Information Systems Analysis 28 May 2019
Marking Scheme
This marking scheme has been prepared as a guide only to markers. This is not a set of model answers, or the exclusive answers to the questions, and there will frequently be
alternative responses which will provide a valid answer. Markers are advised that, unless a question specifies that an answer be provided in a particular form, then an answer that is correct (factually or in practical terms) must be given the available marks.
If there is doubt as to the correctness of an answer, the relevant NCC Education materials should be the first authority.
Throughout the marking, please credit any valid alternative point.
Where markers award half marks in any part of a question, they should ensure that the total mark recorded for the question is rounded up to a whole mark.
Question 1
Answer ALL questions
Urban Delivery Services has provided courier services for almost twelve years and has a large number of business and home customers that it delivers items to and collects items from. It is a successful company and its staff work hard and communicate with each other effectively.
The owner of Urban Delivery Services wants to expand the company’s operations by taking on new customers and employing more couriers. A new information system needs to be implemented in order to keep up with the demand for business at Urban Delivery Services. New personal digital assistants (PDAs) will be given to all couriers to record and communicate their exact locations, the status and delivery of their deliveries and collections and allowing them to access details of new and cancelled deliveries and collections.
The owner is prepared to meet all financial costs that are needed for the analysis of the information system in order for the implementation of a robust, efficient, user friendly and secure information system.
a) Explain what is meant by a hard approach to information systems analysis. 4 Your answer should be supported by FOUR (4) points.
Award 1 mark for each bullet point up to a maximum of 4 marks.
• Enables thorough planning/scheduling
• Rules/guidelines/standards to be followed
• Focuses on technical requirements
• Highly structured approach/a logical sequence of steps/stages must be followed
• Procedures associated with each step/stage must be undertaken
• Progress can be measured by reference to the objectives defined for
each step/stage
• Easier to manage than soft systems methods due to clearly defined
project phases
• Can be undertaken in less time than other methods, e.g. soft analysis
approach
• Can be less expensive than other methods, e.g. soft analysis approach
• Suitable for use at a large organization/with large projects
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Marks
Marks
b) Identify THREE (3) types of methodologies that could be used if a hard approach 3
to information systems analysis is undertaken at Urban Delivery Services.
Award 1 mark for each bullet point up to a maximum of 3 marks.
• Structured Systems Analysis and Design Methodology (SSADM)
• Agile
• Scrum
• Joint Application Design (JAD)
• Rapid Analysis and Design (RAD)
• Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM)
c) Discuss THREE (3) items of information that should be documented in a 3 technical feasibility report for Urban Delivery Services.
Award 1 mark for each bullet point up to a maximum of 3 marks.
• Types of technology in use at the company
• Whether current technology resources are suitable to undertake
updating/development of the information system
• Potential types of technology that could be used
• Cost of current technology/cost of potential technology
• Constraints on technology/incompatibility of technology
• Staff skills – are they up-to-date/is training required for using new
technology
• Cost of training staff
• Current work practices/procedures
• Estimation of timescales for a new system/realistic timescales
• Expected growth/demands on the current system
• Licensing agreements/costs
Total 10 Marks
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Question 2
a)
Explain how analysis of the information system at Urban Delivery Services could 5 be undertaken more effectively if a soft systems approach to information system analysis is used. Your answer should be supported by FIVE (5) points.
Award up to 1 mark for each bullet point up to a maximum of 5 marks.
• It would facilitate analysis that focused on people/human factors/social
factors
• It would consider user interaction as important as technical issues
• It would enable human activity to be modelled
• It would facilitate discussion of issues/perceptions/requirements
• It would enable different perspectives/opinions/contributions to be
voiced
• It would facilitate joint problem solving/sharing of ideas
• It would enable users to participate/feel involved in the development of
the information system
• It would facilitate collaboration between the various sectors of the
company
Describe FIVE (5) problems that could arise if a decision is taken to use a soft 5 systems approach to analysis.
b)
Award up to 1 mark for each bullet point up to a maximum of 5 marks.
• It could take longer to analyse the information system
• It could cost more to analyse the information system
• It could take longer for staff involved in the analysis to agree
• It could be difficult to manage this analysis technique
• The lack of a structured approach could cause issues
• Important technical issues could be overlooked
• Some staff might not take this analysis technique seriously
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Total 10 Marks
Marks
Question 3
a) Information about Urban Delivery Services could be discovered if CATWOE 6 analysis is performed successfully. Identify SIX (6) items of information that
could be discovered.
