IGNOU Master of Computer Applications (MCA) :: Assignments

This assignment has four questions. Answer all questions. Each question is of 20 marks. Rest 20 marks are for viva voce. You may use illustrations and diagrams to enhance the explanations. Please go through the guidelines regarding assignments given in the Programme Guide for the format of presentation.

Q1: (30 Marks)

Based on a system with which you are very much familiar, define a problem that could be addressed through systems analysis and design. The assignment response should contain the following:

• Problem definition. The problem definition should be brief. The problem definition should be clear to someone not familiar with the setting.

• Identifying a problem . The problem should be associated with an information system with which you are familiar. If possible, the problem should be within an organization that would support a team in conducting a systems analysis project during this semester. If you are unfamiliar with any problems to which we can have access, develop a problem definition for any system with which you are familiar.
• Describing the setting of the problem . Provide a very brief (one paragraph) description of the setting in which the problem occurs. If an information system (computerized or manual) is already in place, briefly describe it.
• Describing the problem . Try to specify the problem, rather than just describing the symptoms associated with the problem. You may use the symptoms to demonstrate that the problem is significant.
• Defining the scope of the problem . Scope may be defined in terms of the people involved in the system processing, the people who control data involved in the system, the amount of data involved in the processing, or the costs of system failure.
• Defining the goals/objectives of the analysis/design project . Establish criteria for the success of the project. Essentially, you will identify criteria for recognizing that the problem is solved. Also provide a brief justification for working on the problem.

• What information you need togather, and why it is important?
  • This may include information about existing processes or data, the expected users, the environment of the new system, any constraints on your design, standards or “best practices” that may be pertinent, products or equipment, etc.
• Where you will seek the information?
  • This may include people (known, or known only by job title), vendors, other places with similar situations, research literature or trade journals, the site itself, etc.
• How you will get the information?
  • This may include types of interviews or observations, artifacts you want to collect, searching through indexes or on the Web, etc.
  • Make a list of questions, and conduct the interview. Write the list of questions prepared by you along with responses from the interviewee as part of your assignment. Also, write the procedure, in your own words, on the basis of your understanding of the responses to the questions asked by you.
• How you plan to record and organize the information?
  • This may include the models that you think will be useful, notes or sketches, etc.
• Your schedule for gathering and organizing information.

Q2: (20 Marks)

Prepare a process diagram for a system that maintains class rosters. An administrator can enter information about the classes, such as which terms they are offered, when they meet, and how many units they are. Students can sign up for classes, though they cannot sign up for two classes that meet at the same time. Students can also drop classes. Each class has a maximum number of students, together with a wait list for students beyond that number. Students can get a list of the classes that they are signed up for, and professors can get a list of the students who are signed up for a given class.

Q3: (20 Marks)

Prepare an entity-relationship diagram for the computer in a restaurant. To determine what entities and relationships the computer might need to represent, consider all of the various documents that customers, waiters, kitchen staff, and managers might use. Include the attributes for each entity. You can draw the entity-relationship diagram for this system by hand.

Q4: (10 Marks)

Discuss the relative merits of system flowcharts, decision tables and decision trees. Which one do you find easiest to draw and understand and why?