Assessment Instructions and Background Information
This document extends the instructions on the course website. Read the instructions on the course website in addition to this document.
This assessment consists of
- A case study that requires you to apply your learning from the systems planning module.
- An ethical analysis which requires you to apply one of the readings provided on the course website.
- A conceptual development section that requires you to consider how systems planning tasks impact on a systems development project.
- A peer review/learning reflection section; students who are working in teams are to answer the peer review questions; students working independently are to answer the learning reflection questions.
The feedback sheet lists the assessment criteria. Look for it on the assessment’s webpage. Take note of which sections carry the most marks.
Note that this document’s word count is 3650 without any answers, so
- Don’t worry if the final word count seems high.
- Also, there are some diagrams in this assessment so don’t worry if the final word count seems low.
Draw the diagrams by hand, photograph, and insert the photographs in this file. If you prefer, you can use Word’s drawing tools (or some other drawing or modelling software) but you may find working with pen and paper is faster, easier to amend, less cumbersome, and more reliable with respect to layout.
When referring to the exemplars on the course website, read the old assessment specifications carefully because the assessments differ every study period.
In the previous study period, teams spent an average of 41 hours on this assessment.
- Pace your team accordingly.
- For best results
- Do not attempt to complete the whole assessment in one session.
- Work slowly and carefully.
In addition to the instructions on the course website
- Do not overlook the ‘Why?’ questions.
- Read the case study carefully.
- Keep track of the hours you spend.
Make assumptions where necessary. Scope for assumptions has been deliberately included in this assessment because it is often necessary to make assumptions openly when dealing with a client who is under-informed with respect to information systems. Label assumptions clearly. Here’s an example from a previous study period,
Assumption: As the passengers of Titanic II may be from any nation, we have assumed a currency converter is required for the ticket-purchasing function.
Case study: Nexus Distribution
From the systems planning assignment
Nexus Distribution is a small film distribution agency that focuses on limited release art-house films. It has been in business for a decade and has an existing information system for administering its business processes. Joy Moody started Nexus with her long-time professional contact Deane Jackson. Joy has a leadership and marketing role and Deane manages operations. Louise Taylor and Elizabeth Page are spotters who attend film festivals (eg Sundance, Cannes, Sydney, Toronto, London, etc), identifying films that align with the Nexus Distribution focus, bidding for, and often signing, those films. This team of four work closely to sign 15-20 films each year, optimising the distribution of each film so that returns for Nexus and for their clients (the film-makers and the theatres) are maximised.
The existing information system consists of three databases.
- Catalogue
- DistributionNetwork
- Travel
Louise and Elizabeth do most of their work while travelling and they communicate with Deane via email, text messaging and phone calls. Louise and Elizabeth attend only the largest film festivals together; usually they work independently of each other. When they are at a film festival, they work highly irregular hours and, in addition to the tasks outlined above, their work includes socialising with, and occasionally entertaining, potential and existing clients.
Company Overview
Clients are entertained when the film they have made is of such high quality that more than one distribution agency is competing for its distribution rights. In these cases, Elizabeth and Louise take the clients out for dinner or to a bar in order to build robust working relationships and to create an opportunity for uninterrupted discussion of why and how the client’s interests are best served by Nexus. Louise and Elizabeth are consummate networkers; they are confident, good-humoured and charming in all social circumstances, building relationships with and between people working at all levels of the international art-house film industry.
However, the communication practices between Nexus staff are not up to date and this has led to inefficiencies and wastage of Louise and Elizabeth’s talents and efforts. As their time at film festivals is expensive (flights, accommodation, registration fees, entertainment costs, etc) it is desirable that their time is not wasted. For example, a new film may be shown at several film festivals simultaneously; if Elizabeth has already seen it at Toronto and passed on it (or bid for it and signed it), when Louise is at the Venice film festival, she does not need to waste her time viewing that film and can focus on other films. There are many other instances in which their communication practices fail to optimise the (mostly asynchronous) day-to-day collaborations between Louise, Elizabeth and Deane.
While Louise and Elizabeth work on building Nexus’s catalogue, Deane builds its distribution network (in addition to his significant administrative role). This entails signing various distribution service providers (both independent and chain) to the Nexus distribution network. A distribution service provider might be a VOD (Video on Demand) provider, a chain of theatres, an independent theatre, etc. Deane spends about half of his recruitment effort approaching providers that do not already screen art-house films. The other half is spent on providers which already adopt an art-house focus. While it is a key facet of the Nexus business model, building the distribution network does not consume anywhere near as much effort, money and time as spotting films. Deane estimates that for every dollar spent on building the distribution network, a hundred are spent on spotting films.
