6.2 Definition, investigation and analysis [Total 11 marks]

(i) Definition – nature of the problem [3 marks]

A candidate should not expect the examiners to be familiar with the theory and practice in the area of the chosen system. There should be a brief description of the organisation (for example, firm or business) involved and the current methods used in the chosen areas that may form the basis of the project. A clear statement of the origins and form of data should be given. At this stage the exact scope of the project may not be known and it may lead to the arranging of an interview with the client.

Example 1: Candidate Response from Bridal Shop project, the mark and comments given by the teacher on the marking grid with examiner comments and notes.

1. Quality of report

(i) Definition – nature of the problem [_2_/3 marks]

		Mark	Comments
1	Description of the organisation.		Teacher’s comment – none made. Examiner’s comment – very brief description of organisation with an attempt to describe the methods currently in use, no clear description of the origin of data or the form that the data takes. Too much comment about the perceived difficulties, this type information would only be known after the investigation and analysis.
2	Description of the organisation and the methods currently used in the area of the chosen project.	2
3	Full description of the organisation and methods currently in use in the area of the chosen project, with a description of the origin of the data to be used and some indication of the form that data takes.

System definition

Introduction

This report presents details of a computer system that was created with aim of calculating cost of services given to customers that visit C… Bridal shop and also to keep records of customers and the services they order for.

Background of the study

C… Bridal shop designs people that are going to be involved in parties like weddings. Whenever the customers report, they choose and pay for specific body design services they need in preparation for ceremonies. However most of the records of customers are kept by the cashier using manual receipt books hence making it very difficult for the shop administrator (manager) to access records of sales made.

In order to calculate money customers must pay for the services they order, the cashier uses a calculator to add up the costs of all services the customer received.

This project is aimed at creating a computer system that will be used by the cashier to record down all services rendered to customers and also to automatically calculate cost of the services the customers received. It will also issue a receipt to a customer.

PROBLEM STATEMENT

Whenever the customers visit the shop, they choose specific services they need. In order to calculate money customers must pay for the rendered services, the cashier uses a calculator to add up the total cost of all services the customer received and also, the cashier writes down customer payments and orders in a paper receipt book.

At the end of the day, in case the shop administrator (manager) wants to review sales made per a day, he refers to the receipt book while opening all receipt sheets in the receipt book. The problem with this system is that, it makes it very difficult and slow for the manager to search for records. Another problem with using the calculator is that the cashier gets so tired while pressing calculator all the time and in situations where customers are so many the cashier ends up making mistakes in the figures he presses leading to inaccurate charges of customer orders hence, there was need of introducing a good system that calculates customer order charges accurately, keeps records efficiently for quick access and keeps records safely.

Example 2: Candidate Response from Sports day record keeping project, the mark and comments given by the teacher on the marking grid with examiner comments and notes.