PDIS Midterm Lab Exam

Problem 1

A database is to be designed for a Car Rental Co. (CRC). The information required includes a description of cars, subcontractors (i.e. garages), company expenditures, company revenues and customers. Cars are to be described by such data as: make, model, year of production, engine size, fuel type, number of passengers, registration number, purchase price, purchase date, rent price and insurance details. It is the company policy not to keep any car for a period exceeding one year. All major repairs and maintenance are done by subcontractors (i.e. franchised garages), with whom CRC has long-term agreements. Therefore the data about garages to be kept in the database includes garage names, addressees, range of services and the like. Some garages require payments immediately after a repair has been made; with others CRC has made arrangements for credit facilities. Company expenditures are to be registered for all outgoings connected with purchases, repairs, maintenance, insurance etc. Similarly the cash inflow coming from all sources - car hire, car sales, insurance claims - must be kept of file.CRC maintains a reasonably stable client base. For this privileged category of customers special credit card facilities are provided. These customers may also book in advance a particular car. These reservations can be made for any period of time up to one month. Casual customers must pay a deposit for an estimated time of rental, unless they wish to pay by credit card. All major credit cards care accepted. Personal details (such as name, address, telephone number, driving licence, number) about each customer are kept in the database.

Problem 2

A database is to be designed for a college to monitor students' progress throughout their course of study. The students are reading for a degree (such as BA, BA(Hons) MSc, etc) within the framework of the modular system. The college provides a number of module, each being characterised by its code , title, credit value, module leader, teaching staff and the department they come from. A module is co-ordinated by a module leader who shares teaching duties with one or more lecturers. A lecturer may teach (and be a module leader for) more than one module. Students are free to choose any module they wish but the following rules must be observed: some modules require pre-requisites modules and some degree programmes have compulsory modules. The database is also to contain some information about students including their numbers, names, addresses, degrees they read for, and their past performance (i.e. modules taken and examination results).

Activity 5 - Software, Hardware and Networks

1. Which would you rather have—a handheld computer or a tablet computer? Why?

- If I were to choose which device I would like to have a handheld computer or a tablet computer, I would choose to have a handheld computer rather than a tablet computer because of the wide capability or handheld computer (laptop) rather than a tablet computer. Using handheld computer you can manageably prepare some documents, reports and other stuffs without worrying on a compatibility of everything you do. Handheld computer can also have a greater amount of storage, faster processor and memory rather than a tablet computer. Even if you need a portable device in other stuffs like playing games outdoor, handheld computer can do what a tablet can because handheld computer can be powered by battery with longer lifespan than tablet computers. Conclusion, handheld computer or even personal computer for me is the most important thing rather tablet because every application in tablet came from handheld or personal computers.

2. If cost were not an issue, describe the characteristics of your ideal computer. What would you use it for? Which operating system would you want it to run?

- For the hardware, I would really want to have an high-end parts like powerful processor preferably overclocked processor because of the turbo boost (Intel Core i7 4710HQ, 6M Cache, up to 3.50GHz ), 4x4GB Corsair Vengeance 1600mhz RAM, GeForce GTX 780 Graphics Card 3GB, ASUS ROG Rampage IV Formula Motherboard, Western Digital Black 2TB HDD, Intel SSD 910 Series 800GB, Corsair H110 Liquid Cooler, Corsair AF120 Performance Edition Fans 6*, Corsair Obsidian Series 900D super tower case, Corsair AX1200i Digital ATX Power Supply 1200 Watt 80 PLUS Platinum Certified Fully-Modular PSU,Corsair Raptor K50 Gaming Keyboard, Corsair Raptor M4 Laser Gaming Mouse, Dell UltraSharp Series 21.5" Monitor.
For the operating system, I would want to have a Windows 7 Professional 64bit if I'll be focusing on gaming purposes but I could dual boot my computer and have an Ubuntu operating for programming, networking and other technical stuffs.

3. Define Software as a Service. Discuss some of the pros and

cons of using software as a service.

- Software are programs that are made to do task that will solve a problem of a company. If one company purchased a software that do tasks that will make the company's day to day transaction easier, it means that the software solves the problem of a company and that software is operating as a service to the customers and to the company's personnel.

Software is really good because it makes company's transactions easier and manageable but there are times when software can be a big problem, the problem the may occur for the company is when the software that they are using will crash or perform a big bug or mistake during a transaction. A mistake, bug or delay in a software that performs service will cost a big amount of loss for a company. This is the reason why there are testing and verification side before implementing a software to the company.

