1. Business System Options
Take a fresh creative view of the required system
Base options on the Requirements Catalogue
Select best options for presentation to the user
two suggested for small projects
six suggested for large projects
Express as narrative
Supported as required with DFDs and LDS
users pick one (or a combination) option
User selection promotes their ownership of the system

2. Business System Options
Project Initiation Document
Logical DFM
Requirements Catalogue
Stage 2
Business
System
Options
Define BSOs
2 - 6 BSOs each containing:
description of functions &
Users
scope
cost benefit analysis
impact analysis
Select BSOs
chosen Business System
Option
Requirements
Specification

3. Range of Options Dramatic options
sack the salesmen and install terminals in customer’s offices
No change option
do nothing and carry on with existing system
Other possibilities
change responsibilities of staff
perform functions in different places
introduce technology to automate functions
eliminate duplication
increase usage of existing information
improve communications between staff
improve communications between company and customers
Position of system boundary

4. Minimal and Advanced Options
Accommodate priorities defined in the Requirements Catalogue
Minimal option
meets the mandatories of Requirements Catalogue
may be an enhancement of current system
Advanced option
meets all requirements
“bells & whistles” solution
high performance

5. BSOs must be easily understood by users
BSO Contents
Narrative describing
functionality of system
business priorities of system and constituent functions
costs and benefits (may include full analysis)
impact on users (organisation, structure, training)
timescales for implementation
any technical considerations affecting business
system boundary and interfaces to other systems (use DFD if appropriate)
BSOs must be easily understood by users

6. Example - Yorkies Option 1 Centralised System
Centralise all the control activities of the company
depots only handle collection and return of vehicles.
Head office handles all bookings and invoicing.
Drivers administered centrally
each driver only serves a group of nearby depots.
Close local offices
Post computer generated forms to customer/depot to confirm bookings
depots informed by telephone of changes
Mileage covered by the customer written on the booking form returned by depot to head office.
Depots inform head office of any vehicles out of service by telephone.
System requires a mini computer and approximately 35 terminals.

7. Centralised System DFD
Booking
Confirmation
Make
Booking
Depot
Completed
Bookings
Booking
Details
Maintain
Vehicle
Records
Record
Completed
Booking

8. Example - Yorkies Option 2 Local Office Autonomy
Local Office are responsible for their own bookings, drivers, and invoicing
Information is held centrally and shared by all offices
Almost all data is entered at the local offices
Customers deal with their local office for both bookings and invoices
Offices can make bookings at other offices if they cannot be satisfied locally
System requirements
mini computer and 55 terminals or PCs (1 per office)
communications hardware and software
about 52 printers (1 per office)

9. Autonomous Local Offices Partial DFD
Customers
Sales
Customer
Customer
Booking
Information
New
Customer
HO/Comp
Customer
Information
LO/Comp
Maintain
Customer Records
LO/Comp
Make Booking
for Own Office
New credit
Receiving
rating
Office
Arrange
One-way Hire
Vehicle
Availability
Finance
Booking
Bookings
Vehicle
Arriving
Booking
Vehicle
Availability at
other offices
Other Local
LO/Comp
Office
Booking
Request Booking
at Nearby Office
Local Offices
Request
Nearby
Local
Office
LO/Comp = Local Office + Computer
HO/Comp = Head Office + Computer

10. Autonomous Local Office DFD
Shows the distributed nature of the system
head office responsible for the Customer Records
local offices responsible for the bookings.
Could draw separate DFDs for head office and local offices.

11. Presentation of Business System Options
Depends on the project:
may need report and formal presentations
or just informal discussions
Prepare presentations
list relative advantages and disadvantages of each option
refer to Requirements Catalogue
Make presentations
Provide justifications for selection
Record and document selection decisions

12. Selection of a Business System Option
Users select one or a combination from the options presented
Record selection and reasons for choices
Full specification will be developed for selected BSO

13. Yorkies Select Option 2 with Elements from other Options
Structure of the company remains the same
No offices will be closed
Information will be stored centrally on a mini computer
Each Local Office will have
a terminal or PC (to be decided at Stage 4)
printing facilities
Head Office will control customer records and invoicing

14. Selected Option (continued)
No terminals will be installed in the Depots
Depots will use printed booking forms originated by adjacent office
Local Offices will
accept bookings for any office
maintain customer records (except financial data)
validate bookings against the customer records.
Drivers will be organised into regional pools
Each driver will be available to any office in his region

15. Summary Take a fresh creative view of the required system
Base options on the Requirements Catalogue
Consider
“brainstorming” approach to generate many possibilities
distributed nature of new system
levels of autonomy
position of system boundary
Select two or three options for presentation to the user
Present options as narrative describing functionality, costs, benefits, and organisational impacts
Support presentation with LDS and DFDs if appropriate
Users pick preferred option or combination of options