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FINAL EXAM

ITEC 630- Information Systems Analysis, Modeling, and Design

1. This is an open-book individual examination. You may use other resources in addition to the
textbook, such as other books, articles and the Web. You must, however, do your own work
and you may not collaborate with your classmates or anyone else.
2. Questions should be answered in your own words, answering only what you are asked. Use
quotation marks if not using your own words, and do not forget to cite full reference.
Remember to show your work.
3. Answers will be evaluated on the following criteria: key content, logical flow, and clarity.
4. Post your answers (marked as "Final Exam" and with your name) to your Assignments
Folder in WebTycho in a MS-Word, or MS-RTF, or PDF file. The exam is due 11:59 p.m.
Eastern Time, Wednesday, April 22, 2009.
Problem I - (25 points)

"You'll be happy to know that we made a strong case to management that we should hire a new
systems analyst to specialize in ecommerce development," says Al Falfa, a systems analyst for
the multi-outlet international chain of Marathon Vitamin Shops. He is meeting with his large
team of systems analysts to decide on the qualifications that their new team member should
possess. Al continues, saying, "In fact, they were so excited by the possibility of our team
helping to move Marathon into an ecommerce strategy that they've said we should start our
search now and not wait until the fall."
Ginger Rute, another analyst, agrees, saying, "As long as the economy is healthy, the demand for
Web site developers is far outstripping the supply. We should move quickly. I think our new
person should be knowledgeable in CASE tools, Visual Basic, and JavaScript, just to name a
few."
Al looks surprised at Ginger's long list of languages, but then replies, "Well, that's certainly one
way we could go. But I would also like to see a person with some business savvy. Most of the
people coming out of school will have solid programming skills, but they should know about
accounting, inventory, and distribution of goods and services, too."
The newest member of the systems analysis group, Vita Minn, finally breaks into the discussion.
She says, "One of the reasons I chose to come to work with all of you was that I thought we all
got along quite well together. Because I had some other opportunities, I looked very carefully at
what the atmosphere was here. From what I've seen, we're a friendly group. Let's be sure to hire
someone who has a good personality and who fits in well with us."
Al concurs, continuing, "Vita's right. The new person should be able to communicate well with
us, and with business clients, too. We are always communicating in some way, through formal
presentations, drawing diagrams, or interviewing users. If they understand decision making, it
will make their job easier, too. Also, Marathon is interested in integrating ecommerce into the
entire business. We need someone who at least grasps the strategic importance of the Web. Page
design is such a small part of it."
Ginger interjects again with a healthy dose of practicality; saying, "Leave that to management. I
still say the new person should be a good programmer." Then she ponders aloud, "I wonder how
important UML will be?"
After listening patiently to everyone's wish list, one of the senior analysts, Cal Siem, speaks up,
joking, "We'd better see if Superman is available!"
As the group shares a laugh, Al sees an opportunity to try for some consensus, saying, "We've
had a chance to hear a number of different qualifications. Let's each take a moment and make a
list of the qualifications we personally think are essential for the new ecommerce development
person to possess. We'll share them and continue discussing until we can describe the person in
enough detail to turn a description over to the human resources group for processing."

a) What qualifications should the systems analysis team be looking for when hiring their new
ecommerce development team member? (5 points)

An understanding of programming languages, programming techniques and software


applications in the ecommerce field is necessary; however, other qualifications are also needed to
be a member of the team. These include having an understanding of the business aspect of
ecommerce, being able to communicate effectively, creative, self-motivated and self disciplined
to work as an individual and team member.

b) Is it more important to know specific languages or to have an aptitude for picking up


languages and software packages quickly? (5 points)
Knowing specific languages is a great skill to possess as a systems analyst; however, the ability
to quickly learn new languages and software packages is a requirement to be successful as a
systems analyst. It is well known that technology changes rapidly but as a systems analyst you
may be hired as a consultant for many firms making use of various programming languages or
ERP packages. The systems analyst also acts as an agent of change which will lead to
improvements possibly using various programming languages and software packages. If the SA
struggles to learn new technology the needed improvements will cost more and take longer
possibly costing a missed business opportunity.

