ASSIGNMENTS

[Technology Application Project] [Systems Development Web Project] [Past Semester Web Pages]

ADDITIONAL HELP FOR OUR ASSIGNMENTS

The Business Educational Equity Program [B.E.E.P.] is designed to provide students with academic support beyond the classroom to reinforce and enhance their learning. The Business Tutoring Center is staffed by Upper Division Students from the College of Business Administration. The B.E.E.P. Tutoring and Study Center is located in Tahoe Hall, Room 3067. All Tutoring is provided on a drop-in basis, at no cost to the student. Click here for the weekly tutoring schedule : http://www.cba.csus.edu/biz/tutoring.html 

TECHNOLOGY APPLICATION PROJECT

The goal of the Technology Application Project is to allow you to develop a Computer Based Information System (CBIS) to provide information for effective decision making. This project is a team assignment to allow individuals to exchange ideas and learn from each other.  You will build an Information System to store stock and investment information with data downloaded from the Internet and copied from other sources and produces the appropriate information for decision making.

Your team has created an investment club with $100,000 which must be invested in five different stocks from the Dow Jones Industrials index (http://finance.yahoo.com/q/cp?s=%5EDJI+Components). After you purchase your stocks, you must collect all required data related for these stocks and store this data into your database. Every month, the group produces investment reports which are analyzed by the members who make future investment choices. 

You have decided to build an MS Access database, to minimize the time it takes to administer the club's investment information and produce timely and accurate reports. Here are some other requirements:

• Your information system must produce the required reports to show the stock portfolio, the estimated annual dividends, and the Price Earnings (P/E) ratios of your stocks.
• Produce a monthly report which shows the gains/losses since the purchase of the stocks in $ and % amounts and the comparative S&P 500 performance for the same period. 

STEP BY STEP DESCRIPTION

Data Collection and Conversion

1.   Decide which 5 stocks you will purchase and submit your selections by 2/14/2012 in my web site: https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dEJhVDZKdFhQTzZuRkVDWGlFQjV2U3c6MQ#gid=0. You will purchase your stocks after the closing of the market on 2/14/2012 after the market closes. You could use financial sites like http://finance.yahoo.com or http://moneycentral.msn.com to find the closing prices and other information for your stocks. 

   Data Analysis and Data Modeling

2.      Import all data from the DowStocks.xls Excel workbook into a new table in your database. The new table will be named Stocks. The primary key for this table is the Symbol field. After the Stocks table has been created, change the size of the Symbol field to 6 Text characters, the Name field to 40 characters. After importing the stocks data, find and update the Annual Dividends Per Share and the Earnings Per Share for all 30 stocks. 

3. Build a new table named Team with the following specifications:

4.      Build a new table named Trades with the following specifications:

5.      TradeDate field described above is formatted as short date. 

6.      Build a new table named Prices with the following specifications:

7.     Enter Trades data in the database. Also, create one graphic file with the picture of ALL team members. You may use any method to create the graphic files with your pictures (i.e., scanning a paper picture, digital camera, photo collage). You will use this picture in the TeamPicture field of the Team table.  Please create the picture in BMP format and less than 100 Kb in size. In addition, every Friday, start recording the closing prices for your team stocks only and enter this data in the Prices table. Record closing prices until 3/2/12 (3 Fridays only). 

8.   Create the Relationships (ER Diagram) for the tables created up to this point, as shown below (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1

User Interface Design and Development

9.   Build a form to display Team and Trade data. This form shows your team and all the stocks/trades, as shown in Fig. 2.

 Fig. 2

Data Processing and Information Delivery 

10.   Build the Annual Dividends Report shown in Fig. 3.  Please pay attention to the currency formats for all $ amounts. Note that your report layout and format does not have to look identical to mine. I am interested in the information you provide and not in the layout of the report. 

Fig. 3

14.   Build the Gain or Loss Report shown in Fig. 4 where Gain or Loss is calculates as Trade Shares times the difference between Price and Trade Price Per Share. Report is sorted by Symbol and uses landscape orientation and any Align Left layout.  Also, please pay attention to the currency formats for all $ amounts. Note that your report layout and format does not have to look identical to mine. I am interested in the information you provide and not in the format of the report. 

Fig. 4

15. You may build appropriate queries that will help you to produce the reports above. 

Often, I receive a database with several unnecessary objects. A team may attempt to create a query for the Gain and Loss report several times. When I grade your projects, I have no idea which of the queries to grade since there are many similar queries. So, please do not have any tables, queries, or reports in the database are not required by this assignment.

