a

© Institute for the Management of Information Systems - D2007.
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DIPLOMA
INFORMATION SYSTEMS
BUILDING
(D 26)
MONDAY 10TH DECEMBER 2007
TIME: 14.00 –17.00 HOURS
DURATION : 3 HOURS
Candidates should attempt FIVE questions only. Clearly cross out
‘surplus’ answers; failure to do so will result in the first 5 answers being
marked.
No reference material of any kind may be taken into the examination.
[Turn over]
© Institute for the Management of Information Systems - D2007.
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Candidates should attempt FIVE questions only. Clearly cross out
‘surplus’ answers; failure to do so will result in the first 5 answers being
marked.
Question 1
SafeSure Car Insurance allows potential customers to fill in a proposal form
using the Internet. The form collects personal details and vehicle details all of
which are validated as far as possible.
a) What is meant by validation of input data? ( 2 marks)
b) Identify THREE data items you would expect on the form, and for
EACH one, describe a different, suitable validation method.
( 9 marks)
c) SafeSure also receives proposal forms in the post. These are
collected together and keyed in offline. Describe TWO extra
measures they would take to ensure that this data is input correctly.
( 4 marks)
After a customer takes out a policy, they are given access to their details via
the SafeSure website.
d) Describe how SafeSure might authenticate customer access.
( 2 marks)
e) Apart from unauthorised access, describe other threats to data
being shared between SafeSure and its customers and steps that
can be taken to overcome them. ( 3 marks)
(Total 20 marks)
[Turn over]
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Question 2.
You are a member of a team of analyst consultants undertaking the
development of Homeshape Furnishings’ new, integrated computer system
which will encompass its payroll, Human Resources (HR) and sales order
processing functions.
a) Describe the stages in the traditional, linear systems development
life cycle (SDLC) using an annotated diagram to clarify your
description. (10 marks)
b) One of your tasks as systems analyst is to investigate the existing
system. Describe TWO techniques which you could use to collect
information and identify advantages of EACH. ( 4 marks)
c) At a later stage, Homeshape will need to change over from their
existing system to the new one. Suggest TWO ways in which
changeover can be accomplished and give the main advantage for
choosing ONE of them. ( 3 marks)
d) Name and describe briefly, an alternative to the linear cycle for
developing systems. ( 3 marks)
(Total 20 marks)
[Turn over]
© Institute for the Management of Information Systems - D2007.
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Question 3.
AllBrite Ltd is a manufacturer of windows to trade customers. AllBrite has a
number of business functional areas including Administration, Manufacturing,
Stores and Finance. You have been asked to analyse AllBrite’s order
processing system with a view to its computerisation.
Customers complete an order form which includes a customer reference
number, the size, type and quantity of each window required.
Orders are received by Administration and assigned a job number.
Using the number and size of the items in the order, staff calculate the time
required, and produce a materials list of quantities required.
The job details and materials list are added to a work schedule.
The customer is sent a confirmation letter with a collection date.
Manufacturing use the work schedule to make up the orders each day.
When a job is completed an invoice is sent to the customer.
a) Using suitable notation, complete this context diagram for the above
description.
( 3 marks)
b) Expand this to a level 1 Data Flow Diagram (DFD). Include only
those sub-processes mentioned in the description.
Marks will be awarded for:-
i) Correct diagram syntax. ( 4 marks)
ii) Detailed diagram. ( 8 marks)
iii) Completeness of solution. ( 2 marks)
iv) Clear, easy to follow, well-structured diagram. ( 3 marks)
(Total 20 marks)
[Turn over]
AllBrite
Order
Processing
Customers
© Institute for the Management of Information Systems - D2007.
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Question 4.
A large clothing store wishes to use a relational database management
system (RDBMS) to produce business intelligence information about sales
patterns. The store has a large number of sales staff any of which can deal
with customers at a large number of point-of-sale (POS) terminals throughout
the store. The requirements are as follows:-
 Staff have their surnames recorded and are identified by a unique
StaffId.
