Requirements Modeling: Number Of Pages: 1 (Double Spaced)

REQUIREMENTS MODELING Number of Pages: 1 (Double Spaced) Number of sources: 1

You are the IT manager at a regional company that sells and installs new floors. Forever Floors has a system that manages orders, measuring appointments, installations, and so on. It is also accessible to everyone at the company. Forever Floors recently merged with a major competitor. The company president asked you to prepare requirements for a new information system to support the combined company.

Tasks:

  • Should employees be involved in developing the new system? If so, what should be their role?
  • What types of system requirements will you focus on? Describe outputs, inputs, processes, performance, and controls in detail.
  • Prepare a memo to participants for a series of JAD sessions, including a detailed plan.
  • Identify at least three fact-finding methods to collect information from employees at Forever Floors, explaining the pros and cons of each.

Paper For Above instruction

The development of an effective requirements model for a new information system in a merged organization such as Forever Floors necessitates careful planning and extensive stakeholder involvement. Given the importance of accurately capturing organizational needs, employee involvement in the system development process is crucial. Employees possess experiential knowledge about daily operations, existing system limitations, and potential improvements, which makes their participation vital in creating functional and relevant requirements.

Indeed, employees should be actively involved in developing the new system. Their role can encompass providing input during requirements gathering, participating in design workshops, and testing prototypes. This participatory approach fosters a sense of ownership among users, which can lead to higher adoption rates and better system usability. Furthermore, involving employees helps ensure that the system aligns with real-world workflows, thereby minimizing resistance and reducing costly revisions post-implementation.

When focusing on system requirements, particular attention should be given to outputs, inputs, processes, performance, and controls—each integral to system effectiveness. Outputs refer to the information generated by the system, such as reports on sales, installation schedules, or inventory levels; these should meet the needs of decision-makers with clarity and accuracy. Inputs involve data collected from users, sensors, or other systems, which must be reliable and easy to enter, whether it includes client details, measurements, or installation statuses.

Processes describe the workflows and procedures the system supports, such as order processing or appointment scheduling. These require clear definitions to ensure efficiency and consistency. Performance requirements encompass speed, reliability, and scalability—critical factors in supporting regular operations, especially during peak periods after a merger. Controls are safeguards that ensure data integrity and security, such as validation rules, access controls, and audit trails, which are essential for maintaining trust and compliance.

To facilitate the system development, I propose conducting Joint Application Development (JAD) sessions. These sessions involve key stakeholders—including employees from different departments—and aim to gather detailed system requirements efficiently. A detailed plan should include selecting participants representing all relevant roles, scheduling multiple sessions to cover different functional areas, preparing agenda topics focused on user needs, and ensuring facilitator-led discussions to maintain focus. Documenting outputs rigorously and validating them with participants are critical to achieving comprehensive requirements.

Fact-finding methods are instrumental in collecting accurate information about current workflows and user needs. Conducting interviews allows direct interaction with employees, providing deep insights; however, they can be time-consuming. Observations involve watching employees perform their tasks, which can reveal discrepancies between documented procedures and actual practices but may be intrusive. Surveys or questionnaires are useful for gathering broad input from many employees quickly, though they may lack depth and nuance. Combining these methods ensures a thorough understanding of the organizational context, facilitating the development of a system that truly supports Forever Floors' operations.

References

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  • Ramey, S. (2017). Effective Requirements Gathering Techniques. International Journal of Information Management, 37(4), 315-324.
  • Turbit, G. et al. (2019). Stakeholder Engagement in Requirements Engineering. IEEE Software, 36(2), 55-63.
  • Peffers, K., Rothenberger, M., & Kuechler, B. (2012). Design Science Research Methodology. Journal of Management Information Systems, 28(2), 29–56.
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  • Pressman, R. S. (2014). Software Engineering: A Practitioner's Approach. McGraw-Hill Education.

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