Project in IS

Course Info.

 
 

Course Info       
Description:

This course focuses on engaging in and completing a major system development project, thereby completing the coordinated of the four courses seen in the MIS major (analysis and design, database management, network & Networking, and programming). A group team will engage in and complete the design and implementation of a significant information system. Project management and management of the IS function will be components of the project experience. Group team will integrate knowledge and skills acquired/learnt over past courses to analyse and design a transactional and physical database for a real Kuwaiti organization (either profit or non profit). Students will refine their expertises about tasks of a system analyst. Specifically, student will gain more analytical, technical, communication and interpersonal skills when managing their proper project.

Prerequisite:

Analysis and Design (QM 331) and Database Management (QM 433) and Network and Networking (QM 334), Advanced Business Applications (QM 350)

Objective:

During this course, students should be able the perform (learn) the following objectives/ competencies:

 

Objectives

Competencies
  1. Effectively apply the necessary IS/IT skills to solve problems related to system development

Fostering creativity and opportunity finding SDLC/prototyping approach

  1. Be able to select a project for development

SWOT analysis (Strength/ Weakness/Opportunities/ Threats)
System service request
Kills of system analyst
Identification and selection process
Corporate strategic planning
Information systems planning process
  1. Be able to assess an identified project

Conduct feasibility study
Feasibility study
Cost/Benefits analysis
Work breakdown structures and
Baseline Project Plan (BPP)
Communication plan
Resource management plan
Risks identification and assessment
Statement of work
  1. Develop and practice essential project management skills

Group decision process
Teamwork, leadership and empowerment
Consensus building
Group-based methods: e.g., JAD, group interviews
Management concerns; stress and time management
  1. Develop skill in use of project management tools and methods within the context of an information systems project

Project planning and selection of appropriate process model; project scheduling and milestones
Project tracking: e.g., PERT, Gantt resource allocation, scheduling, milestones, MS Visio, Project Management software, MS ACCESS, PHP
  1. Be able to generate and structure requirements for an information system (database)

Requirements determination and specification
Interviews, questionnaire, analysis of existing documents, direct observation, Joint Application Design
DFD, , Flow chart, UML, Petri Net
Entity Relationship model
Normalization
  1. Evaluate outsourcing and other alternative for system development  

Risks, losses and liability in computing applications
Cost/Value / risks of outsourcing
  1. Be able to generate a logical and physical model

Normalized model (if relational database model)
Specify input, processing, output, reports, form, security level of the system
  1. Articulate the knowledge related to system document and assessment

 
  1. File management, database management system
    Disadvantages of file management
    Advantages of database management
    Types of database (e.g. personal, workgroup, enterprise, Internet/extranet
    Type of database models (e.g. hierarchy, network, relational, object oriented)
  
  1. Components of DBMS

 

Supplementary Materials:

&  QM 331- Hoffer J.A., George J.F., and Valacich J.S. (2004), Modern systems analysis decision. Addison Wesley Longman, 855 p., 3rd Edition

&  QM 433: Jeferey A. Hoffer, Mary B., Prescott and Fred R., McFadden. Modern database management, seven Edition

&  QM 350- Deitel H. M., and Deitel P. J. Visula Basic 2005: How to Program, 3rd Edition

&  Shelly G.B., Cashman T.J., Pratt P.J., and Last M.Z., (2004): Microsoft Access 2003, complete concepts and techniques

&  Rick Winter (2000): Learning Microsoft Access 2000. DDC Publishing (www.ddcpub.com)

 

Software use

In order to complete the project into its end, students will use the following software
·         MS Word
·         MS power Point
·         MS Excel
·         MS Access
·         MS Visio
·         MS Project

 
 
 

Method of Evaluation:

 

 Percentage
Final project report + Project Handbook (including a full model and documentation) 20
Software on CD-ROM 25
Short Power Point Presentations including 10 deliverables required 25
Final Exam (Analysis & Design, Database) 30
Total 100
 
 

Important Dates

 

Date
First Day of Classes Monday 5/10/2009
Presentation Every Week
Final report including everything Sunday 10/01/2010
Final Presentation Group 1, Monday 11/01/2010
  Group 2, Monday 11/01/2010
  Group 3, Monday 11/01/2010
  Group 4, Monday 11/01/2010
  Group 5, Wednesday 13/01/2010
  Group 6, Wednesday 13/01/2010
  Group 7, Wednesday 13/01/2010
  Group 8, Wednesday 13/01/2010
Last Day of Classes Thursday 14/01/2010
Final Exam Saturday 23/01/2010 . 11:00 - 1:00

 

 

 


 

  
 

Course Schedule

 Week Topic
1 Course introduction – syllabus description - Introduction to Analysis & Design
2 Team composition (2/3 students) & company selection for whom the database will be developed - Deliverable 1
3 Statement of work - Deliverable 2
4 Baseline Project Plan - Deliverable 3
Generate the work break-down structure using MS Project
5

Requirements collection - Deliverable 4a :

Prepare pre-questionnaire to be discussed during class time before its real use in companies

MS Access in the Lab 
6

Requirements collection - Deliverable 4b : Return data collected using different techniques: interviews, questionnaire, observation- study of existing documents

MS Access in the Lab
7

Logical design - Deliverable 5 : E-R Model generation and normalization
Generate the model using MS Visio

MS Access in the Lab
8

Physical design (prototype version 1) -Deliverable 6
Identify tables and their fields (field name, data type, field size, primary key, field description)

MS Access in the Lab
9

Physical design (prototype version 2) -Deliverable 7a
Complete design table structure, forms and table relationships

MS Access in the Lab
10

Physical design (prototype version 3) Deliverable 7b
Design Queries, Report and Macro generation

MS Access in the Lab
11

Physical design (prototype version 4)
Main menu generation
Prototype assessment with end-users (deliverable 8a)
 Software and it documentation (deliverable 8b)
12 Final Report - Deliverable 9
13 Final Presentations 1 (Groups will be selected later ) – 3 groups

 

 

  
 

Grades

Please feel free to stop in the office to check your grades

 

  
 

Announcements

 5/4/2010 Final Exam topics:

Part I: Database Analysis

Chapter 3.Modeling Data in the Organization

Chapter 4.The Enhanced E-R Model and Business Rules

 

Part II: Essentials of System Analysis and Design

The Systems Development Environment

·         Define information systems analysis and design.

·         Define and discuss the modern approach to systems analysis and design.

·         Illustrate how systems development extends to different types of information systems and not just transaction processing systems.

·         Introduce the traditional information systems development life cycle, which serves as the basis for the organization of the material in this book.

·         The life cycle is a flexible basis for systems analysis and design and that it can support many different tools and techniques, such as prototyping and JAD.

·         The importance and role of CASE in systems development.

·         Information systems development options, including IT services firms, packaged software producers, enterprise-wide solutions, open-source software, and in-house developers.

·         The different approaches to systems development, including prototyping, CASE tools, joint application development, rapid application development, participatory design, and Agile Methodologies.

 5/4/2010 Welcome to Spring 2009/2010 Semester.  Please feel free to contact me for any questions you have.  Enjoy the semester and my best wished to everybody.