CIS 210 Week 1 Discussion 1

"Technical Skills vs. Customer Service"  Please respond to the following:

• You are tasked with hiring a new systems analyst at your company. One candidate has excellent technical credentials, but does not think customer service is important. A second candidate has excellent customer service credentials and fair technical skills. Which candidate would you be more likely to hire and why?

CIS 210 Week 1 Discussion 2

"The Importance of Research" Please respond to the following:

• Describe how you would explain the importance of researching policies and procedures to someone that just wants to get started on the project.

CIS 210 Week 2 Discussion 1

"Scope Creep" Please respond to the following:

• You overhear two of your systems analysts talking. One tells the other that scope creep is a good thing as long as it improves the project overall. Respond to this statement.

CIS 210 Week 2 Discussion 2

"Failed Technology Projects" Please respond to the following:

•  In your opinion, discuss the three (3) most likely causes for failed technology projects.

CIS 210 Week 2 Assignment 1: Inventory Management Systems

 Due Week 2 and worth 100 points

Your sister owns a small clothing store. During a conversation at a family dinner, she mentions her frustration with having to manually track and reorder high demand items. She would like an automated system but has a very small budget.

Write a 4-5 page paper in which you create a plan for a low-cost automated inventory system in which you:

• Describe all the necessary equipment.
• Explain the costs involved in the creation of the system.
• Describe the ongoing maintenance that will be required.
• Provide a workflow diagram in Visio or equivalent software to illustrate how the system will work.

Your assignment must:

• Be typed, double-spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
• Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.
• Include charts or diagrams created in Excel, Visio, MS Project, or one of their equivalents such as Open Project, Dia, and OpenOffice. The completed diagrams/charts must be imported into the Word document before the paper is submitted.

The specific Course Learning Outcomes associated with this assignment are:

• Describe the types of business needs that can be addressed using information technology-based solutions.
• Create requirements for a system through a formal technique that enables a productive change in a way the business is conducted. 
• Use contemporary CASE tools in process and data modeling.
• Use technology and information resources to research issues in systems analysis and development.
• Write clearly and concisely about Systems Analysis and Development topics using proper writing mechanics and technical style conventions.

CIS 210 Week 3 Discussion 1

"Solving Business Problems" Please respond to the following:

• There are several systems analysis approaches for solving a business problem. Identify which method you would be most likely to use and state why.

CIS 210 Week 3 Discussion 2

"Fact-Finding Techniques" Please respond to the following:

• You are in charge of an ERP systems design project and tasked with fact-finding. The project schedule allows enough time for you to use two fact-finding techniques. Identify two techniques you would use and state the advantages and disadvantages of each.

CIS 210 Week 4 Discussion 1

"Benefits of Use-Case Modeling" Please respond to the following:

• Analyze the benefits of use-case modeling and isolate the most advantageous benefit to the firm you currently work or worked in the past and state why.
• Describe the biggest challenge to the successful use of use-case modeling and recommend how to overcome the challenge.

CIS 210 Week 4 Discussion 2

"Physical vs. Logical System Models" Please respond to the following:

• Your intern is confused about the difference between physical and logical system models.  Explain the difference between the two models to her and give at least one example for each of the two models

CIS 210 Week 4 Case Study 1 Building an Access Control System
Due Week 4 and worth 50 points

As a member of the Information Security team at a small college, you have been made the project manager to install an access control system (ACS) in a dormitory. The ACS will automatically unlock the dormitory doors via an electronic proximity reader and integrate with an existing security camera system.  The cameras are designed to face and rotate to record a person as they use their identification card to unlock the door. 
Create a 3-4 page project plan for this project in which you:

1. Include a one-half page project scope statement.
2. Define five (5) major tasks, each with one to two (1-2) subtasks. Also write a brief description for each task.
3. Create a Gantt chart illustrating the project tasks (use Microsoft Project or a similar project management program).
4. Create a system diagram illustrating the equipment and connections required for this project (use Microsoft Visio or a similar software package).

Your assignment must:

• Be typed, double-spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
• Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.
• Include charts or diagrams created in Excel, Visio, MS Project, or one of their equivalents such as Open Project, Dia, and OpenOffice. The completed diagrams/charts must be imported into the Word document before the paper is submitted.

The specific Course Learning Outcomes associated with this assignment are:

• Distinguish between non-functional and functional requirements.
• Use contemporary CASE tools in process and data modeling.
• Use technology and information resources to research issues in systems analysis and development.
• Write clearly and concisely about Systems Analysis and Development topics using proper writing mechanics and technical style conventions.

