COIT20248 : Information System Analysis And Design - Systems Development - Assessment Answer

Information System Analysis And Design Assignment

Case Scenario

For the purpose of this assignment, you are assumed to be one of the consultants appointed to shoulder the system analysis responsibilities in, Logistics Information Systems (LIS) in the project outlined in the case study.

You will plan and manage the project as well as investigate and document its system requirements. For your Assignment 1 submission, you will produce a report that discusses this project based on your understanding of it and the related investigation results through the tasks below.

Assignment Task 1

Approaches to Systems Development

• Discuss two approaches to system development. Describe system analysis and the major activities that occur during this phase of the systems development life cycle.
• Describe and compare the six sources of software. How can you decide among various off-the- shelf software options? What criteria should you use? Do you think that in the given case study you can use any off-the-shelf software? Please provide justifications to your answer.

Assignment Task 2

Systems Requirements

• What are the primary functional requirements for the system in the case study?
• What are the non-functional requirements for the system in the case study?

Assignment Task 3

Project Cost Benefit Analysis

• Discuss your Project Cost Benefit Analysis.
• Provide an excel spread sheet with details in a Project Cost Benefit Analysis.

Assignment Task 4

Project Schedule

• Show a work breakdown structure and a project schedule as a Gantt chart. Explain both of them and discuss how they relate to each other.
• Given the system goals, requirements, and scope as they are currently understood, is the project schedule reasonable? Why or why not?

Assignment Task 5

System Information Requirement Investigation Techniques

• Who are the stakeholders involved? Clearly list all identified external and internal stakeholders.
• Describe three traditional techniques for collecting information during analysis. When might one be better than another?
• Justify the usefulness of these 3 investigation techniques.

Introduction

The aim of this Project, Logistics Information Systems (LIS) is to study feasibility test whether the project will proceed or not. The existing manual system, Logistics Information System is to be automated. For this purpose, the appropriate development methodology is chosen. The functional and non-functional system requirements should be identified. The cost-benefit Analysis is carried out to identify the economic feasibility of the project. The different sub-systems within LIS should be identified and hence the work breakdown structure (WBS) is created. After, the project scheduling is done as per work breakdown structure. The stakeholder analysis for the project as well as different investigation techniques are also measured in this report.

1.0 Approach to Systems Development

The LIS (Logistics Information Systems)is to be implemented as desktop application system where different subsystems like sales information system, inventory controlling, shop floor information system, plant maintenance information system, quality management information system, retail information system and transport information system are associated. So, it must be high reliable, flexible, secure, usable and have longer product life cycle.

The various types of conventional and non-conventional development methods are available for the system like waterfall, spiral, incremental, Agile, V-model etc. The waterfall model and the incremental model can be chosen for developing the project.

Approach1: If the waterfall model is chosen for the project, then the SDLC (software development life cycle) is executed stepwise. The requirements for the project should be well known at the beginning. The various stages like Analysis, Design, Coding, Testing, Implementation and Maintenance are executed one by one as a template. The required resources are minimum as well as the high visibility for each step increases the psychological factors of both developers and clients. If the full requirements are uncertain, then this model leads to higher technical risk for the project.

Approach 2:If theabove project is constructed as per Incremental approach, then the large project is first decomposed into a set of modules. The LIS(Logistics Information Systems) is actually sub-divided into various modules that are made incrementally and integrated. It is an iterative waterfall model. This approach actually minimizes the architectural and integration risks for the project. If the requirements are not well know at the beginning of the project, then this model is appropriate. This model is more flexible and risk management is easier.

Selected Approach:

The above LIS(Logistics Information Systems) may face the various difficulties like lack of requirements, resources and manpower. Again, the LIS is divided into set of sub-systems which can be developed incrementally. After developing the sub-systems first, these are integrated to form the LIS. By monitoring the effect of incremental changes, the project is implemented as per requirements. So, the incremental approach is the better chosen option to develop the LIS.

2.0Systems Requirements

The system requirements for the Logistic Information system can be divided into functional and non-functional requirements.

2.1 Functional Requirements:

The functional requirements for the LIS are the various functions that are necessary for the system. These are,-

i) Registration: Every user must register into the system by providing details information like a Unique ID, password, Name, Age, role of user, address, contact number etc.

ii) Login: By using the Unique ID and password that are registered, everybody should login into the system.

iii) Transaction: Entering, Correction, any adjustment or cancellations.

iv) Auditing: The different auditing of order placing, dispatching or pending.

v) Admin Role: The different roles played by Administrator like change or delete User, order, transaction etc.

vi) Report generation

vii) Analysis of historical data.

viii) Third party certification requirements.

ix) Implementation of Business rules and policy.

2.2 Non-Functional Requirements:

The non-functional requirements for the system measure the system performance, usability, reliability and behaviour. These are,-

i) Response time of the system.

ii) Scability

iii) Usability

iv) Maintability

v) Data integrity

vi) Security

vii) Manageability

viii) Interoperability etc.

Accuracy for generating reports and Files:

The computerized system must provide the accurate, timely and appropriate data of stock information, consumption, demand, profit and losses with adjustments, shipment status etc. The data is collected by visiting various logistics site or by surveying or some samples. The computerized system must be able to generate or export accurate reports and files. The reports can be in printed format or digital format. This documentation is needed for validation process. The inputted data into the computer system should be accurate as the different Forms of the system uses validation checking. So, only accurate data is entered into the database and calculation is done on the accurate data. Then, the accurate report is generated.

