found the staff assumed that all figures calculated by the customer on their order from are correct.

Ø      The figures on the weekly reports do not match the amounts going into the bank

Ø      Jae McLachlan has been spending much of her time dealing with irate customers who are anxiously awaiting the delivery of Zoom merchandise. The long turn-around time has customers complaining.

Ø      Printed orders are only sent to the warehouse once a week so it can take some time before the warehouse actually gets the order.

Ø      The internal mail system is very inefficient, as there is no organized procedure for getting the reports from the Head Office to the warehouse, ie the report is not done at the same time each week and someone has to be prepared to deliver them.

Ø      Products names on the printer order are inconsistent, depending on who created the form in Head Office.

 
Context Diagram

 

 



Data Flow Diagram

 

 



System Flow Chart

After a meeting of departmental heads. Loreena Wild, the CEO, has decided to call in a System Analyst to overhaul the current ordering and financial systems to provide one accurate and informative system.

It was agreed that the new system should consider the following:

Ÿ                     Financial management,

Ÿ                     Customer ordering methods

Ÿ                     Organizational communication.


SECTION 2 Part A – Analysis                     Name:

 

Complete Questions 1 – 3: 25 Minutes

 

  1. Identify the information problem(s) faced by Zoom Merchandise current information system.

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

3 Marks

  1. Discuss the impetus for change within Zoom Merchandise.

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________     

________________________________________________________________________

      3 Marks

  1.  
    1. Identify three data sources that could be used during system analysis and design, one has been provided for you. 
    2. Describe the data each source will provide.
    3. Describe the best method to collect data from that source. Use different methods for each group.

Data Source

Data provided

Collection method

Customers

 

_____________________________

_____________________________

_____________________________

_____________________________

 

 

_____________________________

_____________________________

_____________________________

_____________________________

 


 

Data Source

Data provided

Collection method

 

 

_____________________________

_____________________________

_____________________________

_____________________________

 

 

_____________________________

_____________________________

_____________________________

_____________________________

 

 

 

_____________________________

_____________________________

_____________________________

_____________________________

 

 

_____________________________

_____________________________

_____________________________

_____________________________

 

8 (1+1, 1+1+1, 1+1+1) Marks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

END SECTION 2 Part A – 14 Marks


SECTION 2 Part B – Design

 

Zoom has undergone the initial steps of analysis and design. The system analyst has collected data from a range of sources using an array of methods.

 

The system analyst has identified the following as organizational goals:

1.      To supply the racing and car enthusiast community with a range of high quality racing and vehicular merchandise

2.      To ensure efficient quality customer service

3.      To ensure accurate and prudent financial management

4.      To provide accurate and timely product information to local and international members of the racing and car enthusiast community.

 

Ø      Complete Questions 1 – 10: 75 Minutes

 

1.       

a.       State three system goals that would help achieve these organization goals.

b.      State two system objectives for each system goal.

System Goal

System Objectives

Example:

System Goal: To ensure system data integrity and security

Example:

Objective 1: to have an accurate back up of the customer database at all times

Objective 2: all users to have usernames and passwords

 

System Goal 1:___________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

 

 

 

Objective 1_____________________________

______________________________________

Objective 2_____________________________

_____________________________________


 

 

System Goal 2:___________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

 

 

 

Objective 1_____________________________

______________________________________

Objective 2_____________________________

_____________________________________

 

System Goal 3:___________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

 

 

 

Objective 1_____________________________

______________________________________

Objective 2_____________________________

_____________________________________

9 (1+2, 1+2, 1+2)Marks

 

The system analyst has developed the following procedure for the new online ordering system.

Procedures

Ø      The customer enters the order details online; it records the customer’s details, their orders, and checks and validates totals and records payments via credit card.

Ø      Orders are submitted

Ø      Each day the distribution centre downloads already formatted order and payment information into their central computer and an order file is created for the customer.

Ø      The system verifies order details - including totals calculations and availability

Ø      If there is a problem with the order an error report is sent to customers via email - this would be if there was an error in payment or if an product was unavailable at that time.

Ø      If all is correct, the system processes payment and records it in the account file

Ø      A delivery slip is created and sent to the warehouse and the orders are filled.

Ø       Payment is checked and an invoice receipt is printed.

Ø      Orders and a receipt are sent to the customer with in two weeks of placing the order.

 

 

 

 


The context diagram for the proposed system

2.         Fill in the blanks on the data flow diagram for the proposed system.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

20 Marks


3.      Consider the customer file and construct a simple data table.

Data Item

Description

Characteristics

Eg: Firstname

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First name of customer

String, 20 char

                                                                                                                                                  8 Marks

4.      Describe the key networking hardware and software that will be needed by Zoom to implement this new online ordering system.

Hardware/Software

Purpose

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10 Marks


5.      For the following system objective:

Objective 1: to have an accurate back up of the customer database at all times

a.       Identify two possible hardware/software solutions

Hardware/Software Solution 1

Hardware/Software Solution 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4 Marks

b.      Using the four feasibility factors compare both alternatives

Feasibility

Solution 1

Solution 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4 Marks

c.       Recommend one solution

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

3 Marks

6.      For the new online ordering system develop three criteria that will be used to evaluate the new system.

Criterion 1:__________________________________________________________________     

Criterion 2:_______________________________________________________________

Criterion 3: _______________________________________________________________

3 Marks

 

END SECTION 2 Part B – 61 Marks