Deane is directly responsible for accounting, travel arrangements and reporting. Also, he is indirectly responsible for contracts, which he outsources to a legal firm specialising in contracts for this type of work.
Joy’s role is largely centred on vision and leadership. However, prior to starting Nexus she built a reputation in film marketing and her practical skills in this area are an essential ingredient in Nexus’s success. Every time a new film is signed to Nexus, Joy, Deane, Louise, Elizabeth and the film-makers have a four hour meeting. Occasionally, these meetings are in person, but more often they are held online. These meetings can be hard to schedule because participants are very busy and in different time zones.
Existing Information System
During these meetings, in order to design the film’s marketing strategy, they leverage Louise or Elizabeth’s observations of the film, Deane’s knowledge of the Nexus distribution network, Joy’s marketing expertise and the client’s vision. A marketing strategy includes artistic vision, media, release windows and release schedule.
Artistic vision is primarily driven by the client and Joy with input from Louise or Elizabeth. It is actioned by Deane, who reviews the artists who have worked with Nexus in the past, considers the artistic vision, and prioritises the artists according to how well their unique talent, reliability and experience match up with the marketing strategy’s artistic vision. After the meeting, Deane approaches the artists one by one to discuss their availability and to eventually establish a contract.
Media (film, video, television, DVD, VOD, etc) is negotiated between Joy, whose mission is to optimise returns, and the film-maker, whose mission is exposure. With input from Louise and Elizabeth, who have viewed more films than anyone else in the meeting and who therefore have the most comprehensive view of the international market, a binding consensus is reached and documented.
Joy and Deane, who aim to maximise the size of the audience, are largely responsible for determining release windows and schedule, however the client’s needs are taken into consideration. This is achieved by application of market intelligence and expertise. In most cases, a film is screened in theatres on a schedule that will maximise the audience (eg avoidance of major cultural events, avoidance of similar films, knowledge of forthcoming films, etc). Also, films are screened in theatres (primary distribution service providers) prior to being released via secondary distribution service providers (eg VOD service providers, DVD runs, etc).
The duration for which the film is screened in theatres depends upon various factors (audience, the film’s performance in other markets, the agreement between Nexus and the film-makers, the agreement between Nexus and the theatres, etc). For most films, the theatrical release date is preceded by four weeks of postering and trailers, wherever possible working with the film-makers in order to leverage the social profiles of those who worked on the film (eg the actors and crew). For highly anticipated films, these four weeks may extend to six or eight and may require Deane to schedule interviews for the film-makers or actors with local media.
Although the existing IS meets Nexus’s administrative needs, the ongoing daily communication problems and the difficulties of scheduling and running online meetings need to be addressed. Deane thinks Nexus needs its own app so that database updates can be done by anyone at any time and he has contacted your workplace, IT Foundry, to enquire further. You have been allocated the task of systems planning for the development of an app for Nexus.
Communication Problems and Need for App Development
Also, although they are very talented, experienced and respected in their fields, the entire Nexus team are inexperienced in systems analysis and design. They are confident you will come up with relevant ideas, they anticipate your suggestions and they expect you to catalyse and drive all technical aspects of the project. These clients are very much open to suggestion.
New information
The preliminary investigation you wrote up for the Nexus project enabled you to develop a basic understanding of the business context. Your scope lists captured the project’s key elements and made a positive impression on Joy, Deane, Louise and Elizabeth. They have approved the project’s progression to system analysis and you have scheduled a meeting with them.
Recall: you can make assumptions in this assignment (as noted in the instructions above). Also, you can use the course forum if you have any questions.
- Prepare for this meeting. Write an agenda that includes six topics you would like to discuss with them (if you do not know what an agenda is, look it up on the internet). These topics should be derived from your planning documents and should enable your clients to talk about the things you need to know during systems analysis (eg, the data and how it is processed).