3.0 Project Cost Benefit Analysis

To analysis the Cost Benefit of the proposed project, first different costs should be considered. The different costs for the project may be,-

• Development costs: The various hardware, software, network, vendor costs, consulting fees and labour costs are included here.
• Nonrecurring costs: The costs associated with project development like capital, one time investment etc.
• Recurring costs: The costs included with project implementation and maintenance like salaries, tax payments, data processing expenses, contracting if any, hardware and software maintenance charges, training fees, travel, security and incidental charges, accommodation rentals and utilities etc.

The different benefits for the project should include,-

• Recurring benefits: The benefits associated with project implementation like speedy, accurate, flexible, user friendly etc.
• Tangible benefits: The benefits included are reduced staffing costs, reduced non-staff operational costs, efficient utilization of staff resources, saving due to business process improvements, increased services, reduction of manpower etc. By comparing costs and benefits of the project, the financial feasibility analysis is done. The snapshot of cost-benefit Analysis (CBA) Table which is done in Ms- Excel is shown as below-

From the above Analysis, the NPV (Net Present Value) of the costs is calculated. ROI (Return on Investment) for the project is determined as, -0.90. The Break even does not occur within 5 years.

4.0 Project Schedule

In any project planning, the WBS (Work Breakdown Structure) is mandatory. The main module is divided into various sub-modules as well as the sub-modules are further divided until lower level subtasks are very smaller. This hierarchical structure is known as WBS. (Satzinger, Jackson &Burd, 2010). The WBS for the Project, Logistic Information System is as follows,-

A Gantt chart is a graphical representation of various activities and their sub-activities. These activities and sub-activities are shown as Bar charts where each bar shows a task with time limit. The starting, ending time as well as dependency between the tasks are also shown in this diagram. The total time required for the project is also determined from this chart. (Mall, 2008)

From the WBS, the task scheduling as well as Gantt chart is prepared in MS-Project software.The Gantt chart for the Project is drawn in MS-Project software and the snapshot is shown as below,-

From the above chart, it is shown that the tasks are executed on the given time without any delay where some tasks are executed in parallel. The Critical path is shown and critical tasks are denoted by red mark. The project is completed in 61 days. Assume the starting date of the project is 5/9/2016. The tasks of the project are completed within time limit. So, the project is timely feasible. The resource allocation and labour cost are also calculated using this diagram.

5.0 System Information Requirement Investigation Techniques

5.1 Stakeholders:

The different personnel associated with project in different groups like commercial, organizational, physical, authorizing and financial are called the stakeholders. The list of stakeholders involved for this project are,-

• Internal: Organizing group like Forwarder, Logistic service providers (4 PL) and Shipping line service provider. Other supporting staffs, seller and Administrator are also internal stakeholders.
• External: Commercial group includes supplier, Buyer, customer, shipper, consignee etc. Physical group includes Sea terminal operator, Pre or on-carrier, rail operator, barge operator, Logistic service provider (3PL), Empty container depot operator etc.

In case of Authorizing group, the stakeholders are Port authorities, River police, seaport police, Inspection authorities etc. Financing group includes Bank, insurance company etc.

5.2 Investigation techniques:

There are different investigation techniques for data collection in the Analysis phase of the project. These are mainly, one-on-one Interview, Focus Group Discussion, Collaborative Workshop Mode, Surveys and Observation.The suggested three techniques which are useful for this project may be,-

• Focus Group Discussion: In this case, 4 to 12 participants like stakeholders are invited to discuss about the success of the project. They are called for expressing their opinions to fulfil the objective of the project. In this investigation strategy, a large amount of data is collected. By choosing the appropriate participants and listening their views, the success path of the project is clearly identified.
• Surveys: This is the most economical investigation technique for data collection from a large audience. The various close-ended questions are formed about the project that is answered by the participants/stakeholders. The responders must respond the surveys within a time limit. The survey form should not be too long and the time for completion of the survey should be realistic. The survey form can be sent to the participant’s email. This method is very useful in Logistic Information System.
• Observation: This data collection method allows viewing physically the actions of the participants. This is very practical approach for data collection in Logistic Information System. Suppose, in case of sales, if any sales personnel makes mistakes during selling; then the mistakes will be observed. The participants will sure in future not to make this mistake and do not get conscious.

I think from the above data collection method, the Survey method is the best option for Logistic Information system as it is more cost effective and data is collected from large audiences.

6.0 Reflections and Conclusions

The Logistic Information System is a collection of different sub systems like sales Information system, Purchase Information System, Inventory Controlling, Shop Floor system, Quality Management system, Transport Information system etc. These modules are individually created and integrated as a fully automated Logistic Information System. So, this system is easier to manage different information like customer, purchaser, supplier, shipper, logistic service provider and other transport operators. This system also manages inventory controlling as well as generating accurate reports for managerial decision. Different user friendly form designs are also implemented.

So, this system fulfils the business requirements and makes profit and benefits than manual system.The problem of theproject is identified and developed using suitable system development methodology like Incremental model. The functional and non-functional requirements for the project are identified. The project cost-benefit analysis is carried out as well as project scheduling is done from work breakdown structure (WBS). As per cost-benefit analysis, the project is economically feasible and as per Gantt chart, it is shown that the project is finished within specified time. The stakeholder analysis is also done.