Designing A New Information System For Data Science School Essay.

1. How would Data Science School go about developing its information systems? Which approach would Data Science School take? 

2. Justify your choice of your selected approach/ methodology to systems development. 

3. How would Data Science School go about developing its information systems? Which approach would Data Science School take? 

4. Justify your choice of your selected approach/ methodology to systems development. 

Functional and Non-Functional Requirements

Information system communicates right information to right person at right time. Therefore, it is one of the important tools for an organization by which company can communicate necessary information to stakeholders and make suitable update and track the actual progress of different projects (Pryss & Reichert, 2016). The current research report is based on designing of a new information system for Data Science School (DSS) that is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO). Aim of this report is developing a new information system for DSS to get appropriate solution of different problems of manual system of organization. Objective of report as described as under:

• To determine information system requirements.
• To analyse the performance of project on the basis of profit cost benefit analysis.
• To apply different project management techniques at the time of project planning such as Gantt chart, project schedule and work breakdown structure.
• To suggest appropriate investigation techniques for getting appropriate information about information system of DSS requirements.

Online availability of RTO of DSS is one of the major requirements because of it John wants to develop an information system for this organization. DSS would like to develop a system by which student can apply for admission using online admission form. Along with this, DSS would like to develop a subsystem for making record and tracking all updates of students by recruitment agents of DSS (Case & Stylios, 2016). As per the given case study current manual system of organization has become overloaded and associated with number of problems such as:

• Multiple files and duplication of data on computer system.
• Single staff member accessibility creates problem in case of unavailability of authorized staff member.
• Manual system requires lots of time and labour hours which increases the total cost of organization.
• Inappropriate tracing system can create confusion between agents and students (Coronel & Morris, 2016).

System Development Life Cycle is known as conceptual model for developing software and information system. So, for developing new information system DSS can use this approach. It combines two or more methodologies for getting appropriate results. Combination of two methodologies help in getting best outcome so, project manager has decided to choose this methodology. This approach focuses on seven stages and these are planning, system analysis, system design, system development, testing, implementation and maintenance, etc. It is an appropriate methodology to capture bugs in application or system so; it will help in resolving different issues during the project (Aykin, 2016). Along with this it is beneficial for reducing technical and manual error. Thus SDLC will be appropriate for developing new information system for DSS.

Every organization develops different types of system for satisfying their own requirements such as functional and non functional, etc. Present report focuses on resolving issues of manual system of DSS (Ofli & et.al, 2016). Along with this, major functional and non functional requirements are discussed as under:

These types of requirements focus on the input, output and progress of the system. Different activities, functions and features can be considered as major functional requirements of information system for DSS. These are described as under:

• Development of SMS system: As per this functional requirement information system of DSS must have an automated student management system for admission, ennoblement and other similar activities.
• Online availability: It is also another major functional requirement because using this feature recruitment agent of DSS can analyse all information of all students (Talk, 2016).
• Tracking: New information needs to have subsystem for tracking student’s record.

System Development Life Cycle

All those requirements those help in analysing quality of new information system of DSS are considered as non functional requirements. These are discussed as under:

• Appropriate utilization, sufficient volume to record student data and less time for response are known as major non functional requirements for DSS (Le Dinh, Van & Nomo, 2016).
• New system needs to have high reliability.
• Low technical errors during operations.
• High security for student’s personal information.

Project cost benefit analysis is generally used by organizations for estimating the total cost and benefits of particular project (Kucharska & Kowalczyk, 2016). It helps in making important investment decisions. For evaluating the feasibility of new information system project DSS can use cost benefit analysis. It will play important role in determining the total profitability of cash inflow to cover incurred cost of the project. Another major objective and benefit of this approach is that it helps in comparing two different projects by which companies can make the final decisions. All these are considered as major reasons because of them project manager has decided to conduct cost benefit analysis of new system of DSS (Gupta 2017).

As per the given case study information DSS will reduce the cost of staff and commissions of agents. But on the other hand organization needs to invest a huge amount of money at the time of starting a project and for marinating it in effective manner.

Project cost benefit analysis of new information system of DSS has reflected the company can cover the total cost by generated profit. But, initial investment of this project is very high which can affect net profitability (Wilberg, & et.al, 2016). So, investment amount of DSS can be covered in coming future. Thus, it is a profitable project for long run business.

Project schedule is one of the important methods for forecasting the total time which will be required for completing the new information system development project. It comprises number of tasks, predeceasing relationships, resources, deliverables and time and cost for every activity.  Along with this, gnat chart, WBS are important tool to present project schedule (Gupta 2017)

Removing manual system of DSS is the major goal of information system. In addition, system goal focuses on online availability of student management system. It is required for online admission and enrolment of students. Including this, developing a subsystem for tracking every order of DSS is also major requirement. Along with this, this system has a huge scope of generating application and mobile assessment features. These will improve the project performance in effective manner (Zhu, Yan & Song, 2017).

