SYSTEM ANALYSIS and DESIGN PROPOSAL

SYSTEM ANALYSIS and DESIGN PROPOSAL PROJECT OVERVIEW: The basis of this project is a web based collection tool for technology needs in the IT industry. Much like anyone who works in the IT industry sees on almost a daily basis. The project will start with an email to you (Dr. Kitchens) with your user name and password which will be used to access a website front end. This front end will take you to a small survey. You will enter a promotion code, which will be included in the email as a part of the survey. The promotion code will be used to identify which group of respondents you belong to. This information will be stored in an excel spreadsheet that will be used to generate form thank you letters at the end of the project. BUSINESS NEED: CURRENT PROBLEM: Information is a vital part of any business. So much in fact that many businesses pay very handsomely for certain types of information. That is were this project plan takes place. This project will be used to collect data from IT professionals in exchange for money from other businesses needing the information to make informed forecasting decisions. COST SAVINGS: There is cost saving in this project. If not web-based, then we are looking at direct mail surveys, which have several drawbacks, or in-person surveys, which has its own pros and cons. In some situations the cost in-person survey may be justified if for instance we are looking at top CIOs of Fortune 500 companies. However, in this instance, what we are after is an aggregate view of the past, current, and future buying habits of mid- level IT and Finance managers. PROFITS: Income will be generated from this information via other business paying for access to various levels of the information. GOODWILL: No. INPUT: DATA: Data will be entered into the system in the form of a questionnaire or survey. WHEN: Data will be able to be entered on a 24/7 basis via the web. WHERE: Data can be entered from any computer terminal running Windows Internet Explorer 5.0 or above that has a connection to the Internet. WHO: Data can only be entered by persons who have been given a user name, password and promotion code. HOW: Data will be entered in via a web front end using active server pages manually by a survey participant. INTO: Data will be entered into a Microsoft IIS server front-end web page. TRANSFORMATION: WHAT: Data will be entered into web front-end and then submitted. WHERE: Data will be stored in a text file inside the website. Transformed: Data in text file will be able to queried from the web using a macro programmed with Excel’s “Get Data” feature. OUTPUT: Person: The output can be transmitted back to the customer in the form thank you letter and or package, or can be used to send information to business customers who need access to the information that they are paying for. TIMELINESS: Data can be up to the minute. Since the data is stored in a central location, all that need to be done is get a refresh of the data using excel. Format: Format will be in the form of a mail merge documents in word. Accuracy: Field validation on the web page will require field validations such as at least 6 numerical values in the promotion code, required data for fields, last names, first names, and company.  INTERACTIVE FEATURES: Security features: The portal for the website will be username and password protected. Logical Conditions: Excel will have it is own logical conditions built in. For instance part of the survey will have a an entry for “Promotion Code” this will be used with Excel’s “If then”, “AND” , or “OR” statements. Also looking to do some interactive calculation on the data that is pulled into Excel. Such as keeping tracking of the actual number of participants. Macros Will be use in excel to query data, sort data, and save data. Visual basic button will be used to exit the program Bryon Gaskin MBA 621 Fall 2003 Dr. Kitchens