 Each POS has a unique POSID and Store Location.
 A Sale item has an ItemCode and Price.
 A Sale consists of one or more items and includes a POSID,
Receipt Number, Date, Payment method, StaffId and TotalValue
and, for each item, the Item Code and Price.
Produce an entity-relationship diagram (ERD) that accurately models the
information listed above.
Include on your diagram: attributes, and the cardinality of each relationship.
You do not need to resolve many-to-many relationships or show participation
constraints.
Marks will be awarded for:-
a) Correct diagram syntax. ( 3 marks)
b) Good choice of entities, relationships and attributes. (10 marks)
c) Cardinality constraints. ( 3 marks)
d) Clear, easy to follow, well-structured diagram. ( 4 marks)
(Total 20 marks)
Question 5.
Project Management incorporates three main components:-
 Planning.
 Organising.
 Monitoring.
a) Describe TWO features of EACH component. (12 marks)
b) Describe TWO software tools which are available to support
systems development. ( 8 marks)
(Total 20 marks)
[Turn over]
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Question 6.
ReTread Car Sales is a used car dealership. Cars are bought at auction, from
other traders or taken in part-exchange. At present, when a car arrives a sales
person completes a paper Stock Record Sheet. An extract of a completed
sheet is shown below.
As part of a computerisation process at ReTread, the Stock Record Sheet is
to be replaced by a screen based form.
a) For any SIX data items on the form, suggest a suitable Graphical
User Interface (GUI) element and justify the choice of element.
(12 marks)
b) With reference to this example, describe what is meant by the
‘cognitive gap’. ( 2 marks)
c) Discuss THREE ways in which sales staff might contribute in a
prototyping approach. ( 6 marks)
(Total 20 marks)
[Turn over]
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Question 7.
a) Quality Assurance (QA) has become an integral part of information
systems development.
i) What are the objectives of QA? ( 2 marks)
ii) Describe the roles of team members and the nature of their
tasks when undertakinging the two QA processes of
inspections and walkthroughs. ( 6 marks)
b) Testing is a vital part of the implementation of a system. Describe:-
i) TWO techniques used by a system developer. ( 4 marks)
ii) TWO techniques used by an end user. ( 4 marks)
c) Involving users in testing is one way of overcoming their resistance
to change when a new system is introduced. Describe TWO ways in
which users display resistance to change and, additionally, suggest
steps that can be taken to overcome the problem.
( 4 marks)
(Total 20 marks)
Question 8.
The marketing department of an organisation requires a process to run
against its customer database.
Customers who have not made a purchase in the past two years will have
their database account status field flagged as dormant. Any remaining
customer who has not made a purchase in the previous 6 months is to be sent
a letter offering them a discount if they make a purchase in the next month.
The discount offered will depend on the value of their last purchase; 10% if
the sale was £500 or more and 5% otherwise. For other customers, no action
is required.
a) What aspect of this process makes the use of a decision table
appropriate? ( 2 marks)
b) Draw a decision table for the process. (10 marks)
c) Write an algorithm for the process using structured English.
( 8 marks)
(Total 20 marks)
END OF EXAMINATION.
© Institute for the Management of Information Systems - D2007.
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D 26 –INFORMATION SYSTEMS BUILDING DECEMBER 2007
SOLUTIONS & MARKING SCHEME.
Question 1 answer.
a) Minimising inaccuracy/checking (1) that data is
reasonable/suitable/sensible (1). (2 marks)
b) Any (3x1) sensible.
Title/Firstname/Surname/DateofBirth/Registration/Make/Model/
InsuranceType etc.
Any (3x1) named range/type/value/format/presence/look-up/check digit.
Any (3x2) described. (9 marks)
a) Verification (1) data keyed twice (1).
