PROJECT OVERVIEW
The systems analysis and design project that you select for the MIS 6308 should meet the following requirements.
1. The project must a real life circumstances and be implementable (though you will stop with the design in this project). You search the Internet for B-to-C e-commerce systems that you can use. For example, the following are good sources:
a) airline (or train, cruise, concert, or other) ticket purchase
b) Shopping sites on internet
c) Online banks as well as financial institutions
d) Online insurance (life, medical, homeowner, and others) purchase
e) Rentals (car, video, audio, and others)
You can also employ traditional firms if you can get the requisite permission from the appropriate people. Also, they must be able to provide you with the data to complete your project.
2. For the firm you have chosen, identify the major functions that a visitor can perform on the website by navigating through the website. You might have to register at the site to get access to the more important functions the site permits you to perform.
3. Document each function. Figure out the process used in each function, the inputs employed, and the outputs generated. The contents of web pages that you see will give you information on these. However, web pages alone will be inadequate. You have to use your knowledge about the industry/firm/function to identify other data used by the system.
4. Identify at least three improvements to functionality offered through the system. The improvements could be new functions which could be useful to a potential customer or improvements over existing functions. The improvements must not be solely related to aesthetics or speed of the website. The complexity and innovation of the new functions you identify will be a major factor in the determination of the project grade. If you can specify the details of the new function without spending much thought and effort, the function is unlikely to be sufficiently complex. Try to think of features that are not found in this or other similar websites.
5. Model the system using OOA&D methodology.
6. Analyze the models and propose a new system.
7. Transform the models in detailed design
Project Deliverables
A. Executive Summary of the project. The summary must briefly mention the problems with the existing system, proposed improvements, how these improvements can be implemented, and business value of the new system.
B. Phase 1:
Interact with the website to understand the functionality provided by the site. Identify any problems you face in using the site. Note down any improvements that can be made. The problems and improvements should relate to the functionality provided by the system.
1. Source documents, comprising screen dumps, from the website.
2. A short description of functionality provided by the website.
3. A problem statement (Systems Proposal)
4. A Context Diagram
5. Process Model: Use-Case Diagrams for critical business processes
6. Data Model: A class diagram
7. Object Behaviour Model: A Sequence Diagram for major Use Case.
8. Documentation of all data employed in the above models using data structure notation.
C. Phase 2:
1. Analyze the process, data, and behaviour models. Discover new processes, data, and data flows for the new system. Your new model should be able to eliminate (at least partially) the problems that you had identified in the current system. Make the new logical model that includes
1. A Context Diagram
2. Process Model: Use-Case Diagrams for critical business processes
3. Data Model: A class diagram
4. Object Behaviour Model: A Sequence Diagrams for major Use Case.
5. Documentation of all data employed in the above models using the data structure notation
2. Transform the logical model into a design. The design should include
a. Database design: You need to simply show all the tables with their attributes. There is no need to implement the database.
b. Object design: You must design the attributes and methods. Document at least 5 methods using contracts. Specify the algorithms for these 5 methods using Structured English. Select the most complex methods in your system for these specifications.
c. Controls. You must identify at least five control mechanisms to prevent/detect possible errors that can occur in the system.
You must include the Executive Summary, Phase 1 deliverables, and the Phase 2 deliverables in the final report.
In the proposed system model, clearly demonstrate the changes you have made. You can use a different font colour to show these changes. If I cannot readily see the differences between the existing system model and the proposed system model, then I may not award the points you may deserve for the report.