4. Why is an organization that employs centralized processing

likely to have a different management decision-making

philosophy than an organization that employs distributed

processing?

- An organization that uses centralized processing for their system likely to be a careful organization because of their centralized system that are more likely to be intrude by hackers and information is dangerous because at one point the information may be lost because they only rely on one  point of database, the organization is also likely to handle every transaction in once information system because information form database is at one point only and they need those information at once. The management of these organization may be handling all of the records in every branch because of these branches are more likely to be the same information system. 

On the other hand, an organization that uses distributed processing for their system are more likely to be a huge organization because of the wide scope of database points they are using. They are more likely to be having a separate information system for a separate transaction in every branch of their organization, like a banking company that has separate databases for every cities because one city do not necessarily need the database of another country example is the customers, one city do not need the customers table of another city. The management of theses organization may be handling separate records in every branch because branches and transactions from different branches differ from each other.

5. Social networks are being widely used today. Describe how

this technology could be used in a business setting. Are

there any drawbacks or limitations to using social networks

in a business setting?

- Social networks such as facebook, twitter and any other can be a big advantage in performing business. It's tax free, wide advertising of your products are done and customers can discriminate prices from one business to another. If you are to have a business using social networks as advertisement. The drawbacks on having a business through social network is that you will really need to be careful because there are "modus" that will be unhealthy and dangerous for your business especially you. You should perform meet-ups in malls or any parks that have many people surrounds you. Your price should also be realistic, not over-priced and not low-priced. The only limitation of having a business through social networks is that you should really wait for your product to be seen by others and meet-ups and transactions can be done for a long period of time because customers cannot buy it as soon as they saw it. 

6. One of the key issues associated with the development of

a Web site is getting people to visit it. If you were developing

a Web site, how would you inform others about it

and make it interesting enough that they would return and

tell others about it?

- There are social networks, blogs that you could use to advertise your Web site. You could also pay for advertisement in social networks or any other sites so that they would advertise your Web site. Of course, in personal advertisement or referral from you visitors, you Web site should be clean, clear, informative, pleasing to the eyes and full of needed contents so that visitors will be amazed and share your Web site personally with their friends or relatives. 

ERD Example Answer

Waterfall and SCRUM method activity

Waterfall Method:

·         Water flow model requires the team of developers to gather information from the school in which they are about to create an enrollment system. Any necessary forms, data, transactions, fields, processes that are included in the system must be noted because these information are needed in the development of the system. Problems of the company must also be noted especially if the school already has an enrollment system because this will reflect the needs of the school that must be fit in the system that the team is about to develop.

·         After analyzing the needs of the schools and arranging the flow of events, processes and transactions that is needed by the school. Designing of the system will now be started. The Designer will create a design that fits for every transaction of the enrollment system; the design must be clear and not confusing to the users. The design must be correct especially in terms of typographic because this will confuse the users. Colors, fonts, borders must also be picked correctly so that it will be pleasing to the eyes of the users. The Designer must not create a design that is too hard for the Programmer to program because this will just create chaos in both Designer and Programmer because it is really hard to Program a very difficult design. After designing the desired system, the Programmer does his job in making the system operable. The Programmer program everything that the designs have to be working in correct manner as the business constraints of the school is that was analyzed first.

·         After designing and making the system operable. The team will now implement the system in the school. They are going to let the school use the system with their guidance of course. The team will teach the users of the system on how to operate it. The team must also make give them a “Manual” of the system so that if they are not around the users can sneak the Manual on how to do thing in the system.

·         The school will then verify if everything in the system is already ok. If some bugs are found then the team will fix the bug. Any features that the school wants to add or clarify must be related to their contract, if they want to add a feature then an additional budget is required.

·         If everything is already ok and working then the system is now operating in the school and the team will be maintaining the system. Any found bugs will be reported and be fix accordingly.

SCRUM Method:

·         The team preparation must be composed of preparation of the personnel on which they are going to handle a specific task like being the Project Manager, System Analyst, Designer or Programmer. The resources must also be prepared like budget, time and workstation on which they are going to work. The office or location on which they are going to plan, meet and report their output must also be settled so that anytime they can go to the office.

·         The team must schedule a meeting in the school that they are going to develop an Enrollment System. As detailed as possible is needed by the team so that in the development stage they will not be confused in a misinterpreted transaction, the task of analyzing the needs of the school must be done by the System Analyst.

