Week 6 Post

Where to start…the topic is huge.  However I’ll start by saying that a user interface must be simple to use and do what users expect it to do.  So many systems fail in that regard.  Certain web based user interfaces at CQU are not simple and are not intuitive. A good example of this is the http://www.cqu.edu.au/students/index.htm. While this site is aesthetically pleasing it is not logically laid out in a manner that I believe many students would expect.  For example while there are many links there are none to the actual e-courses site where you can find your course website and if there are, they are difficult to find.  A student must know the address to get there, in my case:

http://e-courses.cqu.edu.au/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab=courses&url=/bin/common/course.pl?course_id=_3166_.

In addition the “online courses” link in the index takes one to the “blackboard Academic Suite” which is part of e-courses but gives you no way of getting to your actual course website (that I can see)  and also appears to be frame based. Very confusing!

A lot of the confusion could be eliminated by providing a direct link to the course websites: http://webfuse.cqu.edu.au/Courses/ from the www.cqu.edu.au/students/index.htm page. If a user follows the webfuse route above they get to their course site easily and there are no frames.  If a user follows the e-courses route they get to the same place but also get the problem highlighted below:

In addition, the inability of users to be able to save a complete url when in the e-courses site is very frustrating.  In recent years the site has been upgraded and I am assuming that framesets/java prevent a user saving the full url as a favourite.  What you actually get is a url to the Blackboard Academic suite and not the full url to the course site. This means that a user has to go through a full search of the course site every time just to get on it (the course eg: cois20025).  Frustrating!

In conclusion, I do not believe that the designers of at least the above 2 x sites at cqu had the student user in mind when the sites were designed.  There are too many links, the choices are confusing and the links do not take a user to where they expect to go in some cases.

Week 4 Post

What were the most important concepts you learnt about data and process modelling this week?

The basic symbol set used in DFD’s is the most important concept that I have learned this week.  My reasoning is because if the basic sysbols are not understood, there is no possible way that a context diagram or a diagram 0 DFD can be drawn successfully.

Why do you think those concepts are important?

These concepts are a vital tool used to descibe an information system and how input data is transformed into useful information.  Understanding just what a process is and the relationship between symbols is critical if the information system is to be described correctly.

What are the data and process modelling concepts that are still causing you the greatest problems?

I am still having some difficulty in coming to grips with the relationship between the context diagram and diagram 0 DFD.  I understand that a diagram 0 is a more detailed view of each entity in the context diagram.  However, using p 159 of the textbook as an example; why was the grading system process symbol (process 0) replaced with a datastore? Is it because the expanded view does not require the symbol because you are looking inside it?  In addition while I understand the basic concept of functional primitives, how do you know when you are at the lowest level possible?

How might the problems you are having be solved?

Further research, use of the course bulletin board, asking these questions directly to a lecturer and much more practice!

Week 3 Post

Click here for the link to my Chart. I decided to add it as a link rather than a picture as it is just too large to display in my blog.

Week 2 Post

What are the skills and knowldege that a good systems analyst requires? 

A Systems Analyst requires a wide range of skills to be successful. Cashman (Shelly, Cashman, Rosenblatt, 2006, p.26) characterises these skills as;

a)    Good technical knowledge,

b)    Strong written communication and oral skills,

c)    Good analytical ability, and

d)    An understanding of business operations and processes.

However, a variety of factors have a bearing on the level of skill required. The organisation structure, the type of organisation (Product or Service or both) and the business profile (Cashman et al, 2006, p. 29) will also have a bearing on the mix of skills required for the task.  An E Commerce business may require an analyst to have a very strong technical knowledge while a business that sells products may require an analyst who has a very good understanding of business processes.  Clearly the type of business plays a significant role in determining the skills and knowledge base required of a Systems Analyst.

Certification is an area that should not be overlooked; certification by a recognised institution demonstrates a certain level of knowledge and skills to potential employers. In addition it is an excellent method of honing skills in a specific areas. Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) and Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) certification courses are just a few that are available.  While not essential, many employers view certification as being an important facet in a hiring decision.

How do you plan to develop these skills?

In my job as a Systems Administrator, I am finding that a generalist degree is simply not specific enough for the complex network environment that I work with on a day to day basis.  A MCSA course hopefully should provide me with the skills that I need to come to grips with the complexities of my job.

In addition, I am finding the need for highly developed communication skills to be an absolute necessity for my job.  I aim to continue developing my written and analytical skiils while completing this course and also to gain an insight into the various business models that can be used to represent my employer’s business processes.  I am also hopeful of gaining useful information about my current job and also about this course by being an active participant in the Discussion Forum on the course website. 

Give a brief outline of your experience with the development or use of Information Systems.

While I have little Systems Analysis experience, I have had considerable experience in the use of Information Technology, having first become aware of it in the early 1990’s. From studying Information Technology at both TAFE and University to owning and operating my own IT repair business in the late 1990’s, it has been a major part of my life for many years.  Of all the things I have learned with regard to IT over the years, two stand out as being the most important for me; the need to continually update my skills and the need for excellent communication skills so as to determine what my clients are asking for.  I am hopeful that this course will assist me in meeting these needs.