Project Scenario

Due to major flooding in Queensland, New South Wales and other affected areas in Australia, businesses are looking for solutions that will enable quick recovery from these disasters. Although these businesses have a number of physical items that need to be replaced, such as furniture, vehicles and buildings, their primary concern is to have all information systems functioning so that they can efficiently and safely maintain accounts, websites, administrative functions and conduct their business activities as quickly as possible. Aspects that should also be taken into consideration are the hardware, software and backup facilities for these businesses. Additionally, long term forecasts have predicted more cyclones and storms for Queensland over the next 6 months. Therefore any solution offered will need to be robust enough and portable enough that future hardware and software purchases are limited or in as many cases as possible, removed from potential future replacement requirements.

You have been engaged, as one of a number of Systems Analysts to submit a proposal for business to consider. This proposal will be in the form of an Information Systems (IS) Design Document. In order to complete your IS Design Document, you will need to complete a number of tasks, conduct some research and use template guides to assist. Each week you will be given exercises to complete. These are designed to build your "technical skills literacy", you will also be given time to then use those skills to complete your assessment pieces.

Getting Into Character

Being a Systems Analyst

A systems analyst is a person that is contracted by a business in order to facilitate the improvement of the various systems that make up that business. In many cases it is about designing or improving the design of the corporate information system (computers, networks, software, communications, databases, etc) so that communications and business processes run more efficiently.

So, you are a freelance systems analyst that has been called into a business as described in one of the four project descriptions below. You will be given a set of business requirements and parameters so that you can design different aspects of the business' new information system. You will create a range of different documents that outline your design tasks in MS Word, Excel and Access.

Your client is the business owner of whatever project you choose below, oh yeah, and that is your learning facilitator. The clients needs you to communicate with them by maintaining your own personal/professional website that will showcase your documents - project deliverables. At agreed times your client will require that you have certain documents linked to your website for their perusal and assessment. Like all good clients they will access your site to see how things are progressing.

Dont worry if you have trouble getting into character at the start. Your learning facilitators will give you every help to get things right and will even help you learn to build your website should you require it.

Remember it is a learning process more than anything. Linked to your main website you will keep a "Blog" page that is like an online diary. Each week you must make at least one entry onto the blog that states what you have learned. This "learning journal" will help the client to guage the rate at which you are assimilating new information. It will also help you reflect on important learning instances in your professional development.

You can talk to the client and other analysts to get ideas at any time. Each project will be slightly different so you must each create something original and properly reference any sources of information that you use.

Projects

General Descriptions

As a budding consultant systems analyst you have been called into one of the following organisations to create an effective and efficient information system. You will maintain your own website from which the documents you create and decisions that you reach will be submitted to your client on prearranged deliverables dates. A project manager will ensure that you have the information that you need to make decisions about an organisation's information architecture. A senior analyst will also be available on a weekly basis to help you with your analysis and design tasks.

Health Clinic - Psychology Department: In association with a large hospital the psychology department has been moved to a new wing and there is funding to upgrade the health information system that services that part of the organisation. You are engaged to design an information system that meets the needs of a range of different users and automates a number of organisational processes.

Users of the system include but are not limited to:

Organisational processes include but are not limited to:

Key requirements of the organisation are:

Organisational departments include:

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Advertising/Marketing Company: "Segment Marketing" is a quickly growing organisation that has moved from Asia to take up offices locally. The organisation specialises in marketing high rise apartments and exclusive property developments to retirees, investors, tourists, businesses and other organisations. You are engaged to design an information system that meets the needs of a range of different users and automates a number of organisational processes.

Users of the system include but are not limited to:

Organisational processes include but are not limited to:

Key requirements of the organisation are:

Organisational departments include:

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Robotics Development Company: "Ozbo" creates a range of robotic devices used in applications from the military and police to aiding the profoundly disabled interact with the world. Recent success of one of its intelligent toys and subsequently gaining a number of large contracts with manufacturing and film development companies has allowed them to move to new premises on the Gold Coast. You are engaged to design an information system that meets the needs of a range of different users and automates a number of organisational processes.

Users of the system include but are not limited to:

Organisational processes include but are not limited to:

Key requirements of the organisation are:

Organisational departments include:

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Waterfront restaurant: "Just Fillet" is a new seafood restaurant opening up on the waterfront with views over the harbour and marina. Access is by boat or car and is in an extremely popular tourist and weekend destination. The restaurant caters for those wanting a full meal and drinks or just seeking coffees and cake. You are engaged to design an information system that meets the needs of a range of different users and automates a number of organisational processes.

Users of the system include but are not limited to:

Organisational processes include but are not limited to:

Key requirements of the organisation are:

Organisational departments include:

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