Agenda 1: Identifying the requirements along with analysis
Agenda 2: Discussing and identifying the structure of organization into Nexus distribution
Agenda 3: Determining and analyzing the system requirements
Agenda 4: Discussing with the designs as well as screenshots of the system user interfaces
Agenda 5: Identifying the system alternatives as well as determining the system development
Agenda 6: Discussing on diagrams of system along with approval from the client side
After this meeting, the following requirements are known:
- Louise and Elizabeth must be able to enter data into the Catalogue database from their smartphones
- Louise and Elizabeth must be able to query the Catalogue database with their smartphones
- For example, when they are planning their viewing schedule Louise and Elizabeth need to be able to check whether a film has already been viewed and signed (or passed on)
- Dean must be able to enter, access and amend data in the Travel and DistributionNetwork databases from his smartphone and from his desktop computer
- Louise and Elizabeth must be able to view future travel itineraries and hotel bookings on their smartphones
- Louise and Elizabeth must be able to enter, access and amend information on their relationships with clients or contacts from their smartphones
- For example, a new client or contact’s name; if they are a filmmaker (a director or a producer), which film and how were they involved with that film; if they’re not a filmmaker, what their business is and why the relationship is important to Nexus; whether the client or contact was made by Louise or Elizabeth; when and where the client or contact was made; their entertainment preferences; etc
- A new database will be needed for this relationship data
- Joy must be able to view summaries of recent business activity from her smartphone and from her desktop computer
- Joy wants to be able to tailor these summaries on an ad hoc basis
- Examples include recently established client relationships; recently signed films; Louise or Elizabeth’s notes on the recently signed films; recently planned travel; an annual overview of the film festivals attended by Louise and Elizabeth; when and where these festivals are held, etc.
- The whole team must be able to schedule and conduct meetings on smartphones (Joy, Deane, Louise and Elizabeth) and desktop computers (Joy and Deane)
- Scheduling must account for Louise and Elizabeth’s travel itineraries and for whichever time zone they will be in at the time and date of the meeting
- No one from Nexus will be involved in scheduling – the system will automatically find the four best dates and times
- These dates and times will be sent to the client (their contact details will be in the new relationship database or, if necessary, the app will alert Deane and he will look up the contact details in his paper file, enter the details and, accordingly, the app will update the relationship database)
- The client will choose which of the four dates and times is best for them
- The app will make the booking, alert all participants, update their calendars and, on the day, provide an alert 15 minutes before the meeting starts
- It must be possible for a client to call in to these meetings (Skype, phone, any other method)
- Meetings must be voice recorded for future reference
- A new database will be needed for the meetings data
You make a start on systems analysis. You realise more detailed information will come to light over time, which may require you to amend your current analysis.
Recall: you can make assumptions in this assignment (as noted in the instructions above). Also, you can use the course forum if you have any questions.
- What is the purpose of data flow diagrams?
Data Flow Diagram (DFD) is the process to show the way information is flowing throughout the process or system. It is the graphical representation of the processes which help to capture, control, and store along with distribute the data. There is distribution of data among the system with the environment as well as system components. It is provided of visual representation of flow of data along with acts as tool to facilitate of communication among the user as well as system designer. It allows starting and expanding detailed diagrams due to system development.
- Do data flow diagrams show system logic and decision points? Explain.
DFD is representing relationship among the components which is associated with the system along with the program. It shows transformation of the input data into the output results. There is occurrence of transformation throughout the sequential functional transformations. There is transformation of the output data which is carried out by logical along with decision points.
- Why is it important for a systems analyst to understand how data flows through an information system?
IT Foundry Tasked with Systems Planning
The system analyst is able to understand flow of data throughout the information system for determining the logical model. Data flow is presented “what” is being done by system along with “how” it is being done. It is a key significant requirement of system analyst to understand the flow of data and analyze system performance.
- Draw a context diagram for the Nexus information system.
- Write a brief ‘how to’ guide (100-200 words) to help the Nexus team understand your DFD diagrams.
DFD is presented information related to storage as well as distribution into visual representation such that it is understood by team of Nexus. The data flow is occurred when information system is core element into DFD. Data storage into DFD is presented defined storage to store data which is being transformed input to the output. Following are the notations which are used into DFD are:
External Entity: It is the element which represented the human and system/subsystem. It is taken as source from data which is incoming / outgoing in the system.
Process: It is the element which is considered as the business activities where there is occurrence of manipulation of data.
Data Store: It is a medium to store data which is produced and required by process which is carried out into the system.
Data Flow: It is represented informational flow along with direction which is depicted by arrow to reflect from where data is incoming as well as outgoing into the system.
- List the data stores and data elements in your DFDs, showing the data elements for each data store.
|
Data Store |
Data Elements |
|
Film and Travel |
|
|
Film catalogue |
Information related to film in addition to film festival |
|
Media record |
Media used are film, DVD, video and television |
|
Flight and accommodation |
Cost related to accommodation and flight |
|
Registration and entertainment |
Cost of entertainment along with registration fees |
|
Distribution Network and Accounts summary |
|
|
Service provider |
Provider, chain of theatres and independent theatre |
|
Expenses file |
Transportation cost |
|
Account statement |
Expenses for month |
Draw a FDD for the Nexus information system.
