CASE 9 Basics AutoCare

      Basics AutoCare is a small auto service business with two locations in a Midwest (U.S.) city. The business is based on providing routine maintenance at fixed cost to car owners. The owners have decided to computerize their operations to allow them to better track their business. Data to be gathered for each service visit includes service ID, service item, service item cost, vehicle owner, owner telephone number, vehicle make and model, vehicle year, and date of service. (Ch.9)

 

Currently, the company uses a journal to record its purchases and orders. Any employee can add, edit, or strike out a journal entry. When new product arrives, employees must record the type, total weight, and cost as a new journal entry. A spreadsheet is used to keep track of inventory totals. When seafood is bought or sold, employees must update the spreadsheet. When orders are placed, employees must refer to previous journal entries to calculate the selling price, and the spreadsheet to check availability. (Ch. 6)

 

Implementing the project will require a number of tasks to be performed. First, the logical and physical design of the new application  network needs to be made. New computer hardware then will be ordered to upgrade old computer workstations and build new ones. The software package also must be obtained (via mail), and once the computer parts arrive they need to be installed. Immediately following the arrival of new parts, a prototype system is to be built in a test environment to configure and test the system before a full-scale deployment. The prototype build process will require that the new hardware parts and the software package both be present. After the prototype has been built, the software package is to be configured and customized on the prototype. After extensive prototype testing, existing records are to be converted to the new program's format. Following the conversion, the configured software will be installed on all systems in the operational environment and the entire system will be tested again to ensure that it is operating correctly. After the system is operational, the employees will need training to operate the new system effectively.

You have helped to break down the project into a list of tasks along with the estimated duration of each task:

 

 

Task ID	Task Description	Duration (in Days)	Predecessors
1.	Create Design Plan	8
2.	Obtain New Hardware	12	1
3.	Obtain Software Package	4	1
4.	Install New Hardware	15	2
5.	Build Prototype System	5	2,3
6.	Software Configuration/Customization	15	5
7.	Prototype Testing	30	6
8.	Convert Library Records to New Format	14	7
9.	Full Install of Software Package	5	4,7,8
10.	System Testing	10	9
11.	Librarian Training	30	9

 

 

Assignments

 

1. Create a Gantt chart from the given tasks. You may use software such as Microsoft Project or Open Workbench. What date is the earliest that the project could be completed?  (Ch3)
2. Which SDLC methodology will be used?
3. Create a PERT/CPM chart (called a network diagram in Microsoft Project) based on the given tasks. If printing this chart, you may use three pages in landscape orientation. How is the PERT/CPM different from the Gantt chart? What advantages or disadvantages do you see in each? Which do you prefer, and why?(Ch3)
4. Local leaders have expressed disappointment at the current rate of progress and the newly estimated end date. Propose four project management options to handle the project’s late end date and give the advantages and disadvantages of each alternative (Hint: think cost, scope, time, and quality). (Ch3)

5.     Create classes for the inventory and orders system.  (Ch6)

6.     Create a use case for placing a new order. (Ch6)

7.     Process Diagram one level down

8.     Prepare a context diagram for the new system. (Ch5)

9.     Prepare a diagram 0 DFD for the new system. (Ch5)

10.  Create an ERD for the auto service system. (Ch9)

11.  Create 3NF table designs for the system. (Ch9)

12.  For each of the entities identified, design tables and identify the possible candidate keys, the primary key, a probable foreign key, and potential secondary keys. (Ch9)

13.  Use sample data to populate the fields for three records. (Ch9)