Information Verification

16.   Use the STP sample (save to your computer) and modify it to include the necessary conditions to ensure that your output is correct. Your System Test Plan (STP) must be detailed and should include a separate test for calculation in the form or the report. Please  sign and print your STP.

Evaluation

17.Describe the changes would you make to this database application system to improve it. Did we accomplish everything we wanted to accomplish with this database application system?  Any areas for improvement? Why are these changes necessary? Please note that in this question, I do not ask to to evaluate the Assignment but the database (your product) itself.

Assignment Submitting Standards:

1.      All assignments are due at the beginning of the class period. Late assignments will NOT be accepted.

2.      Provide one printed statement from each group member describing each member's contribution to the homework.

3.      Burn a CD with the Access database, your graphic file (picture), your STP, and your evaluation (question 17) on this CD.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

            Question: Can you recommend an online tutorial?

            Answer: Here it is: http://www.gcflearnfree.org/access2007  

Question: How are you going to grade this assignment?

Answer: We will use the following Rubrics to grade your assignment. 

	5: Exceeds Expectation	4: Meets Expectation	3: Approaching Expectation	2: Below Expectation	Multiplier	TOTAL
Data Collection and Conversion	Identifies and collects all data needed to produce appropriate information. Captures and converts data from all sources.	Identifies and collects most data needed to produce appropriate information. Captures and converts data from most sources.	Identifies and collects some data needed to produce appropriate information. Captures and converts data from some sources.	Identifies and collects few data needed to produce appropriate information. Captures and converts data from few sources.	2
Data Analysis and Modeling	Prepares and stores data in the specified format with accurate consideration of space and performance tradeoffs. Correctly models all organizational data.	Prepares and stores data in the specified format with some consideration of space and performance tradeoffs. Modeling of organizational data is mostly correct.	Prepares and stores data in the specified format with little consideration of space and performance tradeoffs. Modeling of organizational data is somewhat correct.	Prepares and stores data in the specified format with no consideration of space and performance tradeoffs. Modeling of organizational data is mostly incorrect.	2
User Interface Design and Development	Designs and builds a Graphical User Interface (GUI) to effectively communicate with the end user.	Designs and builds a Graphical User Interface (GUI) with adequate consideration for effectiveness.	Designs and builds a Graphical User Interface (GUI) with some consideration for effectiveness.	Designs and builds a Graphical User Interface (GUI) with little consideration for effectiveness.	2
Data Processing and Information Delivery	Constructs the necessary processing to provide all the appropriate information for decision making.	Constructs the necessary processing to provide most of the appropriate information for decision making.	Constructs the necessary processing to provide some of the appropriate information for decision making.	Constructs the necessary processing to provide hardly any of the appropriate information for decision making.	2
Information Verification	Verifies the accuracy of all delivered information.	Verifies the accuracy of most delivered information.	Verifies the accuracy of some delivered information.	Verifies the accuracy of only some of the delivered information.	1
Evaluation	Fully assess the impact of the technology application on the attainment of organizational goals.	Assess the impact of the technology application on the attainment of organizational goals.	Partially assess the impact of the technology application on the attainment of organizational goals.	Fails to assess the impact of the technology application on the attainment of organizational goals.	1
					Total
Score:

Question: How can I calculate the annual dividends to select my stocks?

Answer: Find and store the annual dividends per share for each of your stocks in your Stocks table. If some of your stocks pay no dividends, type zero. To calculate your annual dividends, multiply the number of shares purchased by the dividends per share. For example, the annual dividends per share for Exxon Mobil was $ 1.28 per share (figure below). If you purchased 100 shares of this stock, your annual dividends will be $128.00.

Question: I cannot enforce the referential integrity in the relationship (ER Diagram). Why?

Answer: Most probably, your data violates the referential integrity rules. For example, you may have a Trade for a Member that does not exist. Verify the primary key and foreign key data and make sure you do not have a typographical error.

Question: What do I have to do for the STP?

Answer: The System Test Plan (STP) is a document created to verify the accuracy of your output (query, form, or report).  A team member should create, in advance, test conditions to verify the accuracy of ALL information (calculations) produced by your application. After the database is complete, the tester starts executing all the steps in your STP, confirms the accuracy of the output, and signs the STP. For information in each column in the STP, please look at the comments I have included in the column headers.

