VCE IT Theory Slideshows Problem Solving Methodology 2 DESIGN By Mark Kelly Vceit.com

Contents What needs designing? Design tools

Design... How the solution will work What interfaces and output will look like

Need to design Hardware needs Software needs Training and documentation requirements Procedures that need to be created or changed Evaluation criteria

Tools data dictionaries and data structure diagrams, input-process-output (IPO) charts, pseudocode, object descriptions.

Designing how bits of the solution fit together – e.g. Website pages, style sheets, scripts; Database queries, forms, reports; Program modules, procedures, functions.

Useful tools for this Website: storyboards, site maps Database: entity-relationship diagrams, data flow diagrams, structure charts, Multipurpose: hierarchy charts, context diagrams, use cases.

Design Consider alternative designs More than one way to skin a cat Some designs may be technically great, but unacceptable because of constraints

Design Every solution has both pros and cons What’s acceptable to a developer might be impossible for the client Selecting a design strategy means achieving maximum “pros” with minimum “cons” What is a pro or con varies from client to client

Physical Design Tools These actually plan how to build a system They give instructions on what to do Physical data dictionaries (e.g. “Customer_Surname is string, 25 characters”) Data Flow Diagrams...

Physical Design Tools Storyboards Structure Charts IPO charts Layout diagrams / mockups Pseudocode

Designing appearances layout diagrams, annotated diagrams/mock ups prototypes

Designing the evaluation criteria What measures will be used to judge whether or not the solution requirements have been met? Should relate to the solution requirements identified in the analysis stage’s logical design.

Design Must be documented If successful, will lead to Development phase. If not, cancel the project. Is used as a strict instruction manual during the following phases, particularly during Development

VCE IT THEORY SLIDESHOWS By Mark Kelly vceit.com These slideshows may be freely used, modified or distributed by teachers and students anywhere on the planet (but not elsewhere). They may NOT be sold. They must NOT be redistributed if you modify them.