CIS 210 Week 5 Discussion 1

"Polymorphism" Please respond to the following:

• Discuss a real-world example of how polymorphism might be used in a system you are familiar with.

CIS 210 Week 5 Discussion 2

"Candidate Solutions" Please respond to the following:

• Identify and explain the different techniques for identifying candidate solutions.

CIS 210 Week 5 Midterm Exam

 

Question 1

A project manager, or project leader, usually is a senior systems analyst or an IT department manager if the project is large.

Question 2

Gantt charts are an ideal tool for controlling a complex project because they provide plenty of detailed information.

Question 3

PERT/CPM and Gantt charts are mutually exclusive techniques.

Question 4

____ also is called looping.    

Iteration

Question 5

In a data dictionary, some data elements have ____ rules, such as an employee’s salary must be within the range defined for the employee’s job classification.

Question 6

A(n) ____ table shows a logical structure, with all possible combinations of conditions and resulting actions.

Question 7

Structured English might look familiar to programming students because it resembles ____, which is used in program design.

Question 8

Problems with timetables and project milestones can indicate ____.

Question 9

Sequence diagrams include symbols that represent all of the following EXCEPT ____.

Question 10

Feasibility analysis is an ongoing task that must be performed throughout the systems development process.

Question 11

When assessing schedule feasibility, a systems analyst must consider the interaction between time and costs.

Question 12

Economic activity has little influence on corporate information management.

Question 13

A systems analyst needs ____.

Question 14

A ____, such as Microsoft Outlook or Lotus Organizer, can help manage meetings, interviews, appointments, and deadlines and provide a personal calendar and a to-do list, with priorities and the capability to check off completed items.

Question 15

A common tool for showing the distribution of a questionnaire or sampling results is a vertical bar chart called a(n) ____.

Question 16

Class diagrams evolve into code modules, data objects, and other system components.

Question 17

If you do not use a CASE-generated model, it is not necessary that a diagram or object definition be supported by documentation.

Question 18

A class diagram resembles a horizontal flowchart that shows the actions and events as they occur.

Question 19

When the outcome of one use case is incorporated by another use case, we say the second use case uses the first case.

Question 20

 

In the model of the SDLC shown in the accompanying figure, during ____, the new system is constructed.

Question 21

In object-oriented programming, an object is a member of a(n) ____, which is a collection of similar objects.

Question 22

In a preliminary investigation report, the ____ contain(s) a brief description of the system, the name of the person or group performing the investigation, and the name of the person or group who initiated the investigation.

Question 23

A decision tree is read from left to right, with the conditions along the various branches and the actions at the far left.

Question 24

In modular design, each logical structure must have multiple entry and exit points.

Question 25

Knowledge of a company’s formal and informal structures helps a systems analyst determine the people to interview during the systems analysis phase.

CIS 210 Week 6 Discussion 1

"Prototyping" Please respond to the following:

• Your boss decides that prototyping is the best approach on a design project. Describe to her the weaknesses and hazards associated with prototyping. Explain what you can do to minimize the risk of experiencing the hazards associated with prototyping 

CIS 210 Week 6 Discussion 2

"Centralized and Distributed Computing Architectures" Please respond to the following:

• Your company is bidding on a system design project. It is your job to design the system architecture. How will you balance the need for scalability against the need to keep costs as low as possible to win the bid?

CIS 210 Week 6 Assignment 2 Use Cases 

Due Week 6 and worth 200 points
As an intern software developer for a retail bank, you have been tasked with developing use cases to support the ATM service.

Prepare a 5-6 page paper in which you:

• Describe (in a one to two (1-2) page narrative) a use case, complete with typical and alternate courses, that documents the event of a bank customer withdrawing money from an ATM. 
• Illustrate the use case using Visio or a similar product.
• Describe (in a one to two (1-2) page narrative) a use case dependency for making an account deposit. Illustrate this use case with Visio or a similar product.
• Describe (in a one to two (1-2) page narrative) a use case dependency for making an account transfer. Illustrate this use case with Visio or a similar product.
• Identify and explain at least one (1) ethical issue that the use case exposes in connection with the development or use of the ATM system.
• Research and cite at least three (3) authoritative academic sources.

Your assignment must:

• Be typed, double-spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
• Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.
• Include charts or diagrams created in Excel, Visio, MS Project, or one of their equivalents such as Open Project, Dia, and OpenOffice. The completed diagrams/charts must be imported into the Word document before the paper is submitted.

The specific Course Learning Outcomes associated with this assignment are:

• Summarize the various requirements modeling techniques.
• Create a use case based on relating functional requirements.
• Analyze and articulate ethical, cultural, and legal issues and their feasibilities among alternative solutions.
• Use contemporary CASE tools in process and data modeling.
• Use technology and information resources to research issues in systems analysis and development.
• Write clearly and concisely about Systems Analysis and Development topics using proper writing mechanics and technical style conventions.