Award up to 1 mark for each bullet point up to a maximum of 6 marks.
• Information about customers/clients associated with the company
• Information about actors/agents/staff associated with the company
• Information about transformations/inputs/outputs/processes associated
with various processes
• Information about worldview/internal factors/external factors/constraints
• Information about the company’s owner/stakeholders
• Information about environmental/economic/social/technological/ethical/
political/legal/competitive/demographic matters
b) Describe FOUR (4) advantages of using CATWOE as an analysis technique. 4
•Award 1 mark for each bullet point up to a maximum of 4 marks.
• Discover the views/opinions of users
• Discover reactions to a new/updated information system
• Discover potential problems/constraints
• Discover information regarding any problems/constraints
• Discover problems with an information system
• Facilitates solutions to problems
• Facilitates solving of complex human problems in an organisation
• Stakeholders can take part in discussions of problems/solutions/
joint problem-solving
• Facilitates open discussion of problems/needs/perspectives
Total 10 Marks
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Question 4
a)
Explain how the construction of a stakeholder matrix could help analysis at 6 Urban Delivery Services. You should support your answer with SIX (6) points.
Award up to 1 mark for each bullet point up to a maximum of 6 marks.
• The power of stakeholders can be established
• The influence of stakeholders can be established
• The amount of stakeholder interest in the development of the
information system can established
• A wide range of stakeholders/staff can be identified
• The opinions/ideas of stakeholders can be determined
• The extent to which stakeholders would be affected by the
development of the information system can be determined
• Whether stakeholders are for or against the development of the
information system can be determined
Outline FOUR (4) negative aspects associated with undertaking stakeholder 4 analysis.
Award up to 1 mark for each bullet point up to a maximum of 4 marks.
• It can be expensive to undertake
• It can take too long to gather information/complete
• Not all stakeholders are identified
b)
• It can be difficult to determine information
• Some stakeholders might not have the time to be involved
• Some stakeholders might not want to be involved
• External factors can hinder progress
• Legal factors can hinder progress
• Ethical factors could hinder progress
• Financial factors can hinder progress
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Total 10 Marks
Marks
Marks
a) Object oriented analysis (OOA) can be used as an alternative to a hard or soft 6
approach to analysis. Discuss SIX (6) key features of OOA.
Award 1 mark for each bullet point up to a maximum of 6 marks.
• It facilitates an information system to be considered as a collection of
interacting objects that work together to accomplish tasks
• Objects and their inter-relationships are identified
• It facilitates decomposition of an information system into
understandable components
• OOA is divided into stages consisting of tasks which are broken down
into sub-tasks
• It facilitates interaction with an information system users to identify
their requirements
• It facilitates identification of an information system’s functions
• Models are constructed of the tasks an information system is required
to perform/dynamic/object/functional models are constructed
• Object models, e.g. class diagrams, are produced that represent static
structures of information systems
• Dynamic models are produced that illustrate the behaviour of
information systems over time and the flow of control and events in
event-trace diagrams and state transition diagrams
• Functional models are produced that illustrate internal processes
independently from how the processes are performed
• It facilitates the re-use of software components
• It facilitates ease of software modification
b) Describe FOUR (4) limitations of using OOA as a tool for analysis at Urban 4 Delivery Services.
Award 1 mark for each bullet point up to a maximum of 4 marks.
• It will not take into consideration the user element in as much detail as a
soft approach
• It will not analyse/consider human problems/issues
• It will be limited to modelling and describing what should be done rather
than how it should be done
• Processes/data flow might be poorly illustrated/described
• It might be considered a complex approach/not easily understood
Total 10 Marks
Question 5
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Question 6
a) ETHICS analysis can be used to assess job satisfaction at Urban Delivery 6 Services. Identify and describe THREE (3) measures of job satisfaction that can
be used at the company.
Award 2 marks for each bullet point up to a maximum of 6 marks.
