Hardware and software requirements
The factors to consider when choosing hardware and software required by the new system include:
Cost of the hardware and software
Acquisition methods
Upgradability
Compatibility with existing resources
Reliability.
User-friendliness
System Design
It be defined as follows: -
It is the process of transforming the Requirement Specifications into logical view of the system.
It is coming up with conceptual design of the new system as per Requirement Specifications that will solve
the problems defined in the problem definition.
System design objectives
The objective system design is to put the design structure of the real system in a form that can be interpreted. The
designed system should:
Meet user needs in a cost-effective way
Adhere to the constraints laid down in the Requirement Specifications
Produce correct outputs by processing data accurately and efficiently
Be simple to operate i.e. easy to use
Have sufficient built in controls and provide feedback to its user
Reliable and functional
System design constraints
Budget - A well-designed system incurs greater expenses. The total system cost of meeting the objectives
must be considered in the light of the available budget.
Time - Time taken to produce a very usable system would increase development cost and delay system
delivery.
Integration with other existing system - Existing and planned system may limit option and available
features of the system.
Skills - Limitation may arise from the range of skills and level of competence in both the design team and
the system users.
Standards - Standards may drive the design tasks in a specified direction.
Stages of System Design
It primarily comprises of the logical and the physical stage. These stages mainly involve formulating and coming up
with the following designs
Logical Design
Physical Design
Logical Design
It is a design that produces a blueprint of the new system by determining the logical data structures in terms of
inputs, procedures, outputs, storage and control the new system should have.
Logical Design Tools
Refer to the means of creating the Logical Design. These tools include.
Data Flow Diagrams
Entity Relationship
Flowchart
Data Flow Diagrams
It is set of shapes unified into a diagrammatic view of a system to represent its logical design.
Entity Relationship
It is pictorial representation of the logical design of a system using various shapes and lines.
Student Registration Number
Student Sujects
Flowchart
It can be defined as:
It the logical view of the system expressed using set of symbols combined in logical sequence.
It is a graphical logical model used to depict the overall functions and procedures of a system.
The set of standard symbols for designing a system flowchart are:
Symbol Use Symbol Use
Indicate start or end of For data processing
system operations Operation
Terminal Process
Indicate a decision For any type of data
point based on true or entered into a system
false condition
Decision
For any type of data Single reports or output
Stored data stored in a system Document that can be read
Multiple reports e.g. Report of information
report form
Multiple displayed on the screen
Display
documents for the for user to read
Database of structured Denotes manual Input
storage of records or into a system such as
files through keyboard
Database Manual Input
Predefined process Indicates an internal
such as procedure or storage device
module
Show continuation Cross-reference of a
(cross reference) of a flowchart within
flowchart within the multiple page
same Pare
On-page connector Off page connector
Indicates delay in a Indicates the logical
processing operation flow of processing
Delay operation
Flowline
Note: The additional tools that be used logical design tools are; models and structured charts.
Physical Design
Refer to process through which the logical design blueprint is transformed into the exert design specifications of
the candidate system that specifies exactly how it will work.
Physical Design specifications
The design specifications at these stages are:
Database design
File design
Input design
Processes design
output design
Database design
This process of establishing the various system entities and deciding an ideal database model which will translate
into the actual system.
File design
This is the process of determining the file structure and the number needed to form the database. This process
Input design
This is creation of an interface for; entering and validating field details of a given file(table) managing its records
and carrying out various data manipulation operation.
Note:
Recording management operations in a database table are, adding, saving, editing, deleting and
navigating records.
Data manipulation operation on a database form involves use of VBA codes and Macro to enhance
database functions and automate form operation.
The Input design interface for a database is a form
Process Design
It is developing user defined expressions and statements and making use inbuilt database functions to process and
manipulate information held in files (Tables) as per output specifications.
Process Design Tools
The most commonly used data processing tools in database are
VBA Codes
Macros
Structured Query Language (SQL), Expressions and Database Functions
Output Design
It means through which user consumes or access the information proceed by various process design tools
and that held in Files.