System Design Part A
The Willowbrook School staff accepted your interface, output, input, and data designs. Now you will determine the system architecture, which translates the logical design of an information system into a physical blueprint.
Tasks
1. Design a system architecture for Willowbrook School based on file server or client/server architecture? Discuss advantages and disadvantages that should be considered when making this decision within the context of Willowbrook School. Speak to the cost-benefit
issues of file server and client/server designs.
2. Based on your chosen architecture from task 1, what physical and logical network topology would you recommend for Willowbrook School?
3. Now that you have developed a systems architecture and physical topology for the network, make a list of the hardware that will be required for Willowbrook. Review the background information in previous chapters to develop your list.
4. Write a system design specification document for Willowbrook's new information system.
System Design Part B
The systems design has been completed and design specifications approved. You are now beginning the implementation phase of the SDLC, which includes application development, installation, and evaluation. One of the parents at Willowbrook has extensive experience with the database package as a Database Administrator at a local company, and has committed to providing 15 hours per week working with you to develop and test the project. You should assume that the server, switch, and workstations discussed in Part A have been purchased,
installed, and networked.
Tasks
5. Choose an application development methodology for the Willowbrook system. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of structured, object oriented, and agile development.
6. What types of testing should be performed? What types of test data should be used?
7. Identify the specific groups of people who need training on the new system. For each group, describe the type of training you would recommend and list the topics you would cover.
8. Develop a plan for data conversion and system changeover that specifies which data items must be entered, the order in which the data should be entered, and which data items are the most time critical. Discuss what method should be used for system changeover.