PC209 Systems Analysis & Design
Your assignment consists of two tasks: task one is the creation of a Systems Analysis and Design portfolio (worth 85% of the total marks for the assignment), and task two is a critical self-reflective commentary on task one (worth 15% of the total marks for the assignment). Assignment Task 1: Systems Analysis and Design Portfolio Your first task is to create a Systems Analysis & Design portfolio document. Create a Systems Analysis and Design (SAD) portfolio for either a real or fictional small business entity (SBE) or non-profit organisation (NPO) by presenting a comprehensive SAD report which covers essential SAD elements as highlighted during the module’s weekly core topics. Choose one of the following scenarios: 1) Create a SAD portfolio for a SBE operating in the e-retail sector. 2) Create a SAD portfolio for a NPO operating in the human rights sector. After selecting a scenario, you should then research and create the background yourself for either the SBE or NPO that you choose (you may select either an existing organisation, or create a fictional one). For example, you may elect to write about a SBE which operates in the e-retail book vendor space, or about an NPO dedicated to facilitating whistleblowing. Once you have selected an organisation from either of the above scenarios, you will need to create a SAD portfolio document for it. Specifically, your portfolio (approx. 1500-1750 words total) should cover the following: • Create and state the background of your organisation and assess its business needs (approx. 375-430 words) [This component corresponds to Week 2: Project Initiation of the module]; • Create a stated plan of action explaining how you would establish a communicative and data workflow conducive to successful information gathering within the organisation (approx. 375-430 words) [This component corresponds to Weeks 3: Project Management & Communicative Workflow & 4: Requirements Determination & Information Gathering of the module]; • Create a sample (Unified Modelling Language) UML-based Entity-Relationship (ER) diagram which maps a particular workflow of your choice within your SBE or NPO (1 page; including at least 5 entities in your diagram) [This component corresponds to Weeks 5: Structural Modelling & 6: Behavioural Modelling of the module]; • Draft a sample trust management policy delineating tiered access to systems data within your organisation (approx. 375-430 words) [This component corresponds to Week 7: Trust Management of the module]; • Present an analysis of planned security implementations in relation to internal data handling as being integral components of the system design (approx. 375-430 words) [This component corresponds to Week 8: Systems Hardening of the module]. Note that this assignment is incremental: its components are based on weekly topics discussed during each week of the module. It is thus essential that you both attend class and regularly follow the weekly topics. Start working on the assignment early, do not leave it until the last week. Deliverables You will submit your portfolio as a document (which you may compose in Microsoft Word, Google Docs, OpenOffice, or any other suitable word processing software of your choice). Specifically, your portfolio should be structured as follows: Cover Page Your cover page should include: Assignment title (e.g. ‘Sample Systems Analysis and Design Portfolio for my Small Business Entity’), module code, full name and student number, as well as submission date. Table of Contents A list of all of the components of your portfolio, including page numbers. 0. Introduction: Business Background and Needs Remember, you are creating the business background and assessing the business needs of your organisation yourself. You will thus first need to: 1) create and state the background of your organisation (what is your organisation? What does it do?); and 2) assess the business needs of your organisation (what does your organisation need to accomplish to maintain successful internal operations? How large is its operational scope? What does it need to accomplish successful data handling?). (approx. 375-430 words) 1. Communication Building and Information Gathering Create a stated plan of action explaining how you would establish both a communicative workflow and a data workflow conducive to successful information gathering within the organisation (how do you plan to gather actionable intelligence from employees to foster successful systems design?). (approx. 375-430 words) 2. Sample Workflow Diagram Create a sample (Unified Modelling Language) UML-based Entity-Relationship (ER) diagram which maps a particular workflow of your choice within your SBE or NPO. You may use ArgoUML, Star UML, Microsoft Visio, or any other comparable UML-modelling software. Add your diagram into your portfolio document by copy and pasting or inserting an image or screenshot of the diagram if you are unable to import it directly. (1 page; including at least 5 entities in your diagram) 3. Trust Management Policy Analysis Draft a sample trust management policy delineating tiered access to systems data within your organization. Explain both which employees will have access to which data and which applications in the software workflow will have access to which databases. (approx. 375-430 words) 4. System Security Analysis and Design Present an analysis of planned security implementations in relation to internal data handling as an integral component of the system design, covering data storage policies (including encryption), data retention duration scheduling, and secure data destruction. (approx.375-430 words) References All work referenced in your portfolio must be cited in an alphabetical list at the end of your portfolio. Use the Harvard Style, in the following syntax: For offline sources: Last name, First Name Initial of the Author(s). (Year of publication) Title of Work, publisher. For online sources: Last name, First Name Initial of the Author(s).(Year of Publication).Title of Work. Web address (if online). Date online resource was accessed. Task One is worth 85% of the total marks for the overall assignment. Each section, 0-5, of your portfolio is equally important. The marking criteria is outlined below. Marking Criteria Pass: In order to achieve a pass, your SAD portfolio should include a comprehensive analysis of all of the afore-delineated components (introduction, information gathering, sample ER diagram, trust management and security analysis, etc.). Your portfolio should demonstrate a clear understanding of the topics being discussed. 2.2: In order to achieve a 2:2 mark, your portfolio should include a creative range of approaches to the various portfolio components. You should correctly use UML software to make an accurate workflow diagram. 2.1: In order to achieve a 2:1 mark, your portfolio should demonstrate an intimate familiarity and engagement with the various SAD components being discussed by explicitly mentioning and correctly utilizing core concepts from the module. First: In order to achieve a First class mark, your portfolio should form a critical examination of your sample organisation, demonstrating a close attention to detail in each section via the explicit highlighting of non-obvious factors which may influence systems analysis and design within the organisation. Your portfolio should demonstrate a clear ability to predict and subsequently mitigate risk factors which may arise during system design. Assignment Task 2: Self-Reflective Commentary Your second task is to write a self-reflective commentary about your SAD portfolio. Having created your SAD portfolio, you should write a self-reflective commentary (approx. 500-750 words) critically reflecting on your portfolio. You commentary should critically explore the work you have done to produce your SAD portfolio. You should reflect on: 1. Your research as you produced your portfolio. 2. The decisions you made as you worked on your portfolio. 3. Where you think you succeeded and where you think you could have room for improvement. 4. What you would do differently if you were to attempt to do your portfolio again and what you would do with your portfolio if you could develop it further. Your commentary should show evidence of your reading and research and use Harvard referencing. Your commentary is a chance for you to critically analyse your own work, showing an awareness of strengths as well as identifying potential areas which could use improvement if they were to be done again. Deliverables You should attach your commentary to your portfolio document. Submit one document to Turnitin and Portal. Marking Criteria Pass: A Pass commentary would show limited research and understanding of how the project fitted with wider business contexts. It would demonstrate an attempt at self-reflection. It would be fully referenced. 2:2: A 2:2 commentary would show evidence of basic research and understanding of how the project fitted with wider business contexts. It would show a degree of self-reflection. It would be fully referenced and also demonstrate critical self-reflection and awareness. 2:1: A 2:1 commentary would show evidence of a wide range of appropriate research and an awareness of how the project fitted with wider issues, debates and business challenges. It would show a degree of self-reflection and understanding of the process of practice-research. It would be fully referenced and also demonstrate self-reflection and awareness. First: A First class commentary would show a critical discussion of a wide range of research covering practical and theoretical, critical literature; critical self-reflection and an understanding of how the project fitted with wider issues, debates and business challenges. It would be fully referenced and also demonstrate critical self-reflection and awareness.
