BTEC Higher National Diploma in Software Development

Assignment Specification

Institute name : IDM Computer Studies Pvt. Ltd.

Unit Name : System Analysis

Unit Value : Unit 2

Date given : 23rd September 2008

Date to be submitted : 23rd October 2008

Lecturer : Ms. Gayasri Yahampath

Rational
The objective of this assignment is to assure that the students have gained the relevant knowledge
according to the outcomes specified in the syllabus.

Assessment requirements to meet learning outcomes

1. Understanding the systems life cycle
2. Understand systems analysis tools and techniques
3. Perform a system investigation
4. Perform functional and data modeling

Scheme of Assessment:
PASS
Once you complete the tasks given will be eligible only for PASS.

MERIT
In addition to completing the tasks, if the student has
• Drawn diagrams clearly and completely.
• Clear Identification of the functions and purpose of each of a systems life cycle models.
• Clear Investigate of the problem and identify system requirements clearly.
• Clear Identification of the system processes and functions

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DISTINCTION
In addition to completing the tasks, if the student has
• Drawn diagrams clearly and completely.
• Clear Identification of all the functions and purpose of each of a systems life cycle models.
• Clear Investigate of the entire problem and identify system requirements clearly.
• Clear Identification of all the system processes and functions

CASE STUDY: “A Business Application for a Company”

1. Introduction

You are required to carefully read the CASE STUDY given below before you answer the questions
given. Questions given in the tasks need to be answered, based on the details given in the CASE
STUDY.

2. Specification

Health Care hospital Pvt Ltd. has 20 General Practitioners (GPs) and approximately 10,000 patients. It
has 4 reception staff and 35 nursing staff, who carry out minor procedures at the surgery and looking
after patients in wards, and a team of district nurses, who visit patients in their homes.

When patients admit they are allocated to one of the GPs, however they may make an appointment to
see any of the GPs. At an appointment a GP may prescribe many treatments for the patient.

The hospital also processes repeat prescriptions and runs a number of clinics, such as Baby Care,
Asthma and Diabetes.

At present the surgery does not use ICT at work, but due to the high volume of paperwork involved in
patient admission, Scheduling appointments the hospital would like to develop a computer system to
cover this part of its operations.

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The following tasks relate to the proposal to computerise the manual operations of Health Care
hospital Pvt Ltd. You may need to carry out some additional research into the operations of a local
hospital to acquire a better understanding of how it operates.

Your tasks
Task 1
A) You are a Systems Analyst invited by the Health Care hospital Pvt Ltd. to investigate whether
computerization is feasible.
B) An initial meeting has been arranged with one of the directors. At the end of this interview you will
draw up a problem definition for a feasibility study.
(a) Prepare a list of questions to use in this interview.
(b) Conduct this interview (Your tutor will be playing the role of the Partner. Your tutor is fully
familiar with the current workings of Health Care hospital Pvt Ltd).
(c) Draw up the Problem Definition / Terms of Reference.
C) Hand in the Problem Definition, in order to receive approval to do the feasibility study.
D) Also hand in the list of questions and your notes made at the meeting. Do not type up these notes.

Outcomes and Assessment Criteria

• Investigate a problem
• Identify system requirements
• Document an investigated system

Task 2
A) Using the problem definition as a basis for your investigation, undertake a feasibility study.

B) You may interview the director at any time during this investigation. At the end of this investigation
you will produce a feasibility study report.

C) Investigate three suitable computer systems and their costs, for the surgery. Investigate other costs
involved in setting up the computer system, maintaining the system, in training staff and general
running costs of the computer system.

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D) It is important that you agree and list the constraints of the proposed system, as it is not possible to
computerise the whole system in the timescale available.

E) During this investigation you need to prepare a DFD for the patient admission system to level 1.
You also need to agree all the inputs and outputs for the proposed system.

F) You need to justify your proposed solution, clearly showing how the objectives of the problem
definition are met.

G) Produce the feasibility study report and hand this in.

Outcomes and Assessment Criteria

• Identify system processes and functions
• Produce a functional model
• Perform data modeling

Task 3
A) List all the entities for the proposed system.
B) Draw an entity relationship diagram, ensuring that all relationships are shown.
C) Draw Data flow diagram (DFD) for the above mentioned entities.

Outcomes and Assessment Criteria

• Use data modeling techniques
• Create entity-relationship diagrams
• Use modeling documentation

Task 4
A) In the past, all computer projects followed the same traditional systems life cycle (or modified
versions of it such as SSADM).

B) List the steps in the traditional systems life cycle and describe each step. Relate these steps to
Health Care hospital Pvt Ltd. Case Study.

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C) Nowadays it is more usual to build a prototype of the system using an object orientated or event
driven language. Describe the steps involved in producing a prototype and compare this with other life
cycles.

C) Describe some testing methods to maintain a high standard software system, draw a test plan as
well.

Outcomes and Assessment Criteria

• Identify the functions and purpose of each stage of a systems life cycle
• Provide evidence of support an understanding of the lifecycle
• Compare different life cycle models

End of Assignment

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