• The Knowledge Fit (1 mark) assesses whether or not a job allows an
employee to use and develop their skills /knowledge (1 mark)
• The Psychological Fit (1 mark) assesses whether or not a job allows an
employee to further their achievements/recognition/advancement/
status (1 mark)
• The Task-Structure Fit (1 mark) assesses whether or not a job meets an
employee’s requirements for variety/interest/feedback/if the job is
demanding/fulfilling/repetitiveness of tasks (1 mark)
• The Efficiency Fit (1 mark) assesses whether or not a job offers financial
reward/incentives/if work controls and supervisory controls are
acceptable to an employee (1 mark)
• The Ethical Fit (1 mark) which assesses whether or not the values/
philosophy of an employer are compatible with those of their employees (1 mark)
b) Suggest FOUR (4) advantages for Urban Delivery Services if the owner accepts 4 the recommendations of ETHICS analysis.
Award 1 mark for each bullet point up to a maximum of 4 marks.
• The information system could be more efficient
• Interaction between users and the information system/technology could
be improved
• Job satisfaction could be improved
• Morale could be improved
• Less pressure on staff
• Better communication between staff
• Better training/career progression
• Reduction of boring/repetitive tasks
• Jobs/roles enable skills, knowledge to be developed (Knowledge Fit)
• Jobs/roles enable achievements, recognition, advancement, status
(Psychological Fit) to be furthered – if not already discussed in Q6 (a)
• Jobs/roles are demanding, fulfilling (Task-Structure Fit) – if not already
discussed in Q6 (a)
• Jobs/roles offer financial rewards, incentives/acceptable
work/supervisory controls (Efficiency Fit) – if not already discussed in
Q6 (a)
• Staff values/philosophy are compatible with those of the
management/company (Ethical Fit) – if not already discussed in Q6 (a)
Total 10 Marks
Marks
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a) Outline FIVE (5) strengths of Urban Delivery Services. Use the information 5
provided in Question 1.
Award 1 mark for each bullet point up to a maximum of 5 marks.
• Established company
• Successful company
• Hard working staff
• Staff communicate well
• Large number of customers
• Sufficient finance
• Expansion plans
• Plans to implement an improved information system
• Improved information system will satisfy customers
• Improved information system will aid couriers/other staff
b) In addition to identifying strengths at Urban Delivery Services, describe FIVE (5) 5 other reasons to undertake SWOT analysis at the company.
Question 7
Award 1 mark for each bullet point up to a maximum of 5 marks.
• Determine weaknesses
• Determine opportunities
• Determine threats
• Determine if strengths can be matched with opportunities
• Determine if threats could be converted into strengths
• Determine if threats could be converted into opportunities
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Total 10 Marks
Question 8
a) If you perform PEST analysis at Urban Delivery Services it will reveal various 4 influences that could affect the development of the information system. Suggest FOUR (4) influences that will be revealed.
Award 1 mark for each bullet point up to a maximum of 4 marks.
• Political influences
• Economic influences
• Social influences
• Technology influences
b) State one of the influences that you identified in Question 8 a) and outline 3 THREE (3) ways that the influence could impact negatively on the development
of the information system.
The total number of marks to be awarded for this question is 3 marks.
Political influences
Award 1 mark for each bullet point up to a maximum of 3 marks.
• Government regulations
• Changes of government
• Government grants
• Pressure groups
• Wars and conflicts
• Laws/regulations
• Limitations to expansion
• Limitations to developing a competitive strategy
• Limitations to potential mergers
Economic influences
Award 1 mark for each bullet point up to a maximum of 3 marks.
• Interest rates
• Exchange rates
• Taxation issues
• International financial issues
• Recession
• Demand
• Supply
• Market growth
• Market decline
• The labour market
• Government policies and regulations
Marks
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Society influences
Award 1 mark for each bullet point up to a maximum of 3 marks.
• Advertising/marketing/publicity
• Lifestyle trends
• Consumer attitudes and opinions
• A brand, company, or technology image
• Consumer buying trends
• Fashion and role models
• Major events
• Cultural factors
• Ethical factors
• Environmental factors
Technology influences
Award 1 mark for each bullet point up to a maximum of 3 marks.
• Technology is out-of-date/poor quality
• Technology is operated by inexperienced/insufficiently trained staff
• Timescales for implementation of the technology are unrealistic
• Requirements/timescales/resources/budget/staff training/
implementation of the technology is not planned adequately
• Only one solution for implementing technology is considered
• System components are developed individually which could lead to
possible system incompatibility/extra costs/extra time/inefficiencies
• There is insufficient funding available for the technology
• Designs for a new system are complex
• Developers are inexperienced
c) Recommend THREE (3) solutions to manage the negative influences that you 3 have outlined in Question 8 b)
Award 1 mark for each bullet point up to a maximum of 3 marks.
