Business Systems Design HW December 2003 21/10/03 Final NCC Education Ltd 2003

MARKING GUIDE
Markers are advised that many answers in Marking Schemes are examples only of what we
might expect from candidates. Unless a question specifically states that an answer is
demanded in a particular form, then an answer, which is, correct, factually or in
computing practice, must be given the available marks.
Not all schools, regrettably, use the NCC texts as standard and answers, which do not give
our standard textbook reply, must nevertheless be marked entirely on their merits.
If there is doubt as to the correctness of an answer the relevant NCC textbook should be
the first authority. If doubt persists the scripts should be referred to the Examiner and, if
necessary to the Moderator, for a second marking.
This Marking Scheme has been prepared as a guide to markers. It does indicate what the
examiner was expecting candidates to produce in response to the question set and some
questions in some units will only have one correct solution. However this is
ABSOLUTELY NOT a set of model answers; NOR is the Marking Scheme exclusive, for
there will frequently be alternative responses which will provide a valid answer. So in
distributing the Marking Scheme to Centres, the Board is trying to help teachers in their
work of preparing candidates for examination.
Notice to Markers
Where markers award half marks in any part of a question they should ensure that the
total mark recorded for a question should be a whole mark. Where there is a half mark
as part of the total markers must round up to the next whole number.
NCC INTERNATIONAL ADVANCED DIPLOMA
IN
COMPUTER STUDIES
BUSINESS SYSTEMS DESIGN
December 2003
Business Systems Design HW December 2003 21/10/03 Final NCC Education Ltd 2003
CANDIDATES MUST ANSWER THIS QUESTION
QUESTION 1
Throughout the question, please credit any valid alternative point.
Marks
a) Produce a checklist that a designer would use to identify any possible disruptions that may occur
during the development of a system.
8
Allocate marks as follows:
Credit any four of the following points with 2 marks each:
User contributions to system design.
Physical changes to the workplace.
Training users to operate the new system.
Systems testing.
Parallel running.
System initiation.
b) In relation to a project, briefly explain:
i) The composition of a steering committee.
Credit any of the following points with appropriate explanations with 1 mark each:
Management or executive sponsor [1]
User department representatives [1]
IT department representatives [1]
3
ii) The role of a steering committee.
Credit any of the following points with appropriate explanations with 1 mark each:
Determine the viability of the project [1]
Discuss and ratify any organisational changes for the new system [1]
Assess the scope of any impact that the new system will have on the organisation. [1]
3
c) Identify and explain the THREE key aspects of job design which need to be considered when
developing new systems.
6
Credit any of the following points with appropriate explanations with 2 marks each:
Identify all tasks, old and new, which will undergo change as a result of the new system.
[2]
Generate alternative ways of allocating tasks to jobs by considering, for example,
allocations by function, product or customer. [2]
Provide opportunities for user groups to explore job tasks by providing prototypes of the
main functions of the new system. [2]
Total 20 Marks
Business Systems Design HW December 2003 21/10/03 Final NCC Education Ltd 2003
ANSWER ANY FOUR FURTHER QUESTIONS
QUESTION 2
Throughout the question, please credit any valid alternative point.
Marks
a) Make brief notes on the following stages of the systems development life cycle:
i) Design
The design stage should follow on from the analysis stage and needs to incorporate all the
necessary requirements of the desired system. Design includes all the activities
undertaken to produce a technical specification of the detail physical design of the
proposed system.
Allocate marks for valid points, up to 4 marks.
4
ii) Review
The review stage is undertaken in order to check that the design fully meets the
requirements of the system and may incorporate any changes that have been made subject
to the review itself. System reviews can be carried out at any stage during the systems
development life cycle but are more likely to be required during the early part of the
project.
Allocate marks for valid points, up to 4 marks.
4
iii) Implementation
The process of implementation is essential in ensuring that the system being developed
goes live with the minimum amount of disruption. Implementation is generally
conducted in stages to enable a smooth progression from initial installation or the system
through to live running.
Allocate marks for valid points, up to 4 marks.
4
iv) Testing
This is required to check that the developed system performs to the required specification
and to enable any errors to be identified. Testing is often an iterative process which is
carried out at key stages during the development life cycle.
Allocate marks for valid points, up to 4 marks.
4
b) Briefly describe FOUR advantages of using the structured specification approach over the
traditional wordy report for presenting information about a systems design.
4
Credit any 4 of the following points with 1 mark each:
The use of graphics allows system design to be depicted more easily than with reams of text.
Systems development may be partitioned to allow separate teams to work on individual modules
of the design.
A top-down approach ensures that major aspects of the system are given the highest priority.
Structured specifications enable systems to be more easily maintained due to the disciplined
approach to design stages.