Question: Can you give me some hints for the evaluation section answer?

Answer: Read the assignment again and suggest ways to improve the information system you delivered (i.e., suggest addition of new features, changes in the way you processed the information, elimination of unnecessary tasks). Did you meet all objectives? Did you have difficulty in performing some activities? Did you give the customer what was asked?

SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT WEB PROJECT

The importance of the Internet as an inexpensive way to bring your messages and data to a worldwide audience is ever increasing. All types of companies, small and large, see the Internet as a huge opportunity. This project will give you the opportunity to use this new technology and benefit from it. Your assignment is to develop a personal/group Web Site, which will be hosted at the CSUS Web Pages server (no other servers will be allowed). You are free to select any content for your Web Site as long as it in accordance to the rules and regulations defined by CSUS and addresses a problem/opportunity.

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Your have decided to build a web site to address a single problem/opportunity. You are individually responsible for designing and building your web page. Please note that our main focus is on the systems development process itself and not the finished product (will describe this in class in more detail).

PROJECT PHASES

SYSTEMS INVESTIGATION AND ANALYSIS

Identity with your team 3 problems/opportunities worth addressing with a web site. Then, select one problem/opportunity and create a report with the following: 

• Problem/Opportunity Definition: Briefly describe the problem/opportunity your web page will address and explain why the Internet is the ideal medium for addressing this problem.
• Goal/Objective Definition: Define at least 3 different business objectives. 
• Overview of your Web Pages: A brief description of each web page (describe content and how you visualize your web pages). 
• Feasibility Analysis: List all the software you will use to build your web page (see the list of minimum software needed below).

NOTE: During the analysis phase, you should ask questions and clarifications about the project. Please read the entire project specifications and ask me questions if there is something you do not understand.

SYSTEMS DESIGN

• Web Page Data: Gather all your pictures, text, link, sound files, and everything else that will be included in your pages.
• Web Page Prototype: Provide a computer drafted design of each web page which marks ALL content (graphics, links, formats, etc). Please do not provide the final copy of your web page but a rough design which shows the basic design of your web page. Note that you web page should be designed to fulfill the Goals and Objectives defined in your Systems Investigations and Analysis.

SYSTEMS IMPLEMENTATION (individual work)

• Activate your personal web page
• Build your web page by following your Systems Design
• Transfer your web page to our web server 

 What to Submit

• One printed document which contains your Systems Investigation and Analysis, your web page prototype, and printed copy of your final Web page (as it appears on your Web Sever).
• Your printed documents should include the cover letter statement (click for sample) attached to the front of your documents.

PROJECT MINIMUM SPECIFICATIONS 

• Develop one web page named  index.htm (only one).
• Place the web page files in the MIS101 folder (on your web server account).
• Web page must contain at least one graphic image.
• Web page must contain at least one graphic image that is Hyperlinked to another URL. 
• Web page must contain  some text that is Hyper linked to another URL.  
• Web page must contain the CSUS required "disclaimer" at the bottom of your web page.
• Web page must contain at least one table (with or without borders).
• The manager's web page would put all the individual content together and serve as the entry to your web site.

MINIMUM SOFTWARE NEEDED 

To complete this assignment, you will need several types of software including, but not limited to (you will find more information if you follow the  Build your web page  link):  

1. Web browser to view your web pages: we will use Netscape Navigator and/or Internet Explorer.
2. Web authoring tool or HTML editor to build your web pages: you have a choice of any freeware or registered copy of an authoring tool to create your HTML documents. I will provide assistance with MS Word, MS FrontPage, Dreamweaver, and hand coded HTML documents.  
3. A graphic's tool to create/edit your graphics: any graphics software will do here (i.e., MS Paint) based on the needs of your design. 

HOW DO I GRADE THIS PROJECT? 

Here are some of the things I consider when grading: Completeness (contains all requested sections) - Transition (considers and conforms to prior life cycle output) - Effectiveness (for the purpose it was built) - Ease of use (hyperlinks, design, sequence, etc) - Aesthetics (pictures, colors, alignment, etc) - Clarity (content, use of terms, feedback, etc) - Quality (errors, graphics, content, etc) - Conformity to standards (page size, features, etc) - Features (a very basic page is not equal to a page with more features and complexity).

Other Assignment Submitting Standards

1. All assignments are due at the beginning of the class period.
2. Late assignments will NOT be accepted.