Systems Analysis & Design Term Project Request Client Technology Tracking System Company Background Coastline Systems Consulting is a provider of managed computer networks and web services located in Destin, Florida. The staff of seven IT technicians, web designers, and systems integrators provides a range of networking, computer hardware, and software solutions to area businesses. Coastline works with clients to analyze their business needs. They then provide a packaged solution that often combines web services, networking and computer hardware, purchased software, and custom programming. In addition to the seven technicians, Coastline has one receptionist/bookkeeper. As a small organization, Coastline is an informal, "shirt-sleeve" environment. Everyone is on a first-name basis, even with Peter Charles, the president. Coastline Systems Consulting Organization Chart Information Systems Facilities PCs Each technician works uses a Dell notebook: o Pentium M class machines with 512 MB RAM, 30-50 GB hard drives The bookkeeper/receptionist has a Dell Optiplex desktop running a Pentium 4, 256 MB RAM, and an 80 GB hard drive: Operating systems - MS Windows Windows XP Professional Tools - MS Office 2003 suite plus other software depending on use Internet Browser IE 6 and Mozilla FireFox E-mail Client - Mozilla Thunderbird Various inkjet and laser printers Servers Dell PowerEdge 2800 Server o 1 GB of RAM, 80 GB RAID-5 hard drive storage o Operating system - MS Windows Server 2003 o Providing DHCP, Security, and Internet Access, and Database Management (SQL Server 2000) Dell PowerEdge 1850 Server o Providing Web hosting o Operating system Windows Server 2003 with IIS Networking The company headquarters is equipped with wireless networking so notebooks can roam throughout the building. Notebooks also have integrated Ethernet NICs and modems so they can connect to the Internet at home and at clients' places of business. Problem Statement/Project Purpose As Coastline's client base and the complexity of installations have grown, keeping track of the clients' hardware and software configurations has become a nightmare. Each client PC contains various components, such as video cards, NICs, and keyboards which are replaced at different times and so have differing warranty periods that must be tracked. Every client has multiple PCs and network devices, whose passwords and configurations must be accessible by technicians in the Coastline office and in the field. One technician is "on-call" every weekend, meaning the data has to be accessible from home as well. This has to be organized in a way that is easily accessible by any technician at any time or place but secure from unauthorized users. In addition to tracking components and passwords, clients call and e-mail the Coastline office whenever they have any kind of hardware or software problem. These requests and the work done to resolve them need to be organized and documented. The president, Peter Charles, wants to develop a system that is both responsive to clients and helpful to technicians. He would like to see a system that allows technicians to access and update client equipment, and hardware and software configurations. He wants an easy way for technicians to track the installation of new hardware components, possibly using barcode scanning. He wants the system to allow clients to directly enter their service requests, allow technicians to document the work done on those requests, and for everyone to be able to see the history and status of each request. Mr. Charles also wants the system to be able to generate statistics and reports so he can pursue continuous improvement in this area. Service Request The President of Coastline Systems Consulting, Mr. Peter Charles, who is the sponsor of this project, requests your services to (1) elicit and document in detail the requirements for this information system and (2) develop a design for the information system that will meet the requirements. The system should support all the processes associated with managing, tracking, and retrieving client technology information at Coastline Systems Consulting. Technologies for Implementation At the moment, the technologies for development after the design stage are unspecified. It should be possible to choose a variety of technologies to implement the designed system. Once implemented, this system should be relatively easy to use in different locations using different technology platforms. Scope of Project The sponsor requests your services for three major project phases: developing a baseline project plan (BPP), specifying a system requirements statement (SRS), and developing system design specifications (SDS). The scope does NOT include actual implementation of the design, which could potentially be accomplished through (1) purchasing a system that meets the information requirements and design specifications, (2) adapting an existing system to meet these requirements and specifications, or (3) building such a system. [On a project where the sponsor is paying for your services, you would need to satisfy the sponsor at each stage and provide a convincing recommendation to proceed to the next stage to obtain continuing funding. If satisfied with your BPP and your recommendation for continuing the project into the second phase, system analysis, the sponsor would enlist your services to develop a system requirements statement (SRS). The second major phase involves eliciting, analyzing, and documenting in more detail the information requirements for the system described above. If satisfied with that and your recommendation for continuing the project into the third phase, system design, the sponsor would enlist your services to develop a system design statement with a solution for meeting the requirements. For this project, we will structure the second and third stages iteratively rather than strictly sequentially. Actual implementation of the design using specific technologies is beyond the scope of the course.] Sponsor & Client Representative Peter Charles Email: rraman1@udayton.edu President/Analyst Office: Anderson Center 116 Coastline Systems Consulting Destin, Florida Rules for Student Contact with the Sponsor and Client Representative The sponsor and client representative cannot give teams all the time a normal sponsor or representative might provide. The following rules apply: The sponsor, who is also the sole client representative, will play the role of Peter Charles, President of Coastline Systems Consulting, and will be your sole point of contact with the different client stakeholders that you may wish to connect with throughout the IS development process. Before and after client interview(s), the sponsor will respond to email, phone, or in-person requests for information; you need to clearly identify the name of your team on behalf of which you are communicating with the sponsor. It may be advisable to not expect immediate response from the sponsor. If more than one team has initiated a request for information, the sponsor may choose to respond to several requests at the same time. The sponsor will be available for any structured walkthroughs and final presentations by the teams, as appropriate. The role of the sponsor at these sessions is to view completed work and to provide input that may be used to guide subsequent work.

1. What is the name of your client company? What is the name of the information system that you will be designing for your client company?

2. What business is your client company in?

3. What kind of company is it? (In other words, size, company culture, etc.?)

4. Explain what is going on with the list of technologies mentioned in the UPR document What are these technologies supposed to be referring to Are these the systems that you will design?

5. What are some of the problems that your client faces?

6. What have you been called upon to design? (in Qs. 1, you wrote the name of this system; here, you will write about what the system will likely do for your client company)