c) How important is it that the person being hired has some basic business understanding? (5
points)

It is critical that the individual have business understanding. The SA must systematically assess
how users interact with technology and business function by examining the inputting and
processing of data and outputting of information with the intent of improving organizational
processes. (Kendall, pg 7). The SA looks to improve the business functions through
improvements in information systems. It would be impossible for an SA with no business
knowledge to produce a valuable asset for the organization.

d) Should all team members possess identical competencies and skills? (4 points)

The simple answer is no. Team members should have differing experiences and be experts in
their own field. This will ensure (hopefully) that all aspects of the improvements will be
discussed and handled properly. Drawing on personal experience, the ability to bring a group of
people together that are experts in their field is the only way to create the improvements that will
meet the technical needs, business needs, customers needs, and users needs.

e) What personality or character traits are desirable in a systems analyst who will be working in
ecommerce development? (6 points)

First and foremost, the SA needs to be a problem solver. The ability to see the work as a
challenge and create a workable solution through a systematic approach utilizing necessary tools,
techniques and experience is a trait that all SAs must possess. Other traits for SAs will be the
ability to communicate effective with individuals on all levels of an organization from listening
to the users on their needs to informing the programmers and the rest of the team, an
understanding human-computer interactions, as well as strong personal and professional ethics.
The systems analyst will be a self-motivated, self-disciplined person who has the ability to work
with and manage a team.

[Extracted from Consulting Opportunity 1.1 Healthy Hiring: Ecommerce Help Wanted
(Kendall & Kendall p. 8)]
Problem II - (25 points)

Cherry Jones owns a homeopathic medicine company called Faithhealers. She sells vitamins and
other relatively nonperishable products for those who want choices regarding alternative
medicine. Cherry is developing a new system that would require her staff to be retrained.
a) Given the information in Figure 3.EX3 (Kendall & Kendall, page 102), make a PERT
diagram for her and identify the critical path. (12 points)

A 6 D 3 F

6 2

4 G
2 E 5

3 H 3 I
B
3 2

Critical Path: A D F G H I (18 weeks)

b) If Cherry could find away to save time on the write use cases phase, would it help?
Why or why not (13 points)

As the project is written currently there is slack time of one week for Task E Write Use Cases.
Task E is depends on the completion of Task A which has a time period of 6 weeks. Currently,
Task E has a time period of 4 weeks to complete before Task G can be started. Unfortunately,
Task G also has predecessor of Task F. If Cherry worked on shortening task E will result in no
overall time saved because Task G cannot start until after Tasks D & F are completed and these
are scheduled for 5 weeks (3 & 2 respectively). As it stands now Task E will be finished a week
before Task G can be started due to the other predecessors.

If Cherry hopes to save time on the project as a whole she is going to have to crash or fast-track
one of the tasks along the critical path.
Problem III - (25 points)

a) The database table layout of an ordering system is illustrated Figure 13.26 (Kendall &
Kendall, page 503), draw an E-R diagram for the ordering system. (8 points)
b) Draw a logical data flow diagram 0 for placing an order base on the above E-R diagram. The
recommended major processes are as follows: (17 points)
Process names:
(1) Enter new order
(2) Read customer master
(3) Read item record
(4) Create item order record
(5) Add order record
Problem IV - (25 points)

IV.1. Your systems analysis team is close to completing a system for Meecham Feeds. Roger is
quite confident that the programs that he has written for Meechams inventory system will
perform as necessary, because they are similar to programs he has done before. Your team has
been very busy and would ideally like to begin full systems testing as soon as possible.
Two of your junior team members have proposed the following:
a) Skip desk checking of the programs (because similar programs were checked in other
installations; Roger has agreed). (3 points)

Roger is certainly a confident individual but confidence is what you have before you fully
understand the issue. There is a standard testing procedure and it should be followed regardless
the number of installations of similar programs. Even if the code was simply copied from a
previous install to the current install it is the responsibility of the team to ensure all testing is
completed.

b) Do link testing with large amounts of data to prove that the system will work. (3 points)

Link testing checks to see if programs that are independent actually work together as planned
and is typically accomplished with a small amount of test data. Unlike the junior team members,
it is best to use a small amount of test data that is specifically created to cover a variety of
processing situations. This initial data is processed to verify the system works correctly. If this
test is passed then variations are added including invalid data to make sure the system detects
errors.

