Object Oriented Analysis and Design Assignment on QAHE Library Management System

1. Demonstrate a broad understanding of the knowledge base of systems analysis and design concepts, and their terminology and discourse, including awareness that areas of this knowledge base are open to ongoing debate and reformulation, thus fostering a socio-technical approach to the analysis and design of systems;
2. Identify and apply principles and concepts underlying the theoretical frameworks highlighted in this module, and demonstrating an ability to identify their strengths and weaknesses in an analytical fashion;
3. Evaluate and collect information from a variety of authoritative sources to inform a choice of solutions to standard problems highlighted in this module, by applying the techniques learnt in a business context and evaluating the design decisions;
4. Evaluate the reliability of data and information provided in this module, using pre-defined techniques and/or criteria, including an understanding of object oriented systems theory in a wider context.

This assignment introduces a scenario that you should analyse first and then design and evaluate a solution using an object oriented analysis and design approach. You should use Unified Modelling Language (UML) to visualise the design of the proposed system. Your assignment consists of two pieces of coursework. Both pieces are to be done individually.

• Coursework 1 relates to the analysis and design of a system (worth 60% of the total marks of the assignment. This part of the assessment will assess learning outcomes 1, 2 & 3.
• Coursework 2 is an evaluation report consisting of a critical commentary on coursework one (worth 40% of the total marks of the assignment). This part will assess learning outcome 4.

QAHE University has built a new library for their staff and students and they want to create a digital management system that allows the university members to use it easily and efficiently. The system will be used to perform the following activities. 

• The admin will be able to record the stock of the library (books, CD’s DVD’s and other items). This should include the details of the items (author, publisher, title), the date items were added to the library stock, and a date for their review and possible removal from the system. It should be possible to search, add new items of stock and delete old items of stock and to record if items have been lost or damaged and their purchase/replacement cost. In addition to classifying items by type you may also wish to provide a more detailed classification of subtype e.g. book – natural history, book – science.
• Add, modify, search and delete the details of library members (their name, type and contact information, date of joining/leaving).
• All users can search for available items but have to login to the system before they can reserve items. However, students can reserve up to 3 items and borrow up to 5 items but staff can reserve up to 5 items and borrow up to 10 items.
• It should also be possible to record what items and when they were loaned to a user and when they are due back in the library. It should be possible to restrict the number of items loaned to a customer at any one point.
• If an item is currently out on loan, it should be possible for a user to be able to request it is reserved for them when it is returned to the library and ensure that a notification of its availability is sent to them.
• If an item is late the system should report on this, together with calculating any fines due for late return. It should also be possible to prevent a member from borrowing further items if the number of items late or the value of fines exceeds a pre-set amount for an individual member. It should be possible to generate email reminders which can be sent automatically to remind users they have overdue items to return.
• It should also be possible to report on all of the items loaned out to a particular member at any one point, together with all of the items loaned from the library and the number of times items have been loaned out over a specified period of time so that the library can assess the use of resources.

You are required to analyse the requirements of the new system and design the main components (overall system use case diagram, class diagram, sequence diagram, collaboration diagram and activity diagram) for QAHE library. You should demonstrate a broad understanding of Object Oriented design principles and UML techniques and you should apply them on the design of the following components:

• Use case diagram

Show one use case diagram with all primary use cases for the library system. Remember that the system box only appears on the top-level diagram (i.e. library system) and should contain use case ovals for all primary use cases such as register customer, update book details etc.

• Use case documentation

Detailed use case description for five primary use cases stated in your overall case diagram such as customers’ data registration and update, etc. 

Brief description for all other use cases 

• Conceptual class diagram

Show conceptual classes, associations with names (e.g. book class), functions (e.g. update), and significant attributes such as in book class you would have book author, book title and book ID.

Show generalization, abstract conceptual classes, association classes, and aggregation if applicable

Provide a brief description of all conceptual classes and main attributes

• Interaction diagrams

Sequence, collaboration and activity diagrams. You need to declare an initial state which clearly shows the starting point for the action sequence for a specific process e.g. how to issue an overdue return notice, fine, and/or exclusion from the library system.   

Describe the proposed designs and justify your decisions