Chapter 3: System Characteristics

Chapter 3: System Characteristics

1. Computer Based Training

   • Using the computer to assist with training
   • Features:
     • Quizzes
     • Logon
       • User ID enabling progress to be recorded
     • Feedback
       • Can repeat modules and see an overview
     • Target Setting
       • Set targets and create a learning plan
     • Assignment setting
       • Deadlines

2. Route Finding

   • Find a route from an origin to a destination
   • Input
     • Origin location
     • Destination location
     • Method of travel
     • Time of travel
   • Output
     • Suggested route
       • Estimated time of travel
       • Distance to destination
     • Alternative routes
       • Time
       • Main Road

3. Timetabling

   • Produce a time table of events
   • Allow a user to build a timetable themselves using the features of the software or it will build it automatically based upon the data and constraints that have been entered
   • Characteristics:
     • Entering data about:
       • Lessons
       • Teachers
     • Setting up the timetable parameters
       • Break times
       • Working days
     • Setting up constraints
       • Max teaching hours
       • Availability

4. Booking

   • Examples:
     • Flight tickets
     • Training courses
     • Holidays
   • Features:
     • Input
       • Time and date
       • Select event, journey, appointment type
       • Search for availability
       • Number/Type of customer
       • Payment method and details
       • Confirmation button
     • Output
       • Details of event
       • Prices
       • Confirmation page
       • Email tickets or confirmation

5. Invoicing

   • Produce invoices to customers and monitor the payments made
   • Characteristics:
     • Store details about; customers, past invoices and products and services
     • Produce quotations for products and services
     • Send automatic reminders to customers for payments
     • Produce reports about; VAT, profit, monthly income etc

6. Personnel

   • Help with the management of all the people within a business
   • Database will include:
     • Contact Details
     • Attendance
     • Salary Details
     • Qualifications
   • Must comply with the Data Protection Act
     • Reminders when a certain time period has lapsed since personal info was last checked
     • Automatic notification if attendance info has not been entered
     • Automatic reminders if no appraisal or training updates have been made for an employee after a period of time
   • Often part of a management information system (MIS)
     • Produce reports which can assist with decision making
       • Examples:
         • The skill set of employees so that teams can be chosen to complete a project
         • Total costs of employees within a particular department so that decisions can be made as to whether that department is profitable

7. Stock Control

   • Purpose is to ensure that a shop always has enough stock to sell and never has too many
   • The system will need to store info on the...
     • Quantity of stock
     • Reorder level (Lowest quantity)
     • Reorder amount
   • Characteristics:
     • Viewing all stock
     • Storing the location of stock
     • Storing sales data
     • Viewing all suppliers