·         Rapid development can already be done. First the Project Manager schedule task, then the System Analyst create diagrams for the school to understand the flow of the system that they need.

·         The Project Manager and the System Analyst will present the planned flow of the system to the school so that the school will know if the system that is planned to be created is correct and will solve the needs of the school.

·         After approving the flow if the system. The System Analyst will disseminate the things that the Designer and Programmer must be done. The Designer must start designing a prototype of the system so that the Programmer can start doing his job. Everything that the designer made must not be contrary to the Programmer even though the Designer and the Programmer often have the problems in terms of team development because of some hard designs of the Designer that the Programmer thinks it is impossible to be implemented.

·         After developing (design and functionality), that team will now present the finished output to the school and it is up to the school if the system fits to their needs or if some features are lacking then the team will again resolve the problem and create another solution for the features demanded and develop again. Of course, there will be a contract between the team and the school for the desired featured to be done. If the school will demand a feature that is out of the contract then an additional budget is required. Maintenance will be conducted by the team, if any bugs are found then the team will fix it accordingly.

Answers of professor/it personnel of how they cope up with the trends of IT

Interview with Mrs. May Tajon
San Pedro College, COMCEN Director

           Last April 15, 2014 we conducted an interview with a college professor in our university.  The interview was all about how they cope up with the trends in their respective field of work or teaching.  According to her when she was asked if she had any gadgets that help in improving her way of teaching, she said that she uses a laptop and with the help of LCD projector, she uses it to allow her students to view the lessons that she prepared coming from the laptop.  She also uses email to send her lessons to her students for them to read and study, it is just like giving a handout. 

When she was asked about how she keeps up with the developments in her field, she said that she reads news and articles that are related to her field which is Information Technology.  She also added that this is an important part so that the learning of her students won’t be behind and out of date.  A good example she said is the new versions of software and hardware.  Just like Adobe Photoshop CS4 and there was a new version that was released which is Adobe Photoshop CS5. 

Finally when she was asked about what methods she uses to keep up with the said developments, she said that aside from giving lectures and discussions.  She also gives or share personal experiences that she encountered that are applicable to whatever lectures she gives.  For a better interaction, she makes quizzes for her students to answer.  A case study is also given so that her students can develop their critical thinking and sharpen their analysis.  Overall she said that in her field of Information Technology, learning does not stop after graduation because technology is being updated from time to time and it needs constant monitoring for you to keep up with it.

Mrs. May Tajon

Technology Infusion and Diffusion of the Organization

Interview with Mr. Levie Villose

Department of Agriculture, Staff

Department of Agriculture focuses on documents that are arranged accordingly. The problem of the Department is that they are having slow tracking of documents if made manually that leads them to adapting new technology. The technology nowadays helped them track documents faster and retrieving of documents are made more efficient and reliable. Since Department of Agriculture is not a technology based company, there really are adjustments made by the staffs or users of the technology. Most of the employees are hesitant to the older one. There were used to the traditional transaction but little by little they had accepted the changes that are needed by the company. Technology is one way of solving problems in a company but for them, technology is not enough in solving all problems of the company and it will go a long way to solve company’s problems but technology helps somehow. They were also asked if the technology is not enough in solving their problems then what more do they want to have from the new technology, they said “I want all the transaction we had in the company be transformed into technology has to offer”, they are basically saying that they wanted to make all of their transactions as automated from the most simple transaction to the most difficult ones. They also said that there are “NO” problems in the present technology it is only that the technology is not sufficient in everything.

The structure of the technology they are currently having is that, every employee has their own table capable of handling computer sets, bags and a drawer for some documents. There also are vacant tables for new employees or OJTs that may they may be having in the future. The CCTV cameras are located in every selected areas and security guards in the gates. They also have internet connection. The company is asked what brands of computer do they have, they answered “NOC and HP brands” are used in every offices in their company. The computers that are used by every employee are also password protected so that any non-user who wanted to use the computers will be unable to use it. There are also security cameras in every selected areas of the company for the future purposes if any violation or thief will occur in the office, these security cameras are manipulated by the IT department and only them are knowledgeable on how they manage the security cameras like how often they check the videos or how secured the videos are. They are asked how and when does the technology operates, they answered “It is a system that generates Purchase request depending on the Project procurement Management Plan. For the division to get their request they have do make the PPMP in the 1st quarter of the year by then the system be will automatically updated that during this time they need these supplies according on the PPMP they made prior”. The maintenance are also made from their technical support team from their suppliers which the IT department only knows how they are maintained, they just send staffs to help them sort out things every time there are problems in the system.

