1.As part of your systems analysis project to update the automated accounting functions for Xanadu Corporation, a manufacturer of digital cameras, you will interview Leo Blum, the chief accountant. Write four to six interview objectives covering his use of information sources, information formats, decision-making frequency, desired qualities of information, and decision-making style.
The following are the five interview objectives that would guide in obtaining his use of use of information sources, information formats, decision-making frequency, desired qualities of information, and decision-making style:
a. In a paragraph, write down how you will approach Leo to set up an interview.
I would make formal contact to get an interview from the Chief Accountant. After making the official contact, I would then send an email to the analyst describing the need for the interview and describing the kind of the information required by the analyst. The approach makes the purpose of the interview clear and increases the chance of getting the interview. I am going to mail some of the questions along so that the accountant can have a clear view of the interviewer’s requirement and interest. This give a basis for carrying out interviews.
b. State which structure you will choose for this interview. Why?
The structure that I am going to use for the interview is the requirement elicitation structure. This structure is used because the system analyst primary approach is to upgrade the system based on the current needs of the department. The method involves procedures for collecting information from various users. The structure also proves effective because it helps in analysis of feasibility of the requirements gathered hence it helps in making out which conditions cannot work. This forms a platform for evaluating the best way to approach the interview.
c. Leo has four subordinates who also use the system. Would you interview them also? Why or why not?
Yes, I would have to interview the subordinates. The subordinates are the ones who are mostly affected by the system, and their opinion is of high value. They are the ones who can say the difficulties they have had with the previous system and the improvement that they expect. Furthermore getting the interview from different people provide more ideas and approach for analyzing the system. Interviewing the subordinates is logical and is related to the current requirement. This will help in giving a full picture about the information given; in which case, they are taken to represent a significant part of the system.
d. Would you also try to interview customers (visitors to the website)? Are there better ways to get the opinions of customers? Why or why not?
Yes, customers form a very crucial sector in any business organization. They are to be affected by the system as well as the employees. Customers are not aware of the company’s procedure and methodology hence, their opinion is still expected. The views of the customers are needed because most of the adjustments are made to adjust to the customers want and to beat the competition. Some of the ways to get the customers opinions are:
• Questionnaire forms
• Observing the customers
• Workshops
• Online survey
• Meeting and interviewing limited customers
e. Write three open-ended questions that you will email to Leo prior to your interview. Write a sentence explaining why it is preferable to conduct an interview in person rather than via email.
The below questions provides a platform that best prepares the Leo for the better part of the subject to be include in the interview. The three open-ended questions that I am likely to ask are;
What kind of problems does the department experience while on the current system?
What are your opinions about the future system software that may be used by the department?
Highlight various Issues faced by the department in information processing that is based upon the decision frequency for generating quality information reports in the desired formats by the Department for the users at the different level of the company?
The best form of contact for the interview is to meet the interviewee directly. The interviewee may not be able to express all the answer through words hence the need to observe their action and reaction on each question. Face to face communication also provides the interviewer with a chance to ask some questions in between and this allows them to clarify some answers.
1. Cheryl Stake is concerned that too many forms are being filled out incorrectly. She feels that about 8 percent of all the forms have errors.
a. How large a sample size should Ms. Stake use to be 99 percent certain she will be within 0.02?
p = .08
Φp = i / z = .02 / 2.58
n = (p (1-p) /Φp2) + 1 =( .08 (1-.08) / (.02 / 2.58)2 ) + 1 = 1225.7776 ≈1226
The sample size is approximately 1226.
b. How large a sample size should Ms. Stake use to be 90 percent certain she will be within 0.02?
p = .08
Φp = i / z = .02 / 1.65
n = (p (1-p) /Φp2) + 1
= (.08 (1-.08) / (.02 / 1.65)2 ) + 1 = 501.94 ≈502
The samples size is approximately 502.
c. Explain the difference between parts a and b in words.
The difference between the large sample size in part a and the smaller sample size in part b is because Ms. Stake is only 90 percent certain that she will be within .02 for the fair interval estimate in part b, rather than 99 percent certain.
d. Suppose Ms. Stake will accept a confidence level of 95 percent that she will be within 0.02. What will the sample size of forms be now?
p = .08
Φp = i / z = .02 / 1.96
n = (p (1-p) /Φp2) + 1
= (.08 (1-.08) / (.02 / 1.96)2) + 1 = 707.8544
2. “I think I’ll be able to remember most everything he does,” says Ceci Awll. Ceci is about to interview Biff Weldon, vice president of strategic planning of OK Corral, a steak restaurant chain with 130 locations. “I mean, I’ve got a good memory. I think it’s much more important to listen to what he says than to observe what he does anyway.” As one of your systems analysis team members, Ceci has been talking with you about the desirability of writing down her observations of Biff’s office and activities during the interview.
a. In a paragraph, persuade Ceci that listening is not enough in interviews and that observing and recording those observations are also important.
Observation provides extra information on the interviewee decisions making and their environment that is unavailable through listing alone. It also confirms what has been received through interviewing and questionnaires. Observation may also reverse what has been found with other methods of gaining information. This helps in obtaining first-hand information that is important for supporting the eligibility of interviews.
b. Ceci seems to have accepted your idea that observation is important but still doesn’t know what to observe. Make a list of items and behaviors to observe, and in a sentence beside each behavior, indicate what information Ceci should hope to gain through observation of it.
• Decision maker’s body language; this adds another dimension to what is being said, and it permits a better understanding of the information. It best depict the honesty of the interviewees in what they say
• Physical environment; this reveals much about the decision maker’s information requirements.
• Decision-making activities; this helps to portray how managers gather, process, share and use the information to get work done.
4.5. Perfect Pizza wants to install a system to record orders for pizza and chicken wings. When regular customers call Perfect Pizza on the phone, they are asked their phone number. When the number is typed into a computer, the name, address, and last order date is automatically brought up on the screen. Once the order is taken, the total, including tax and delivery, is calculated. Then the order is given to the cook. A receipt is printed. Occasionally, special offers (coupons) are printed so the customer can get a discount. Drivers who make deliveries give customers a copy of the receipt and a coupon (if any). Weekly totals are kept for comparison with last year’s performance. Write a summary of business activities for taking an order at Perfect Pizza.
Display customer record. Input is the customer number and the customer record. An output is customer information. Take customer order. Input is the order information (including the customer number). The output is the total amount due for the order. Send order to cook. Input is the customer order. The output is the cook’s order. Print customer receipt. Input is the customer order and the customer master record. The output is the customer receipt. Deliver customer order. Input is the customer receipt and coupons. The output is the delivered receipt to the client. Print weekly totals. Input is the customer order and the previous year’s customer order summary. the output is the weekly performance figures.
6. Draw a context-level data flow diagram for Perfect Pizza (Problem 5)
The context-level data flow diagram is as follows:
Work citation
Kendall, Kenneth; Kendall, Julie (2013-11-06). Systems Analysis and Design, Global Edition
