Controlled Assessment B062 – Part A Controlled Assessment

Investigating a need 10 marks

Task In this part you will need to write a brief introduction/overview of the set task You may use the actual brief given but don’t copy and paste! Identify the organisation name, number of employees, number of customers, contact name, contact’s job title Summary of contact’s job tasks Identify what the ICT solution will display or print out Identify what data items the ICT solution will store Identify how the ICT solution will manipulate or process data

Investigating a need Research a given context - this is where you will need to work as part of a group and carry out some research to investigate how similar companies have produced a solution You will show screenshots of your research and give a simple explanation as to how and why your research could help your client Source 1 Source 2 Source 3 Source 4

Why you think the information source is similar to the one in the task Look for similar systems that produce the same displays or results from the information stored or manipulated Internet based Small businesses or school systems Write about why you think the information about their system is useful to you, and Why you think the information source is similar to the one in the task

Obtain the following: Screenshots of data input screens Screenshots of reports Screenshots of calculations, formulas, processing or other data manipulation Printed documents to show any input, reports and calculations Any other evidence you think is appropriate

You need to explain the workings of each of the ICT systems that your sources use. Identify: How the system shows/displays information How the system stores information and what information is stored, and How the system processes or manipulates information The aim of your explanation is to help you decide which system is best to follow to meet the requirements of the tasks. To do this, you need to compare the same features between all systems.

Analysing information requirements You now need to analyse the research you have performed to help determine a suitable solution that you will use. Compare the requirements of the task to the facilities provided in the existing solutions. Perhaps using a table similar to the one below may help? Task requirements Information source 1 Information source 2 Information source 3 1. Display customer name Yes No 2. 3.

Here are some examples of features you might need: Creating buttons Creating macros or instructions Importing graphics, scanned images or video Inserting formulas for mathematical models Performing logical steps Looking-up values in tables Customising the look of the solution Storing information for retrieval later Creating presentations Write a short sentence after each point to say whether you are able to use the ICT software in this way. If you find you are not able to use it, or you think it is not suitable, explain why

Recommended solutions Here you need to recommend a solution based on the research you have carried out. Look back at what you have investigated and recommend which one you would use to complete the task. You will need to do this in your own words, with good reasons why you chose specific software to do the task. Structure your recommendations as follows: My recommended solution is… My reasons for this recommendation are…

Producing a design brief Here you will produce a design brief, incorporating timescales, purpose and target audience. A design brief is a document that describes what the system will do. Structure the brief as follows: Target audience is… Timescale is… target end date… total time allocated… time per week (hours)… etc…

Purpose of the system General system requirements User friendliness… Security… Data validation… Backups and archiving… User requirements from the task Outputs… Processing… Storage… Data capture…

System and design specifications A system specification is where you show the objectives of the system in terms of the software requirements and any hardware requirements. These need to be listed so that their achievement can be measured A design specification is where you show the design of the data entry, data manipulation and outputs to meet the system specification. You should also include a test plan and a work schedule.

System specification: hardware Structure as follows: System unit specifications (hard disk, processor, memory, network, graphics) Input device specifications (tactile, speech) Output device specifications (visual, audible)

System specification: software List what the system will need to do specifically in terms of software. Perhaps using a table similar to the one below may help: Specification item Examples of how the specification has been met 1. Store stock information Golf club information 2. Perform calculations Work out the value of golf clubs

Design specification To complete your design specification you need to produce the following: Sketches showing data input screens (try to produce at least three different layouts). A summary of any data that will need to be stored in a table, the table below may help you Column name Data type Validation check Purpose of column

List any formulas and logical tests that need to be made List any macro steps that need to be made Sketches of any data output screens or reports (again, try to produce at least three)

Test plan The table structure below may help you: Remember the number should be the same as the one you used in the software specifications table Test number Software specification number Test description Expected result

Work schedule You should new be able to look at all the tasks you need to do for the assessment and produce a work schedule showing the dates/weeks available and what you intend to achieve in the time available to you Put this in a table an example is shown below: Date/week/hour Work to be done Tick if done 1 2 3 4 5 etc…