System Analysis Project

This is a continuing case for Personal Trainer, Inc.

In the system planning project, Susan Park met with fitness center managers, conducted a series of interviews, reviewed company records, observed business operations, analyzed BumbleBee account software, and studied a sample of sales and billing transactions. Susans objective was to develop a list of system requirements for the proposed system

Fact-Finding Summary

A typical center has 300-500 members, with two membership levels: full and limited. Full members have access to all activities. Limited members are restricted to activities they have selected, but they can participate in other activities by paying a usage fee. All members have charge privileges. Charges for merchandise and services are recorded on a charge slip, which is signed by the member

At the end of each day, cash sales and charges are entered into the BumbleBee accounting software, which runs on a computer. Daily cash receipts are deposited in a local bank and credited to the corporate Personal Trainer account. The BumbleBee program produces a daily activity report with a listing of all sales transactions

At the end of the month, the local manager uses BumbleBee to transmit an accounts receivable summary to the Personal Trainer headquarters in Chicago, where member statements are prepared and mailed. Members mail their payments to the headquarters, where the payments is applied to the member account

The BumbleBee program stores basic member information, but does not include information about member preferences, activities, and history

Currently, the BumbleBee program produces one local report (the daily activity report) and three reports that are prepared at the headquarters location: a monthly member sales report, an exception report for inactive members and late payers, and a quarterly profit-and-loss report that shows a breakdown of revenue and costs for each separate activity

During the interviews, Susan received a number of wish list comments from managers and staff members. For example, managers want more analytical features so they can spot trands and launch special promotions and temporary discounts. Managers also want better information about the profitability of specific business activities at their centers, instead of bottom-line totals.

Several managers want to offer computerized activity and wellness logs, fitness coaching for seniors, and various social networking options, including email communications, fitness blogs, Facebook, and Twitter posts. Staff members want better ways to handle information about part-time instructors and trainers, and several people suggested using scannable ID cards to capture data.

The Susan used the results to develop a logical model for the proposed information system. She drew an entity-relationship diagram and constructed a set of leveled and balanced DFDs. Now Susan is ready to consider various development strategies for the new information system. She will investigate traditional and Web-based approaches and weigh the pros and cons of in-house development versus other alternatives.

Tasks:

Draw a DFD that shows how data will be stored, process, and transformed in the TMS system

Draw an FDD that shows the Personal Trainers main functions. Also draw a use case diagram that represent the interaction between a user and the proposed TIMS system

Using the information gathered during fact-finding, develop a requirements checklist that includes examples in each of the five main categories.

Prepare a context diagram for the new system

Prepare a diagram 0 DFD for the new system

Write a brief memo that explains at least five attributes that you can use to define a process in the order system

Create an object relationship diagram for the Personal Trainer information system

Create a use case diagram for the system

What options does Personal Trainer have for developing a new system? What are some specific issues and options that Susan should consider in making decision?