Identify and name four of the functional primitives in the Nexus information system.
There are four functional primitives which are recognized into Nexus information system as:
- Prepare a catalogue of film
- Prepare a travel expense
- Prepare a distributional network
Prepare an expense report along with summary of accounts
- Draw a modular design for two of the functional primitives named in your previous answer.
RECEIVE Distribution network information request
VALIDATE information
CHECK entry record in Service provider file
IF Found = True
THEN Return “Service provider already exists”
ELSE Update new information in service provider file
SEND updated record to Distribution Network Summary
- For which components of the Nexus information system will you recommend prototyping? Why?
While prototyping, the components of Nexus information system are as follows:
- Prepare a catalogue of film: It includes for prototype where the users should able to keep records of film and film festival.
- Prepare a travel expense: It includes keeping track of travel expenses.
- Prepare a distributional network: The service providers can able to gain access to system along with register with the Nexus.
- Prepare an expense report along with summary of accounts: It is required to record the expenses which are incurred into the company when the users are visiting the film festivals for gathering information related to film.
Note that UML will be assessed in detail in the exam.
- Explain how you will make the build or buy decisions for the Nexus information system.
Decision to build along with buy is made to determine required modules for the information system. The decisions are to be taken based on some factors such as cost, maintenance along with feasibility of the system.
- Your team has been asked to give a 30-minute presentation to Joy, Deane and your manager at IT Foundry, using a PowerPoint presentation. How many slides will you include and what are their titles?
The tiles of the slides are as follows:
- Background
- Requirement analysis of system
- Data flow diagram (DFD)
- Details on DFD contd.
- Details on DFD contd.
- Understanding DFD diagram by Nexus team
- Data Store and its elements
- Functional Decomposition Diagram
- Functional primitives of information system of Nexus
- Modular design for two functional primitives
- Recommendations
- Thank you slide
Through your work analysing Nexus’s data requirements, you become aware of some unusual entertainment expenses on Elizabeth’s account. While she may have incurred these expenses legitimately, there are no similar transactions in Louise’s account. You are fully aware that Elizabeth and Louise regularly entertain potential clients and you are aware that this is an important method of developing clientele and industry knowledge. You are also aware that Elizabeth and Louise drive the Nexus business processes, creating business opportunities and building good-will for Nexus. However, these transactions are unusual and, according to your personal moral points of reference, sensitive. You are undecided as to whether you should inform anyone, and if so, who.
Assumptions and Course Forum
Analyse this scenario by responding the following questions. These questions encourage you to apply the stages of the ethical decision-making process described in Reynolds (2015). This reading can be located on the course web site. Do not overlook the ‘Why?’ questions as these support the development of your certitude.
- Make a list of the facts relevant to the ethical problem.
The factors relevant to ethical issues are:
- Unusual transactions into the account
- Issues are informed
- To whom issues are being informed
- List the stakeholders and their positions.
Stakeholders are:
|
Stakeholder |
Position |
|
Louise Taylor |
Spotter |
|
Elizabeth Page |
Spotter |
You have not yet made a decision. However, a decision is forthcoming. When the decision is made, what will its consequences be?
Decisions are taken to inform about the transactional issues which leads to termination of contract. When the decisions are not informed, then it leads to major cost issues for travel as well as entertainment.
- Consider virtue ethics, utilitarianism, fairness, and the common good. When used correctly, these philosophical theories may lead your decision in a different direction.
- What does a virtue ethics framework tell you about the ethical problem?
Virtue ethics framework is used to identify the ethical issues as it is against the moral values of company.
- What does utilitarianism tell you about the ethical problem?
Utilitarianism is used to handle the problems with care and consider of moral values of the humans.
- What does fairness tell you about the ethical problem?
Fairness is used to sustain when clear information are provided to the employees.
- What does the common good tell you about the ethical problem?
Common good is used to resolve the problems by taking of steps which are not affecting moral values.
- Identify and describe three different responses to the ethical problem.
Three different responses to ethical issues are:
- It is not informed.
- It is informed.
- It is handled personally
- Which response is the best and why?
The third response is best as it is not disturbing the moral values of both human and company.
- Refer to the stakeholders. How does the best response impact on the stakeholders?
Best response helps stakeholders to aware of mistakes in future and modifies them.
So far, this assignment has supported the development of skills required in professional practice, including ethics. Now, it supports the development of professional expertise.