CIS 210 Week 7 Discussion 1

"Database Centralization" Please respond to the following:

• The owner of a company looks over your design and sees that you are using database centralization. He questions why you would do this since it violates the rule that data should be managed and stored in close proximity to its users. Explain to him your reasoning for using database centralization.

CIS 210 Week 7 Discussion 2

"CRUD" Please respond to the following:

• Is it possible to have a system or database that would not have all CRUD rights? Why would you want to limit those rights? Why would you want to keep those rights?

CIS 210 Week 8 Discussion 1

"Screen Design Issues" Please respond to the following:

• You are building an online ordering site for a pharmaceutical company. Considering that most of the users will be senior citizens, identify and describe the screen design issues that must be taken into consideration.

CIS 210 Week 8 Discussion 2

"Input Design" Please respond to the following:

• Explain what principle you believe is the MOST essential in developing an input design, and justify your choice.

CIS 210 Week 8 Case Study 2 : Application Architecture

Due Week 8 and worth 50 points You have been tasked with building a payroll program for a large organization with offices spread across the United States. The company has one larger data center that each office connects to via a wide area network (WAN). Write a 3-4 page paper in which you:

• Explain what type of architecture the new payroll application should use and why.
• Identify what types of technology will be involved in the architecture and explain the purpose of each technology. 
• Create a graphical representation of your recommended architecture.
• Identify and describe any potential ethical issues that could arise in connection with the new architecture.

Your assignment must:

• Be typed, double-spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
• Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.
• Include charts or diagrams created in Excel, Visio, MS Project, or a freeware alternative. The completed diagrams/charts must be imported into the Word document before the paper is submitted.

The specific Course Learning Outcomes associated with this assignment are:

• Analyze and articulate ethical, cultural, and legal issues and their feasibilities among alternative solutions.
• Use contemporary CASE tools in process and data modeling.
• Use technology and information resources to research issues in systems analysis and development.
• Write clearly and concisely about Systems Analysis and Development topics using proper writing mechanics and technical style conventions.

CIS 210 Week 9 Discussion 1

"Computer Uses and Design Considerations" Please respond to the following:

• Discuss whether design considerations need to change for each kind of computer users. Support your answer with an example.

CIS 210 Week 9 Discussion 2

"The Object-Oriented Approach" Please respond to the following:

• You are having a discussion with a systems analyst who has been in the field for 30 years. He makes the statement that traditional methods of systems design are far superior to the object-oriented approach. How would you explain to him the rationale behind using the object-oriented approach?

CIS 210 Week 10 Discussion 1

"Build vs. Buy" Please respond to the following:

• Your manager just asked you to join a meeting in progress to speak for five minutes about a build versus buy decision the company is about to make. Describe how you would spend those five minutes in presenting the most important element of the decision.
• List and describe the advantages and disadvantages of building a system from the ground up

CIS 210 Week 10 Discussion 2

"Preventing System Problems" Please respond to the following:

• After the system has been completely installed, a team member states that the systems analysts will now be in charge only of “putting out fires” experienced within the new system. How would you react to this statement?

CIS 210 Week 10 Term Paper Website Migration Project

Due Week 10 and worth 200 points Tony’s Chips has recently been sold to a new independent company. The new company has hired you to manage a project that will move the old Website from an externally hosted solution to an internal one. The company’s leadership is very concerned about redundancy for their site, insisting that a back-up site be available as a failover in case the main site goes down. In addition, they want the site redesigned to allow customers to order products online.

As part of your job, you must complete a 10-to-15 page paper that follows this project through the system development life cycle (SDLC). This assignment will require you to do the following:

• Discuss what it will take to build a Web architecture, move an existing Website with minimal downtime, and provide a disaster recovery solution to ensure the site is always available.
•  

o    The Web architecture should describe and justify operating system choices (i.e., Linux, Apache, MYSQL, PHP, Windows, IIS, SQL, etc.).

                        Evaluate alternatives to the company self-hosting the site.

                        Build a Gantt chart using Microsoft Project or equivalent software, showing all tasks associated with implementing the Website.

                        The chart should include a minimum of five (5) tasks, each with three (3) sub-tasks.

                        Explain and justify the system architecture you have selected.

                        Illustrate the system architecture using Visio or equivalent software.

                        Create a use case that documents the event of a customer ordering a bag of chips from the new Website.

                        The use case should include a graphical representation using Visio or equivalent software and a text description of the events.