Stakeholder can be defined as all those individuals or group of individuals that can affect the overall activities of organization as well as affected by organization’s performance are known as stakeholder. Major stakeholders those are involved in the new system development project are students, staff members, labours, agents, etc (Ofli & et.al, 2016). Stakeholder analysis will help in determining need, interest and power of each and every stakeholder.

Project Cost Benefit Analysis

There are number of investigation techniques theta can help in conducting research on new information system and its stakeholder. These include primary and secondary data collection methods. But as per the current report DSS needs to use primary investigation techniques for analysing new information system of RTO. These include questionnaire survey, observation and interview, etc. In which, DSS can conduct telephonic and face to face interview of different stakeholder. 

Another technique is observation of focus group. In this techniques organization can select a group of student and observe their behaviour for collecting new information. (Coronel & Morris, 2016)

Questionnaire survey is also important method of data collection which helps in collecting and recording data using survey methodology. It comprises open and close ended questions about new information system and requirement of each sample unit. Using this approach organization can collect information about the needs and expectations of stakeholders.  

At the time of interview using CCTV camera DSS can record the interview session for future use. Along with this, in face to face interview organization can analyse the facial expressions of stakeholder that will also help in investing. So, author has chosen interview session. Observation is very simple and does not require high cost and time for investigation so; author needs to use observation process for research purpose. Questionnaire is also an important tool of investigation which reduces the total time and cost of whole project so; DSS will use these methodology at the time of developing a new information system (Coronel & Morris, 2016).

Reflections and Conclusions 

Completing report on information system was one of difficult task for me because I have faced different problems also. But, at the end it has increased my learning and skills which will help in coming future research. Earlier i don’t have appropriate knowledge about how to implement theoretical knowledge at the time of conducting research but now I can use my subjective concepts in future research. The current report has increased my acquaintance in terms of project management methodologies, scheduling, investigation techniques, project cost benefit analysis, etc. Along with this, now i am capable enough to operate MS project and MS office as well. I have faced some issues regarding lack of data but huge research on project management and information system has helped me in getting appropriate data.

Conclusion

The current research report has concluded that development of new information system will be a profitable project for DSS and it will take 57 days to complete in appropriate manner. Including this, findings have reflected that SDLC methodology will be appropriate for developing whole project plan in effective manner. 

References

Aykin, N., 2016. Usability and internationalization of information technology. CRC Press.

Case, D. M. & Stylios, C. D., 2016, October. Fuzzy Cognitive Map to model project management problems. In Fuzzy Information Processing Society (NAFIPS), 2016 Annual Conference of the North American (pp. 1-6). IEEE.

Coronel, C. & Morris, S., 2016. Database systems: design, implementation, & management. Cengage Learning.

Gupta, S. 2017, Cost Benefit Analysis: Meaning, Merits and Demerits, Available through: <https://www.economicsdiscussion.net/environmental-economics/cost-benefit-analysis-environmental-economics/cost-benefit-analysis-meaning-merits-and-demerits/21394>. [Accessed on 20^th April 2017].

Kucharska, W. & Kowalczyk, R., 2016. Trust, Collaborative Culture and Tacit Knowledge Sharing in Project Management–a Relationship Model.

Le Dinh, T., Van, T. H & Nomo, T. S., 2016. A Framework for Knowledge Management in Project Management Offices. The Journal of Modern Project Management, 3(3).

Ofli, F. & et.al, 2016. Design and evaluation of an interactive exercise coaching system for older adults: Lessons learned. IEEE Journal of Biomedical and Health informatics, 20(1), pp.201-212.

Pryss, R & Reichert, M., 2016. Robust Execution of Mobile Activities in Process-Aware Information Systems. International Journal of Information System Modeling and Design (IJISMD), 7(4), pp.50-82.

Talk, O.M., 2016. Operations management.

Wang, D., Pedrycz, W. & Li, Z., 2016. Design of granular interval-valued information granules with the use of the principle of justifiable granularity and their applications to system modeling of higher type. Soft Computing, 20(6), pp.2119-2134.

Wilberg, J., Sadi, T., Tommelein, I. D & Lindemann, U., 2016. Supporting the Design of Competitive Organizations by a Domain-Specific Application Framework for the Viable System Model. The Journal of Modern Project Management, 4(2).

Zhu, Y., Yan, E. & Song, I.Y., 2017. The use of a graph?based system to improve bibliographic information retrieval: System design, implementation, and evaluation. Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology, 68(2), pp.480-490.