Batch total (1) document count (1). (4 marks)
d) User ID and password (1) sent through post/email (1). (2 marks)
e) Any (2x1) Virus/hacking/physical damage to media/corruption in
transmission etc.
Any (1) Regular backups/anti-virus software/checksums etc. (3 marks)
(Total 20 marks)
Question 2 answer.
b) Stages are (any 4x1).
Concept.
Formation/SystemSpecification/Design/Construction(Implementation)/
Maintenance.
Diagram/correct sequence (1).
Features correctly placed and described (any 5x1) e.g Test plan
needs to be devised(Design), Staff will require training
(implementation). (10 marks)
b) Any 2x1 Interview, Questionnaire/Observation/Brainstorming/Joint
Application Development (JAD). Any advantage for each e.g.
Interviewer can ask follow-on questions, interviewee feels freer to talk
(2x1). (4 marks)
c) Any (2x1) Immediate/Parallel/Phased/Pilot/Hybrid.
Any (1) reasons e.g. Immediate-rapid, low cost. (3 marks)
d) Any (1) of Prototyping/Iterative/Incremental/spiral/Dynamic System
Development Method (DSDM)/Rapid Application Development
(RAD)/Evolutionary/end-user with (2) description. (3 marks)
(Total 20 marks)
© Institute for the Management of Information Systems - D2007.
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Question 3 answer.
a)
6 points, 3x1 correct dataflows, 3x1 correct arrow direction
then divide by 2
(3 marks)
b)
Marks will be awarded for:-
i) Correct diagram syntax
4x1 correct symbols plus 4x1 suitable text
then divide by 2 (4 marks)
Deal With
Order
Form
Produce
Materials
List
Schedule
Job Make Up
Order
Orders
Work
Schedule
Customer
order
form
numbered
order form
order
details
items
required
order
details
job
details
confirmation
job
details
invoice
Alternatives/
additions
possible
process data flow entity data store
order
Customer
AllBrite
Order
Processing
invoice
confirmation
© Institute for the Management of Information Systems - D2007.
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ii) Detailed diagram
8x1 correct elements (or equivalent) seen anywhere (8 marks)
iii) Completeness of solution
2 marks for 4 suitable processes, 1 mark for 2 suitable processes
(2 marks)
iv) Clear, easy to follow, well-structured diagram
(3 marks)
© Institute for the Management of Information Systems - D2007.
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Question 4 answer.
Marks to be awarded as follows:-
a) Correct diagram syntax
3x1 correct symbols plus 3x1 suitable text seen once then divide by 2
(3 marks)
b) Good choice of entities, relationships and attributes
Any three relationships of
staff makes sale, (2)
sale made at POS(2)
sale consists of sale items(2)
Correct attributes (at least two )for each entity 4x1
(10 marks)
c) Cardinality constraints
3x1 (3 marks)
d) Clear, easy to follow, well-structured diagram
Single diagram (1)
Easy to follow (1)
Straight lines (1)
Neatness (1)
(4 marks)
(Total 20 marks)
makes
staffid
STAFF SALE made at POS
surname
item code
total value date
pay method
consists of
SALE
ITEM
1
m
m
m
receipt
number
price
pos id location
m 1
entity attribute relationship
© Institute for the Management of Information Systems - D2007.
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Question 5 answer.
a) Planning.
Phasing, estimating, identify/evaluate risks (any 2x1) + descriptions
(2x1).
Organising.
People/teams, documentation/tools, physical/hardware/buildings (any
2x1) + descriptions (2x1).
Monitoring.
Compare actual with plan/milestones, corrective action (any 2x1) +
descriptions (2x1). (12 marks)
b) CASE tools, build models, different tools for different
stages/analysis/design, integrated tool set, convert/migrate model
between phases.
Features graphical interface, standard symbols/notation, linking,
checking logic.
Gantt/Pert chart shows tasks over time.
Features grid of tasks vs time, milestones, (diagram example OK).
