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| Aim of Module | To provide students with the ability to work from a user proposal to produce, and present, a Feasibility Report and a Requirements Definition from which a systems designer can work. |
| Credits | 7 |
| Suggested Time | 70 student learning hours |
| Prescription Expiry Date | Nov 2002 |
| Topics | Highest Skill Level | Suggested Assessment Percentage | |
| 1 New System | A | 25 | |
| 2 Analysis of Alternatives | P | 20 | |
| 3 Requirements Definition | A | 25 | |
| 4 Feasibility Study | P | 20 | |
| 5 Presentation | A | 10 | |
| 100 | |||
| 1 New System |
| A | 1.1 | Identify the boundaries for the new system from the logical model combined with the user requirements for the new system. |
| A | 1.2 | Carry out data analysis on the new data structures. |
| A | 1.3 | Analyse data access requirements. |
| NOTE | Use of a CASE tool may be appropriate here. | |
| 2 Analysis of Alternatives |
| P | 2.1 | Using a set of case study data, identify at least two alternative approaches. |
| P | 2.2 | Develop the alternatives to sufficient depth to demonstrate the theoretical practicability of each approach. |
| P | 2.3 | Apply cost / benefit techniques including identification of all likely costs, savings and intangible benefits and resolve costs and savings using a methodology such as Discounted Cash Flow or Net Present Value to make comparisons and determine pay back periods. |
| P | 2.4 | Select the favoured alternative. |
| 3 Requirements Definition |
| A | 3.1 | Complete the structure specification for the designer including the construction of a variety of system description documents such as: |
| - data flow diagrams | ||
| - entity relationship diagrams | ||
| - data dictionary | ||
| - mini specifications | ||
| - structured English | ||
| - state transition diagrams | ||
| A | 3.2 | Write the specification commentary |
| A | 3.3 | Describe timing constraints and priorities |
| A | 3.4 | Describe fall-back procedure requirements |
| A | 3.5 | Describe audit requirements |
| A | 3.6 | Describe access and security requirements |
| 4 Feasibility Study |
| P | For a sample system produce a Feasibility Study including: | |
| - system objectives | ||
| - costs - one-off and recurring | ||
| - benefits - quantifiable and non-quantifiable | ||
| - project plan | ||
| - cost/benefit analysis (including all supporting details such as DCF/NPV techniques) | ||
| - recommendations | ||
| Include use of the appropriate information gathering techniques such as: | ||
| - interviewing | ||
| - observation | ||
| - record searching | ||
| - sampling | ||
| - questionnaires) | ||
| 5 Presentation |
| A | 5.1 | Produce a written report covering: |
| - weaknesses in the present system | ||
| - alternatives considered | ||
| - factors determining favoured alternative | ||
| - recommendations | ||
| A | 5.2 | Prepare and give a brief presentation of the findings using appropriate media and fielding questions. |