Reference no: EM132365024

Assignment - Current System Analysis and Modelling

Assignment overview

This assignment aims to produce a requirements document that captures the functional and non¬functional requirements for an information system that supports the current needs of the Mindy Hair management system as described later in the Case Study Description.

Note: This assignment covers the traditional approach.

Your tasks

Information system development projects incorporate several key milestones. This assignment will require you to complete

• Milestone 1- problem analysis which includes understanding business in general, their challenges, current system issues/problems, key functional/nonfictional requirements and limitations.

• Milestone 2 - Data Modelling which uses some of the models of a Structured Approach, such as Event table, Data fragments, a context diagram, DR's, ERD and DFD documentation to illustrate the current system features.

Case Description

Jordan is the part owner of Mindy Hair. Mindy Hair was started by her father, Bill, in the late 70's in honour of his wife Mindy. Since that time the hair salon has expanded from a single location in Melbourne to 3 different locations across Melbourne's East. Bill passed away about 5 years ago and the 3 children inherited the business. Each of the children have their own Mindy Hair salon with Jordan running the Melbourne branch, Bill Junior running the Glen Iris salon and Sally running the Cranbourne Salon. Jordan is the eldest of the three and makes the general business decisions with input from the other two siblings.

The business is doing very well, but in the last couple of years the business environment has become very tough. On the one hand there is a need to reduce costs and increase efficiency. On the other hand there have been significant advances in technology. Last year the Requirement Analysis Modelling group did some research into the use of social media by small and medium enterprises for Jordan Meyer the owner of Mindy Hair. Jordan was so impressed by the work that these students did that she has come back to ask if requirements analysis can be utilised for a system that she is planning to implement.

The Report Components

Create a word-processed business report with: Cover page
• Document Title
• Author(s) information

Table of contents
• You have to use Microsoft Word build-in function when to create a Table of Contents. Executive Summary
• What this assignment is about and what you want to achieve (should be about 100 words, ES is differed to compare with Introduction).

Introduction
• Why conduct system analysis and design for a business?
• BA role, the business and IS analysts need to have a "big picture" view of any business and their information systems. You are required to list the major responsibilities which you should take on to help the business. What is your basic plan, where you start, what you do and what you want to achieve?
• The purpose of your work.
• The structure of your report
• Where did you collect data and information for completing the report?

Business Background
• What is the business, and what does this business do? (A brief description of their current business operation, products and services. Please notes that you should read the case description, understand it and provide a summary. You shouldn't copy the case description which we provide directly to your report. Max, 100 words.)
• What are some of the challenges the business (internal and external) currently facing and how they impact on overall business future development?
• In your opinion, what are the three major problems which you consider are the most important for the business and explain why they are important. What are some of the opportunities when these problems are solved? How would the organisation be better off by solving this problem or taking up this opportunity? You are welcome to add on problems/issues which not currently listed, but which you consider are essential to address. You should provide reasoning.
• Clearly explain the current system's objectives and constraints. Please note: you need to read the case description to understand what the current system does.

Scope (Current system)
• A written statement of functional/non-functional requirements (you are required to list them all with a brief explanation for each of them).
• Discuss the techniques of identifying the use cases.
Documentation
• Data dictionary
o Complete at least THREE (3) key data flow descriptions (Logical data dictionaries)
o Data element descriptions (Physical data dictionaries, at least 1 of the key data entities)
• Process Descriptions
o A brief description for each of the key processes (top-level processes in level 0 DFD) written in plain English
o Write at least ONE lower-level process description in structured English

You should create an event table to list all these identified events, and each event should be matched with a DFD Fragment.
• A Context Diagram: This must be for the entire Mindy Hair Management System. You need to show relevant external agents together with data flows between the system and the external agents.
• A set of levelled data flow diagrams which includes:
1) Level 0 DFD which includes all top-level processes, key data stores. key data flows and key external entities.
2) At least 1 top-level process from this Level 0 DFD is decomposed to level 1 DFD.
You will be assessed on your application of data flow diagrams according to the following criteria:
o DFD syntax
o DFD data conservation (also commonly known as "balancing" or data consistency in some textbooks)
o Quality of names
o Logical, not physical
o Quality of modelling is more important than quantity
Consistency - not only should each view (data flow, process, data store) be accurate and readable, but also the views must be consistent with each other, so the whole analysis makes sense.
• An Entity Relationship Diagram (ERD): It should be a high-level data model (many to many relationships is acceptable in this unit).