                        Discuss the support operations that the internally hosted Website will require after implementation.

                        Explain how you will evaluate the performance of the new site and the success of your project.

The specific Course Learning Outcomes associated with this assignment are:

• Design high-level logical system characteristics (user interface design, design of data, and information requirements).
• Use contemporary CASE tools in process and data modeling.
• Use technology and information resources to research issues in systems analysis and development.
• Write clearly and concisely about Systems Analysis and Development topics using proper writing mechanics and technical style conventions.

CIS 210 Week11 Discussion 1

"What Did I Learn in This Class?" Please respond to the following:

• If you could change one thing to make the course better, what would it be? Explain

CIS 210 Week  11 Discussion 2

"This Course and My Career" Please respond to the following:

• How has taking this course affected your plans and/or interests in pursuing a career involving systems analysis and development?

 

CIS 210 Week  11Final Exam

 

Question 1

Input ____ are templates that make it easier for users to enter data.

Question 2

The ____ is a control feature at the top of a data entry screen that displays the main menu options.

Question 3

For upper-level managers who often want to see total figures and do not need supporting details, a(n) ____ is appropriate.

Question 4

Some firms use ____ facsimile to allow a customer to request a fax using e-mail, the company Web site, or by telephone.

Question 5

Good user interface design is based partly on ____, which describes how people work, learn, and interact with computers.

Question 6      

Good interface design is based partly on ____, which provides the operational structure required to carry out the design objectives.

Question 7

Interface designers can obtain data, called ____ metrics, by using software that can record and measure user interaction with a system.

Question 8

           

A(n) ____ is relatively inexpensive to install and is well-suited to workgroups and users who are not anchored to a specific desk or location.

Question 9

In a ____, a single communication path connects the network server, departmental servers, workstations, and peripheral devices.

Question 10

In all cases, a network must use a ____, which is a set of standards that govern network data transmission.

Question 11

A system design where the server performs all the processing is described as ____.

Question 12

In the OSI (Open System Interconnection) model, the presentation layer ____.

Question 13

A ____ is an entrance to a multifunction Web site.

Question 14

In a(n) ____ design, the remote user’s keystrokes are transmitted to the mainframe, which responds by sending screen output back to the user’s screen.

Question 15

To bridge the gap between a database and the Web and enable data to be viewed and updated, it is necessary to use ____, which is software that integrates different applications and allows them to exchange data.

Question 16

____ is an industry-standard protocol that makes it possible for software from different vendors to interact and exchange data

Question 17

In a file-oriented information system, a work file ____.

Question 18

When a primary key combines two or more fields, it is called any of the following EXCEPT a ____ key.

Question 19

A(n) ____ is a collection of tools, features, and interfaces that enables users to add, update, manage, access, and analyze the contents of a database.

Question 20

Any field that is not a primary key or a candidate key is called a ____ key.

Question 21

JDBC enables ____ applications to exchange data with any database that uses SQL statements and is compliant with the standard.

Question 22

The ____ describes the system at the beginning of system operation and includes the results of performance and acceptance tests for the operational system.

Question 23

The ____ is responsible for assigning maintenance tasks to individuals or to a maintenance team.

Question 24

Preventive maintenance ____.

Question 25

In a typical system, the initial version of the system is 1.0, and the release that includes the first set of maintenance changes is version ____.

Question 26    

Adaptive maintenance ____.

Question 27

____ involves studying the parts to understand the overall system.

Question 28

____ is a process for controlling changes in system requirements during software development.

Question 29

In addition to analyzing logic and program code, a project team usually holds a session with users, called a ____ walkthrough, to review the interface with a cross-section of people who will work with the new system and ensure that all the necessary features have been included.

Question 30

____ describes the degree of interdependence among modules.

Question 31

In ____ programming, two programmers work on the same task on the same computer.

Question 32

A class diagram includes the class ____, which represent the program logic.

Question 33

A ____ consists of related program code organized into small units that are easy to understand and maintain.

Question 34

In a structure chart, a(n) ____ line, which has a diamond on one end, indicates that a control module determines which subordinate modules will be invoked.

Question 35

Although the traditional model of software acquisition still accounts for more software acquisition, a new model, called ____, is changing the picture dramatically.

Question 36

Some data files should be totally hidden from view, while others should have ____ so users can view, but not change, the data.

Question 37

When determining outsourcing fees, a ____ has a variable fee based on the number of users or workstations that have access to the application.

Question 38

The software that a company’s IT department makes, builds, and develops is called ____ software.

Question 39

The choice between developing versus purchasing software often is called a ____ decision.

Question 40

Oracle Corporation offers a service called ____, which provides e-business applications on a fixed fee basis.