Mr. Levie Villose

Our Memories

From the first time I saw you My heart knows I like you. Since that day we first met My tummy is full of butterflies I let. I followed you where you'll go You stopped in a house with your mama and papa too. I want to ask you your name But the fear inside me just came. In the morning I saw you walking With your friend beside you laughing. What a coincidence this time That friend of you is also a friend of mine. I ask her, "What is her name?" And then she said you are Jhane. I am so happy of hearing Your beautiful name that keeps me smiling. At the evening of that day I flew into your house and then I'd say. "Good evening I'm Jhong, I'm here to sing your daughter a song". I sang alone with my "gitara" And offered you a sweet "gumamela". With the song from my heart The distance is decreasing from us apart. Your parents heard me singing And then they told me to go inside while smiling. I accepted and goes inside And we were talking with your parents beside. I would never forget that memories That I couldn't trade with any sceneries. I liked how I act in that day That is why I'm holding your hands and stay.

PDIS Activity 2

1. Question: Describe the "ideal" automated class registration system for a college or university.

Answer: An "ideal" Automated Class Registration System could be a Web-based registration software for it to be accessible anytime by the users but there might also be a Application-based registration software wherein the use of the system is inside the school only and no other users can access. The software is used to help the student accept course registration online and the employees to enroll students electronically with some automated functionalities that could be help the employees decide on how they are going to manage the subject loads of the students. The software must also be able to handle important features such as email, user account, credit card payment, automated scheduling, late fee collection, registration deadline, and

multi-course deadline. 

2. Question: You have decided to open an Internet site to buy and sell used music CDs to other students. Describe the value chain for your new business.

Answer: 

The Upstream management of my new business are the following:

* Internet site where the CDs can be bought

* Shipping or getting the CDs from the suppliers

* Storage of the CDs where counting and testing will be conducted

* Production to other students. It could be personal, through social network, or retail it to some people

The Downstream management of my new business are the following:

* Finished product storage. It could be place in a CD paper of CD casing

* Shipping or personally distribute the product to the other student or to retailers

* Marketing and sales strategy directs my new business if I am way of selling is good and if I am gaining or not

* Customer services like a warranty can be given to customers if the CDs are defective or just some sort of details that could void the warranty can be checked

3. Question: Discuss the potential use of virtual reality to enhance the

learning experience for new automobile drivers. How

might such a system operate? What are the benefits and

potential drawbacks of such a system?

Answer: Since driving is really dangerous but you want to learn how to drive safely, a driving game or driving lessons can be made through Virtual Reality that provides three-dimensional experience to users. The system can provide specific functionalities of a real car that can be used by the learner in experiencing how to drive. The learner can change the car's gears, stop, accelerate, turn left or right, and if some sort of imperfect driving occurs then the car can also crash, burn, fall to bridges, shakes or bump to other cars. These functionalities of a Virtual Reality can give teach the learner on how to drive carefully and if he or she drives carelessly then accidents might occur. The possible problem of this system might be giving the learner the fear of driving because this gives them the idea that they might crash, and a really good Virtual Reality simulation that has a reality looking accidents can also give trauma to learners.

Information System as an Effective Force Against H1N1 Pandemic: Discussion Questions

1. The Business Intelligence system created a software that tracks medical statistics across 21 emergency rooms. BI system extracts the patient's symptom information collected at the time of an examination that are used by the EMA physicians and nurses in spotting if the H1N1 is moving. Because of the BI system that let's EMA physicians and nurses access reports that are dynamically changing if an information is entered into the database, the EMA was known as the first to spot the H1N1 outbreak in the Northeast and helped provide medical professionals and citizens the time needed to take action.

2. Since Human Intelligence requires human interactions on the information to generate decisions of what the state of a patient is on, the BI system used Crystal Reports and Web Intelligence to provide insightful reports and visualizations about medical condition on a regular schedule and on demand. Through this, the EMA physicians and nurses can access reports gathered from the information that is entered in the database which powers the Human Intelligence. The BI system provides accurate information since the reports are updated every after information is entered in the database and it also provides functionality for the users to customize their view of the data to focus on the information that is most important in their work, these powers the Machine Intelligence.

ERD for Example #2

ERD for Example #1