ICT2621 Assignment 3 (DETAILED ANSWERS) 2025 - DISTINCTION GUARANTEED

ICT2621 Assignment 3 (DETAILED ANSWERS) 2025 - DISTINCTION GUARANTEED - DISTINCTION GUARANTEED - DISTINCTION GUARANTEED Answers, guidelines, workings and references ,....Question 1 As a systems analyst, when designing systems, one of your goals should be to build systems that are effective, reliable, and maintainable. Briefly explain each of these three factors. (9) What is Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)? (3) What are the seven habits of successful interface designers? (7) Use the internet to find the ISO 9241-11 standard definition of usability with respect to computer interfaces. (2) NB: The following is a self-assessment activity. Attempt the question but do not submit the answer for marking. The solution will be made available with the assignment feedback. The most used forms of output technology for business systems are still in the form of screen displays and printed matter. List other current output types and technologies currently available. [30 Marks] When drawing data flow diagrams (DFDs), use the Gane and Sarson symbols/notation set. Draw, name and describe the four symbols used in a data flow diagram (DFD). You may use a table to present your answer. (12) Briefly describe the following with respect to DFDs: – Levelling (3) – Balancing (3) – Data dictionary (3) Draw a diagram of an example of each of the following showing the process, and the input(s) and output(s), where applicable. You should name each process, input or output used. Do not use the examples from the prescribed textbook; rather, use them as guidelines. – Spontaneous generation (3) – Black hole (3) – Gray hole (3) NB: The following are self-assessment activities. Attempt the questions but do not submit them for marking. Solutions will appear in Tutorial Letter 202. What are the six guidelines for drawing DFDs? Define Structured English and list its guidelines. Draw the context diagram of the Order System provided in Figure 5-11 on page 155 of your prescribed book. Using this diagram, explain what the system does. In your explanation, include what the Order System sends or receives from each of the external entities. Use the two diagrams in Figure 5-12 on page 156 of the prescribed book to explain the difference and similarities between a context diagram and diagram 0. Here we are interested in the general differences or similarities between a context diagram and diagram 0; you can use Figure 5-12 as the point of reference if you need to provide an example. [24 Marks] Scenario: The African Union (AU), at its headquarters in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, wants to design a database system for the people that reside on its continent. As you are aware, Africa is made up of many countries, and, in general, each country has many languages that are spoken by the people who live in it. Many of the languages are spoken across borders. It is also a known fact that many people in Africa are multilingual. For the purpose of this question, it will be assumed that each person resides in one country (i.e. country of main residence) though in reality, people may be residents or citizens of more than one country. Draw an entity relationship diagram (ERD) for this scenario. The ERD should not contain any many-to-many relationships. Do not include entities that are not in the scope (scenario) provided above. No attributes/fields are required in this section. (12) Create a relational database schema from the ERD above showing all tables in 3NF. Each table should include at least three fields. Appropriate primary keys should be used. Primary keys must be underlined and each foreign key should have the letters FK in brackets after it, for example: xyz (FK). There is no need to show all the steps involved in this process since only the final relational schema will be marked. (12) Note: A schema is simply a list of each table name and its fields/attributes in a database. Example: Product (Product-Code, Product-name, …) Customer (Customer-ID, Customer-name, …) [10 Marks] Briefly describe each of the following with respect to managing systems implementation: – System testing (5) – Operational documentation (5) [15 Marks] Briefly describe each of the following with respect to managing system support and security: – Perfective maintenance (5) – Configuration management (5) – Incremental backup (5) A provincial department of education has rolled out a digital platform for tracking learner attendance, performance, and resource distribution. As a systems analyst on the support team, you are responsible for system security and ongoing updates. Describe how perfective maintenance would be applied to improve this system. Provide two examples of what types of changes might be implemented. (5) Define configuration management in the context of this educational platform. Explain how it would help control changes to the system over time. (5) The IT team is developing a backup strategy. Explain what an incremental backup is and why it would be effective for this environment. (5) 1.1 As a systems analyst, when designing systems, one of your goals should be to build systems that are effective, reliable, and maintainable. Briefly explain each of these three factors. (9) What is Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)? (3) What are the seven habits of successful interface designers? (7) Use the internet to find the ISO 9241-11 standard definition of usability with respect to computer interfaces. (2) NB: Question 1.5 below is a self-assessment exercise. Attempt the question but DO NOT submit answers for marking. The solution to this question will appear together with the solution for this assignment. The most used forms of output technology for business systems are still in the form of screen displays and printed matter. List other current output types and technologies currently available. You are managing the implementation of a new online retail system for a fast-growing e-commerce store. The system includes inventory, payment, and delivery modules. Explain the process and purpose of system testing in this context. Include who is involved, what is tested, and the types of test conditions used. (5) 4.2 Describe the role of operational documentation in ensuring the smooth day-to-day running of the system once it goes live. Include examples such as print schedules, backup procedures, and operator instructions. (5) You have been hired to assist a local municipality in developing a new information system to manage water usage, billing, and payment processing for residents. 