Iterative techniques are used to repeat processes and procedures to ensure all faults are found.
Structured specifications are easily understandable as they follow clearly defined approaches.
The use of a logical model enables the designer to avoid physical considerations until the
analysis is complete.
Structured specifications are more precise and concise and therefore easier to read.
Total 20 Marks
Business Systems Design HW December 2003 21/10/03 Final NCC Education Ltd 2003
QUESTION 3
Throughout the question, please credit any valid alternative point.
Marks
a) A good design depends on the level of Coupling and Cohesion between modules. Describe
the difference between these two concepts.
12
The students response should highlight all the differences between these to terms. For full
marks the student must include the following in their answer:
Coupling
The term coupling covers a number of criteria which measure the dependence or
independence of program modules [1]
Information connection between modules [1]
Information passing from one module to another [1]
Module entry and exit [1]
Complexity of information being passed [1]
Cohesion
Cohesion is concerned with the internal composition of modules and the extent to which
the contents of a module are logically related to one another [1]
Functional [1]
Procedural [1]
Communicational [1]
Temporal [1]
Logical [1]
Coincidental [1]
b) Expand the following abbreviations:
i) DFD 1
Data Flow Diagram
ii) ELH 1
Entity Life History
iii) ERD 1
Entity Relationship Diagram
iv) TNF 1
Third Normal Form
c) Draw a simple diagram which shows how an Access Path may be used to link a Module to an
Entity.
4
Allocate the full 4 marks for any diagram which looks the same as the one below:
Total 20 Marks
Business Systems Design HW December 2003 21/10/03 Final NCC Education Ltd 2003
QUESTION 4
Throughout the question, please credit any valid alternative point.
Marks
a) There are several factors which can affect the cost effectiveness of either new or existing
systems. Identify and explain TWO computer related factors and TWO external factors which
can cause a deviation, either positive or negative, in the cost effectiveness of a system.
8
Credit any two of the following factors with appropriate explanations with 2 marks each:
Computer related factors:
Unplanned pay increases may result from the need for higher skill levels from users of
the system.
Extra staff may be required or expected staff savings may not be realised.
Changed method of computer charging by means of outsourcing can have an impact on
the cost effectiveness of a system.
Inaccurate estimates of data volumes can require the purchase of additional data storage
or processing capabilities.
Credit any two of the following factors with appropriate explanations with 2 marks each:
External factors:
Modified production and selling methods may increase overall business efficiency.
Product and market changes can affect the demand for products or services.
Organisational changes may result in the redeployment of system resources.
Government tax or policy changes can introduce processing overheads and additional
administration requirements.
b) When determining the priority for implementing any amendments to a system, consideration
must be given to a number of factors in addition to the amendments desirability to the user.
Describe SIX factors which need to be considered.
12
Credit any six of the following factors along with appropriate explanations with 2 marks
each:
The effect of the amendment may completely alter the systems ability to meet the original
objectives.
The effect on development schedules of authorising the amendment may significantly
prolong the development cycle.
The cost of implementing the amendment may be prohibitively expensive or not cost
effective in terms of return on investment (ROI).
The cost of failing to implement the amendment may easily result in loss of business or
competiveness in the market.
The amendment may have a significant effect on other systems either directly related or
indirectly related.
The effect of the amendment may result in changes to user procedures that require
additional training.
The impact of the amendment on data security may mean that the system is less than
secure than it was previously.
Total 20 Marks
Business Systems Design HW December 2003 21/10/03 Final NCC Education Ltd 2003
QUESTION 5
Throughout the question, please credit any valid alternative point.
Marks
a) Significant codes are frequently used to enable the identification and retrieval of information. List
FOUR common types of significant codes and briefly explain their purpose.
4
Credit any of the following answers with 1 mark each:
Customer Number generally a unique customer identification code.
Membership Number similar to a customer code and used for unique identification.
Product Number frequently called a Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) used to lookup items on a
Point or Sale (PoS) system.
Complaint Type used to signify a particular type of complain rather than having to enter
a lot of detailed information.
Invoice Number used to identify individual invoices. Generally a unique sequence
number.
Postcode or ZIPcode used to identify a geographical location. May be used to categorise
by region.
Personal Identification Number (PIN) used as a security check to control access to
systems.
b) Briefly state FOUR reasons why it might be necessary for a company to introduce a new coding
system.
4
Allocate 1 mark for any 4 of the following.
An entirely new system is being introduced.
An existing code has been outgrown and cannot be extended.
Two organisations merge and require a common coding system.
The basic original requirements for an existing code have changed.
The introduction of new technology such as barcode readers.
Government legislation forces the use of a new coding structure.