• Produce a requirements specification which identifies and documents the negative political/economic/society/technology influences
• Produce a requirements specification which identifies solutions to the negative political/economic/society/technology influences
• A systems analyst(s) and stakeholder(s) should agree solutions to the negative political/economic/society/technology influences
• General solutions, e.g. potential opportunities, etc.
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Total 10 Marks
Marks
Question 9
a) Information gathering methods, for example, the use of interviews, can be used 4 during analysis. Discuss FOUR (4) advantages of using interviews during
information systems analysis at Urban Delivery Services.
Award 1 mark for each bullet point up to a maximum of 4 marks.
• Direct method of collecting information
• Allows detailed questions to be asked
• Opinions, feelings and perceptions can be offered
• Problems can be identified
• Can aid in-depth understanding
• Useful if no documentary evidence is available
• Can facilitate in-depth fact finding
• Adds a human dimension
• Interviewer can offer explanations
• Ambiguities can be clarified
• Can achieve a high response rate
b) Describe THREE (3) disadvantages of using interviews while undertaking 3 analysis at the company.
Award 1 mark for each bullet point up to a maximum of 3 marks.
• Time-consuming method
• Interviewees might be unavailable
• Quality of data depend on the skills of the interviewer
• Interviewer may be biased/leading questions
• Data will need to be documented, might need to be done post-interview
• Can be more expensive than other methods
c) Identify THREE (3) other information gathering methods that could be used at the 3 company.
Award 1 mark for each bullet point up to a maximum of 3 marks. • Questionnaires/surveys
• Focus groups
• Observation
• Documentation
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Total 10 Marks
Marks
Marks
a) Describe FIVE (5) pieces of information that could be discovered about tasks that 5
are undertaken by staff at Urban Delivery Services if task analysis is undertaken.
Award 1 mark for each bullet point up to a maximum of 5 marks.
• Task workflow
• Distribution of work
• A user’s work skills
• Frequency of use of technology
• The order in which tasks are performed
• An accurate alternative answer
b) Outline FIVE (5) features that the interface of the information system at Urban 5 Delivery Services should provide to ensure that staff can use it without any
problems.
Question 10
Award 1 mark for each bullet point up to a maximum of 5 marks.
• It is user friendly/easy to learn/easy to use/intuitive
• It provides clear, simple features/instructions
• It provides instant feedback/clear feedback
• It offers guided actions
• It is accessible
• It is consistent
• It is reliable
• User demographics have been considered
End of Paper
Total 10 Marks
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Learning Outcomes matrix
Grade descriptors
Marks
Question
Learning Outcomes assessed
Marker can differentiate between varying levels of achievement
1
1
Yes
2
1
Yes
3
2
Yes
4
2
Yes
5
3
Yes
6
4
Yes
7
4
Yes
8
5
Yes
9
6
Yes
10
6
Yes
Learning Outcome
Pass
Merit
Distinction
Understand soft and hard approaches to the analysis of information systems
Demonstrate adequate level of understanding
Demonstrate robust level of understanding
Demonstrate highly comprehensive level of understanding
Understand the techniques associated with requirements capture
Demonstrate adequate understanding of techniques
Demonstrate robust understanding of techniques
Demonstrate highly comprehensive understanding of techniques
Understand the different viewpoints associated with IS methodologies
Demonstrate adequate level of understanding
Demonstrate robust level of understanding
Demonstrate highly comprehensive level of understanding
Be able to apply various analytical techniques for understanding a complex organisational environment
Demonstrate adequate and appropriate application of techniques
Demonstrate sound and consistently appropriate application of techniques
Demonstrate detailed and highly appropriate application of techniques
Understand the relationship between the economic, social, political and technical factors influencing a business problem
Demonstrate adequate level of understanding
Demonstrate robust level of understanding
Demonstrate highly comprehensive level of understanding
Understand and apply the principles of interface design and the requirements and characteristics of users that motivate these
Demonstrate adequate and appropriate application of principles
Demonstrate sound and consistently appropriate application of principles
Demonstrate detailed and highly appropriate application of principles
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