Any 2 toolsx1 and 2x3 description/features/advantages. (8 marks)
(Total 20 marks)
Question 6 answer.
a) Any (6x1) for Use + (6x1) for justification TextBox, ListBox,
ComboBox, CheckBox, RadioButton, DialogueBox, Palette,Swatch,
Graphic, Labels e.g.Model 1 could be dropdown list whose values are
populated from a database when Make is entered. Less knowledge
required by user/no typing errors/consistent entry etc. (12 marks)
b) Difference between a user’s mental model of a situation and how it is
presented by system designers. (2 marks)
c) Staff can comment on layout/colour/font size. Missing/unclear items.
Rapid Application Development (RAD) approach. Prototype can be
refined/developed until user is satisfied. Leads to feel of user
ownership of finished product. Any (3x2) points. (6 marks)
(Total 20 marks)
© Institute for the Management of Information Systems - D2007.
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Question 7 answer.
a) i) QA - monitoring/checking/testing a system (1) throughout its
development (1) to ensure that it does not deviate from its stated
requirements (1). (2 marks)
ii) Inspection.
Formal process to assess a finished product/phase with report
on which action must be taken. Small team with distinct roles,
producer:inspector:moderator:reader (Any 3x1).
Walkthrough.
Less formal. Team participants meet to test model/stage: team
familiar with system under review include leader:secretary:
reader. Action list produced from issues raised by team during
process (Any 3x1). (6 marks)
b) i) e.g. Module, System, Volume, Regression etc with descriptions
(Any 2x2). (4 marks)
ii) e.g. Functional, multi-user, acceptance, alpha-beta etc with
descriptions (Any 2x2). (4 marks)
c) Aggression, projection (of blame), avoidance (denial) etc any 2x1
early involvement of users, adequate training, good support, user
friendly system, system meets expectations etc any 2x1. (4 marks)
(Total 20 marks)
© Institute for the Management of Information Systems - D2007.
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Question 8 answer.
a) Process has a number of conditions (1) with a number of options
(1). (2 marks)
b)
Conditions
Last Purchase date >2 years
ago
(1)
> 6 months
<= 2 years ago (1)
<= 6 months ago (1)
Purchase >=500 (1) Y N Y N Y N
Actions Flag Account (1) X X
Send 10% letter (1) X
Send 5% letter (1) X
(1) (1) (1)
(10 marks)
c)
Do for each customer record
If last purchase more than 2 years ago (1)
Then
Flag account
Else
If last purchase more than 6 months ago (1)
ThenI
f purchase value at least 500 (1)
Then
Send 10% discount letter (1)
Else
Send 5% discount letter (1)
End if
Else
Take no action (1)
End if
End if
End do
2 marks for correct use of nested if
(8 marks)
(Total 20 marks)
© Institute for the Management of Information Systems - D2007.
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Reading references:
[1] Main course text:
Hawryszkiewycz, I (2001)
Introduction to Systems Analysis & Design (5th Ed.)
Pearson Education. ISBN: 1740092805
[2] Secondary course text:
Bocij, P., Chaffey, D., Greasley, A. & Hickie, S (2003)
Business Information Systems: Technology, Development &
Management for the e-Business (2nd Ed.)
Pearson Education. ISBN: 027365540X.
Question
No.
Learning
outcome
Reference
1 LO13
[2] Ch. 11 pp468-469
[1] Ch. 14 pp354, 359-360
[2] Ch. 11 p470, Ch. 15 pp613-626
2 LO2, LO11 [1] Ch. 5, Ch. 12 pp495-497
3 LO5 [1] Ch. 5
4 LO5 [1] Ch. 9
5 LO8 [1] Ch. 6 pp128-148
6 LO6 [1] Ch. 5 pp117-119, Ch. 14 pp347-348
7 LO7, LO10 [1] Ch. 5 p103
[2] Ch. 12 pp486-490, 500-502
8 LO5 [1] Ch. 10 pp252-261