Consider the Nexus case study and the systems analysis your team has completed. You may have completed the analysis with a lot of care. If so, your analysis is more likely to be effective in supporting future project activities.
Consider a situation in which the analysis was conducted in a careless manner.
- What is the overall purpose of the systems analysis phase of a project and how does it differ from the systems planning phase?
The system analysis is used for determining the system requirements whereas system planning is used to determine steps which are taken to develop the system.
- With respect to the systems analysis tasks completed above, identify problems that may arise for the following stakeholders. Your answer should have six unique problems (two per stakeholder).
- Nexus
- Requirement details
- Scope change
- Nexus’s customers or the wider community
- System functionalities
- Accessing system
- Your own future work tasks (systems design tasks)
- System modules
- Modules testingWith reference to any three of the problems you have identified above, what are your conclusions about the importance of attention to detail with respect to systems analysis?
The problems are identified to deal with the system analysis. System requirements lead to make changes into the system modules which incur into higher cost as well as time and results into delay and failure of the information system.
Recall the systems planning assessment asked you to draw some conclusions about the importance of attention to detail during systems planning activities. In this assignment, you are thinking about and demonstrating systems analysis.
- Read and think about your answer to question 21 of the Systems Planning assessment. Compare it to your answer to question 27 Identify and discuss two important differences in your answers. Note: this question does not ask you to compare systems planning and systems analysis. Instead, it asks you to compare what you think about these two topics.
In question 21, ethical decision making, moral values are carried out and in question 27, it s related to provide importance to it. Both are interrelated as they have linked with making of decisions.
Mission and Functions
Everyone in your team must visit SparkPLUS and review their teammates. When reviewing one of your peers, tell them three things they did well and three things they can improve.
NOTE: the systems design assessment will ask students to consider their weaknesses and strengths. If you do not tell them weaknesses and strengths, they will get lower grades in this future assessment.
Warning: If one person skips the peer review, the whole team will receive a lower grade.
Think about the tasks you completed in this assignment and reflect upon any knowledge you have gained from completing these tasks. Consider the UniSA Graduate Qualities.
- Name two learning outcomes.
Note: although the Course Objectives on the Course Outline can be informative, please consider your personal learning experience. As you have a unique history, you will have unique learning outcomes; that is, someone who knew a lot about defining a project’s scope before starting this course cannot identify it as a learning outcome from this assignment; they will identify some other learning outcome. Also, do not repeat the learning outcomes from your systems planning assessment.
- Detailing of the system requirements
- Tools and techniques for design
- For each of your learning outcomes, name one relevant UniSA Graduate Quality.
Example: “As noted above, my first learning outcome is _____________. This learning outcome correlates to _____________. My second learning outcome is _____________. This learning outcomes correlates to _____________.”
As noted above, my first learning outcome is analysis of system requirements for understanding of clients. This learning outcome correlates to detailing the system requirements for understanding of clients. My second learning outcome is tools and techniques for designing. This learning outcomes correlates to tools and techniques used to design the diagrams for system development.
- In your previous answer, you correlated two learning outcomes to two Graduate Qualities. Focusing on these two Graduate Qualities, and addressing each one separately, explain how this assignment’s tasks enabled you to further develop these qualities.
Details the system requirements: It helps to improve assignment’s qualities based on provided case study from where the requirements are identified.
Tools and techniques for design: Tools are used to draw diagrams for system functionalities..
How many hours did your team invest in this assessment? This information will be provided to future students in this course.
46 hours were invested by the team to complete the assessment.
Thank you for your time and effort. I look forward to reading the submission.
References
Adams, K.M 2015, Non-functional requirements in systems analysis and design (Vol. 28). Heidelberg: Springer.
Dennis, A., Wixom, B.H & Tegarden, D 2015, Systems analysis and design: An object-oriented approach with UML. John wiley & sons.
Garfield, J 2017, Assessing Theoretical Concepts in Systems Analysis and Design: A Scaffolded Case Study Approach
Munzner, T 2014, Visualization analysis and design. CRC press.
Patel, N 2014, Critical systems analysis and design: A personal framework approach. Routledge.
Reynolds, GW 2015, ‘An overview of ethics’, in Ethics in Information Technology (3rd edn), Cengage Learning, Boston, pp. 1-39.
Tilley, S & Rosenblatt, H 2017, Systems Analysis and Design, 11th edition, Cengage Learning.
Valacich, J., George, J & Hoffer, J 2014, Essentials of systems analysis and design. Prentice Hall Press.
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