2.1 Create a table that identifies, draws, and describes the four Gane and Sarson symbols used in Data Flow Diagrams (DFDs). (12) 2.2 While presenting your Level 1 DFD, your team lead questions you about best practices. Briefly describe the following concepts with reference to your DFD for the water billing system: Levelling Balancing Data dictionary (9) 2.3 Your team identifies logical errors in the DFD draft. Draw three separate examples illustrating the following issues using the context of the billing system: Spontaneous generation Black hole Gray hole For each, label the process and its inputs and outputs clearly. (9) Chapter 5 – Data and Process Modelling Question 2 [30] NB: When drawing data flow diagrams (DFDs), use the Gane and Sarson symbols/notation set. Draw, name and describe the four symbols used in a data flow diagram (DFD). You may use a table to present your answer. (12) Briefly describe the following with respect to DFDs: Levelling (3) Balancing (3) Data dictionary (3) Draw a diagram of an example of each of the following showing the process, and the input(s) and output(s), where applicable. You should name each process, input or output used. Do not use the examples from the prescribed textbook; rather, use them as guidelines. Spontaneous generation (3) Black hole (3) Gray hole (3) NB: Questions 2.4 to 2.7 below are self-assessment exercises. Attempt the questions but DO NOT submit answers for marking. Solutions to these questions will appear in Tutorial Letter 202. What are the six guidelines for drawing DFDs? Define Structured English and list its guidelines. Draw the context diagram of the Order System provided in Figure 5-11 on page 155 of your prescribed book. Using this diagram, explain what the system does. In your explanation, include what the Order System sends or receives from each of the external entities. Use the two diagrams in Figure 5-12 on page 156 of the prescribed book to explain the difference and similarities between a context diagram and diagram 0. Here we are interested in the general differences or similarities between a context diagram and diagram 0; you can use Figure 5-12 as the point of reference if you need to provide an example. Scenario: The African Union (AU), at its headquarters in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, wants to design a database system for the people that reside on its continent. As you are aware, Africa is made up of many countries, and, in general, each country has many languages that are spoken by the people who live in it. Many of the languages are spoken across borders. It is also a known fact that many people in Africa are multilingual. For the purpose of this question, it will be assumed that each person resides in one country (i.e. country of main residence) though in reality, people may be residents or citizens of more than one country. Draw an entity relationship diagram (ERD) for this scenario. The ERD should not contain any many-to-many relationships. Do not include entities that are not in the scope (scenario) provided above. No attributes/fields are required in this section. (12) Create a relational database schema from the ERD in 3.1 showing all tables in 3NF. Each table should include at least three fields. Appropriate primary keys should be used. Primary keys must be underlined and each foreign key should have the letters FK in brackets after it, for instance xyz (FK). There is no need to show all the steps involved in this process since only the final relational schema will be marked. (12) NB: A schema is simply a list of each table name and its fields/attributes in a database as in the example below. Product (Product-Code, Product-name, …) Customer (Customer-ID, Customer-name,…) etc … Chapter 11 – Managing Systems Implementation Question 4 [10] Briefly describe each of the following with respect to managing systems implementation. 4.1 System testing (5) 4.2 Operational documentation (5) Briefly describe each of the following with respect to managing system support and security. Perfective maintenance (5) Configuration management (5) Incremental backup (5) You have been hired to assist a local municipality in developing a new information system to manage water usage, billing, and payment processing for residents. 2.1 Create a table that identifies, draws, and describes the four Gane and Sarson symbols used in Data Flow Diagrams (DFDs). (12) 2.2 While presenting your Level 1 DFD, your team lead questions you about best practices. Briefly describe the following concepts with reference to your DFD for the water billing system: Levelling Balancing Data dictionary (9) 2.3 Your team identifies logical errors in the DFD draft. Draw three separate examples illustrating the following issues using the context of the billing system: Spontaneous generation Black hole Gray hole For each, label the process and its inputs and outputs clearly. (9)