Week 5 Assignment

1) Imagine that you are to design a budget report for a colleague at work using a spreadsheet package. Following the prototyping discussed in the chapter (see also Figure 1-13), describe the steps you would take to design a prototype of this report.

As forms/reports are created at the end of the SDLC phase, I would start by collecting all pertinent data and information needed about the report. Additionally, asking questions about who its users are, what the purpose is, and when is it used/needed, where does it need to be delivered, and how many people need to use/view this report? After all data was assembled and consolidated, I would begin by using Java, HTML, or Visual Basic, as reports/forms are integrally related to the DFD's and ER diagrams. After creating the prototype, I would share with the users to determine if any corrections or adjustments are needed.

2. Consider a system that produces budget reports for your department at work. Alternatively, consider a registration system that produces enrollment reports for a department at a university. For whichever system you choose, answer the following design questions: Who will use the output? What is the purpose of the output? When is the output needed, and when is the information that will be used within the output available? Where does the output need to be delivered? How many people need to view the output?

At my employer, we have a software system that produces and prepares reports for my department. These reports are used by the Director of Human Resources, myself (Manager, Human Resources) and my counterpart the Manager, Employee Benefits. Additionally, the CEO will use and view this report as our department reports directly to him. The purpose of the output is to ensure the department is not exceeding its budget goals and to continuously review the budget to see if any changes/adjustments are needed. The output is needed on a quarterly basis and it will be viewed immediately, and if any...