Using small amounts of test data may take several tests but it is best to limit which part of the
system is being tested because large amounts of data will make it extremely difficult to identify
and correct problems if everything is tested at one time.

c) Do full systems testing with large amounts of live data to show that the system is working. (7
points)

The process of testing the system using live data, data that have been successfully processed
through the existing system, allows for an accurate comparison of the new systems output with
what is defined as correct output in the current system. Full system testing with live data also
demonstrates how the system will actually handle the data. This is a good time for end users to
assess and interact with the new system. Outside of verifying the system provides correct output
and handles data correctly, other things to watch will be ease of learning the system, users
reaction to response time and manual testing.

Procedure manuals must be tested during this process. The testing needs to come from the end
users as they are introduced to the new system. Manuals must be written in a method that allows
for quick references and quickly answers the questions of how to. Online manuals are
excellent for this since the end users can quickly search and go directly to the topic they need
assistance.

Respond to each of the three steps in their proposed test schedule. Use a paragraph to explain
your response.
IV.2. Mr. Bruce Schnieder, the owner of A&A Office Supplies Company, had contacted you for
your advices on a new information system installed recently at his company to help improving
his company inventory tasks. He told you that the team that came to install the system does not
have any evaluation mechanism and he also mentioned to you that some of his employees had
complained about the new systems inputs and outputs. Since he wants to obtain the inventory
result of this quarter, he would like to delay or skip the new system evaluation and use the new
system for inventory right away. Given the above conditions, he would like to have your advices
on his decision and on the evaluation of his new system.

a) In a paragraph, explain to Mr. Schnieder about problems that can occur when a system is not
evaluated systematically? (3 points)

Without systematically evaluating the system places all stakeholders in a position of not being
able to trust the new system. Evaluation is not completed to show the new system works
properly but to identify and correct programming issues that are going to be present. The staff
has already lost confidence in the system by complaining of the input and output processes.
Simply put no organization should implement or depend on an untested system to manage or
produce data on mission critical components of their business.

b) Devise a checklist or form that helps Mr. Schnieders employees evaluate the utilities of the
new information system. Suggest a second way to evaluate the information system, if any. Please
be specific and explain your answers. (9 points)

The checklist is attached. The system must be evaluated with live data so the employees have a
comparison between the two systems. Since the live data is data that was previously processed
the employees will be able to know the desired results and report back on any results not meeting
the standard. A second method can be the Information System Utility Approach. This approach
formerly addresses Form, Time, Place, Possession, Actualization, and Goal. Informally, the
utilities are What, When, Where, Who, How, and Why. As the users go through this approach
they evaluate if the system contains all six of the utilities and if so it is deemed a success. This
approach is a workable and straightforward framework for evaluating information systems
projects and ongoing efforts. It can be usefully employed as a checklist to monitor the progress
of systems under development.

If any utility is marked poor then the system or that module of the system will fail. Anything
with a fair rating will be partially successful meaning there may be future improvement but the
system will work in its current state.
A & A Office Supplies Company
Evaluation Checklist for Newly Installed Inventory Control System
Instructions: Please use the following form to evaluate the system. It is
imperative that you test all aspects and provide accurate feedback. This
feedback will be used to improve the system.

Employee Name:
Date Tested:

User Management Passes Passes with Fails


conditions
Create System
accounts:
Disable System
Accounts:
Grant/Revoke
Permission:

Inventory Control
Entering New Items:
Remove Items:
Replenish Items:
Verify Automated
Processes run as
expected:

Reporting Features
Ability to create
reports:
Ease of creating
reports:
System contains
correct report
types:

User Interaction
System is User
Friendly
Provided Technical
Manuals are
Accurate:
System Addresses
Previously Noted
Issues:

In the space provided you are asked to make necessary notes for all Passes
with Conditions or Failed markings. This space can also be used to suggest
any further improvements on the system.

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