| Question | Answer |
| What are the 5 stages in the SDLC | - Analysis
- Design
- Implementation
- Testing
- Evaluation |
| What reasons are there to upgrade a system | - Business model changes
- Outdated hard ware
- Problems with current hardware/software
- Upgrading from manual to electronic |
| What is a feasibility study | A feasibility study is the process of determining whether the new system is necessary or worth the cost |
| Feasibility studies investigation techniques | - Investigations
- Observations
- Questionnaires
- Examining documentation |
| What will the designer need to specify in their design [4] | - Hardware needed
- Software
- Data structures
- Inputs/output
- Manual Procedures
- Algorithms, hierarchy charts
- Test Plan |
| What occurs during implementation | - Developing algorithms
- testing system using the test plan
- install hardware/software
- prepare data files
- train users
- Write documentation |
| Why is testing important | Ensuring that the system runs as the designer, and client expect is very important as the system cant be finalised/sold without this assurance |
| What criteria are met when evaluating the system | - Does the system meet the requirements
- How effective is the solution
- Can users use the system
- What updates are needed
- |
| What is TOLES | - Technical Feasibility
- Operation Feasibility
- Legal Feasibility
- Economic Feasibility
- Schedule Feasibility |
| Benefits and drawbacks of questionnaires | - Fast method of getting information
- people can lie
- Questions have to be broad/vague |
| Benefits and drawbacks of interviews | - More detailed questions can be asked
- questions can be streamlined to the nature of the conversation |
| Benefits and drawbacks of observations | - Observing the business processes maybe a detailed way of seeing the business work flow
- People may exaggerate their work ethic/not work properly |
| Benefits and drawbacks of documentation reading | - Information like, technical manuals, code of conducts, database documents, invoices etc
- This can be confusing and a time consuming process |
| What is a data flow diagram | A visually representation of a complex system, usually consisting of four elements |
| What is the symbol for the flow of data | An Arrow |
| What is the symbol for a process | A rounded box |
| What is the symbol for an external entity | two overlapping boxes |
| What is the symbol for a data source/store | A box with one side missing |
| What are the three types of entity relationship diagram | - one to one
- one to many
- many to many |
| What are some properties Forms should have for data entry | - Clear and uncluttered
- No ambiguous questions
- Appropriate language
- Have hints/help facilities to help the user
- look presentable attractive |
| What are some properties Report should have | - Be concise
- Title
- clear purpose
- organised/uncluttered |
| What does HCI stand for and what does it mean | Human Computer Interface - the interaction between a user and a computer |
| What kind of interfaces are there | - command line
- menu
- GUI
- Natural language |
| Benefit of a command line | - Proficient users can use command lines quickly and efficiently
- batch files can be run |
| Benefit of a menu | - Easy to use/navigate
- Clean interface |
| Benefit of a GUI | - Perfect for new users
- Provides a clean and attractive interface
- slower running |
| What does WIMP stand for | - Windows
- Icons
- Menus
- Pointers |
| What is beneficial about natural language | - Spoken word/ writing is easier to most users then typing
- Useful if the user cant use their hands, surgeon etc
- can be tricky to program software for this purpose
- Language, dialect, and handwriting styles are all very different |
| What are the four types of Changeover | - Direct
- Phase
- Parallel
- Pilot |
| Explain Direct Change over giving one advantage and disadvantage | Direct changeover is the process of stopping one system and starting a new one.
- This is cheap, time saving and not labour intensive
- If it fails the system is stopped and this can be costly |
| Explain Phase Change over giving one advantage and disadvantage | Phase changeover basically releases elements of a systems package one by one until the system is fully operating.
- Cheaper then parallel, reduced risk as failure is within one element
- Can be time consuming and expensive |
| Explain Parallel Change over giving one advantage and disadvantage | Parallel changeover is the running of the old system and the new one simultaneously. This ensures that if the system fails it can fall back on the old one.
- be able to compare the quality of the system
- Very Expensive
- slower running of both |
| Explain Pilot Change over giving one advantage and disadvantage | Pilot is the running of a new system in a small part of the company like a branch of a chain of stores.
- Failure is only effecting on small part
- Cheaper then parallel
- Can be lengthy
- risk of failure still exists for some users |
| What Types of maintenance are there | - perfective
- adaptive
- corrective |
| Explain Perfective maintenance | The idea that a system can be improved, the old system wasn't non functioning but had room to grow and this brings on Perfective Maintenance.
- Make system faster
- Make system intuitive
- Add new features |
| Explain Adaptive maintenance | The idea that a system needs to adapt to an environmental change or business change. Increase in traffic to website requires better server, new branches opening etc |
| Explain Corrective maintenance | The system is released, but it contains bugs and errors. Subsequent updates are released in order to repair the systems errors. like updates to a phone that fix bugs or remove now broken features. |
| Why do systems have documentation | Maintenance and upgrades arent usually performed by the same staff who installed the system. This means a method of communicating technical information to new staff is key. Documentation provides this bridge of information. |
| What problems could not having documentation create | A lack of understanding will mean the staff will need to spend more time figuring out the system, whilst creating errors or breaking hardware/software |
| What kind of manuals are used in the SDLC | - System Specifications
- Program documentation
- Testing logs
- User manuals
- Technical Manuals |
| What is found in the system spec | This contains information on what the system will do, this is the agreement the client makes with the developer to create a system based off of he system spec.
- dataflow diagrams
- Hierarchy charts
- entity relationship diagrams |
| What is found in the program documentation | This is created during the development of a system, it will contains things like commented code, descriptions of algorithms, a variable table listing each with their function
- design of data structures and data dictionaries |
| What is found in the Testing Logs | This will include a log of testing information, this may document alpha testing beta testing or acceptance testing. |
| What is found in the user manual | These contain non technical information designed for users of the system not the experts. It will contain basic language and easy to follow instructions.
- quick start guide
- trouble shooting
- interface descriptions |
| What is found in the Technical manual | usually for analysts or programmers. Usually very detailed, with good enough detail that a new developer could replicate the system themselves.
- Installation guide
- sys requirements
- back up/ recovery
- security/ admin |