Business Systems Design HW December 2003 21/10/03 Final NCC Education Ltd 2003
Marks
c) Briefly describe the following coding systems:
i) Matrix codes 4
A matrix code is based on x-y co-ordinate locations and is useful in coding two-
component relationships.
Code values can be formed from the x-y co-ordinate numbers or by assigning
sequence numbers to each box in a table.
When assigning a code value to an entity the value is merely read from the
appropriate box in the table.
When decoding, the code value is located in the matrix and appropriate x-y co-
ordinates are obtained.
Allocate 1 mark for each valid point, up to 4 marks.
ii) Classification codes 4
Classification codes are used to categorise and group things into sets.
It enables things to be organised by a predetermined relationship.
A classification is by nature an ordered, systematic structure.
The design of a classification structure must satisfy two basic requirements;
comprehensiveness and category exclusivity.
An example of a typical classification scheme is the Dewey Decimal System used
primarily for indexing libraries or classifying written correspondence by subject
matter.
Allocate 1 mark for each valid point, up to 4 marks.
iii) Random codes 4
Random codes are drawn from a list which has no detectable order or sequence.
There is no way to predict which codes or code will be used next.
Each additional item to be coded is given the next number in the random list.
There are computer programs available which are specifically designed to generate
these random number lists.
The term random number is often applied erroneously to the sequential code scheme.
Allocate 1 mark for each valid point, up to 4 marks.
Total 20 Marks
Business Systems Design HW December 2003 21/10/03 Final NCC Education Ltd 2003
QUESTION 6
Throughout the question, please credit any valid alternative point.
Marks
a) Your company has decided to have some sales order forms printed. List SIX of the main
considerations when requesting such a form to be produced by an external printer.
6
Credit any of the following answers with 1 mark each:
Paper size
Paper quality or weight
Single or double sided printing
Serial numbering
Use of lines and boxes
Type faces
Type sizes
Colour
Order Quantity
b) State FOUR factors which are used to determine whether a form should be laid out vertically
(portrait) or horizontally (landscape).
4
Credit any of the following points with 1 mark each:
Amount of data
Environment of the originator
Equipment used
Mailing requirements
Filing requirements
Business Systems Design HW December 2003 21/10/03 Final NCC Education Ltd 2003
Marks
c) Different media can be used for creating forms. Briefly describe:
i) THREE common media
Credit any of the following answers with 1 mark each up to a maximum of 3 marks:
Paper by far the most common, cheap, easy to use, widely available.
Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) most common type of computer display screen, fairly
cheap, reliable, generally widely available.
Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) used for mobile devices, such as portable computers,
Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), mobile (cellular) phones, fairly expensive but
quite common.
Thin Film Transistor (TFT) very expensive but still quite common, high quality
and relatively light compared with CRT. Used for Notebook PCs and top range PDAs.
3
ii) TWO unusual media
Credit any of the following answers with 2 marks each up to a maximum of 4 marks:
Microfilm or Microfiche quite unusual and requires special equipment in order to
view, useful were large amounts of data need to be stored and retrieved.
Wallboard or whiteboard rarely used for forms but useful in respect that it can be
easily erased.
Plastic sheet rarely used but has the advantage that it can be used to overlay a
paper form.
Plasma screens (like the TVs in pubs etc) both the military and the police often use
these for Command and Control Systems where large numbers of people need to view
the same information.
Dot Matrix printers less popular nowadays but useful where multi-part paper forms
need to be printed.
4
d) The term make-up is used to denote all the physical features of a printed form. Briefly state
THREE features that a forms make-up may include.
3
Allocate 1 mark for each of the following up to a maximum of 3 marks:
The joining together of separate pages as form sets, either as pads or as continuous
stationery.
The provision of either interleaved carbon paper or a chemical coating for making
duplicate copies automatically.
The punching of holes for filing or the creation of perforations to enable the form to be
easily split up.
Total 20 Marks
Business Systems Design HW December 2003 21/10/03 Final NCC Education Ltd 2003
Question
Syllabus
Objective
Marks
NCC Student Text
Book Page No.
1 (a) A 8 15
1 (b) i) thru ii) A 6 13 to 14
1 (c) A 6 16
2 (a) i) thru iv B 16 2
2 (b) B 4 9 to 10
3 (a) D 12 157 to 161
3 (b) i) thru iv) D 4 152 to 153
3 (c) D 4 154
4 (a) I 8 262 to 263
4 (b) I 12 266
5 (a) C 4 129
5 (b) C 4 129 to 130
5 (c) i) thru iii) C 12 133 to 138
6 (a) E 6 95 to 99
6 (b) E 4 90
6 (c) E 7 85 to 87
6 (d) E 3 94