UNIVERSITY OF LIVINGSTONIA
FACULTY OF APPLIED SCIENCES
DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER ENGINEERING
(MUSHROOM-FARM LODGE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM)
BY
GROUP 2
DANIEL JERE
TADIWANASHE CHIBWEYA
JOSHUA GONDWE
EDWIN SABITI
EMMANUEL NTHENDA
CEN/01/61/18
CEN/01/503/19
CEN/01/108/19
CEN/01/27/20
ICT/01/16/20
A Proposal Research Document Submitted to the Department of Computer
Engineering in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirement for the Award of the
Degree of Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering of University of
Livingstonia
Supervisor
MR. J. KAIRA
(Department of Computer Engineering, jkaira@unilia.ac.mw, +265 991013806)
24th February, 2023
Version 1
ABSTRACT
Mushroom Farm Management System is developed to be used by the staff and
for better management of the lodge process as well as to accommodate visitors.
It is used to give facility to the user as in management and likewise customers who
tend to visit the beautiful place for holidays and leisure. It is also developed to
replace the manual system that is used before. There have been many problems
during use manual system, like data redundancy, lost or damage. The scopes that
exist in this system are booking online room, rent room, make payment using
system, generate report for the lodge, make a checklist and make an ordering
using system that provided in this Resort. Data used in this study will be collected
using observation, reviewing of existing documents, and interview methods.
Interviews will be conducted using interview guides. The tool will be implemented
using MySQL database software and the PHP programming language. The tool will
be tested and validated using sample data obtained from the Mushroom Farm.
This tool will be useful at the Resort in speeding up the process of determining the
status of clients' requests submitted, thereby propelling the business of this place
forward.
i|Page
Table of Contents
ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................... i
1.0 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................... 1
1.1 Background Information ................................................................................ 1
1.1.1 Current Situation.......................................................................................... 1
1.1.2 AREA UNDER STUDY ........................................................................................ 1
1.1.2.1 Scope Description.................................................................................... 1
1.1.2.2 Manual and Automated activities ........................................................ 2
1.1.3 Project Deliverables ....................................................................................... 2
1.2 Problem statement............................................................................................ 3
1.3 GENERAL AND SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES ............................................................. 3
1.3.1 General objective .......................................................................................... 3
1.3.2 Specific objective .......................................................................................... 3
1.4 Significance of the study .................................................................................. 3
2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................................. 5
2.1 Brief overview of Lodge management system ............................................ 5
2.2 The Effectiveness of a Cloud-Based Lodge Management System ........... 5
3.0 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND PROJECT PLAN ............................................. 5
3.1 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ................................................................................ 6
3.2 PROJECT PLAN ....................................................................................................... 8
3.2.1 Project cost ......................................................................................................... 9
4.0 REFERENCES....................................................................................................... 11
5.0 APPENDIX .......................................................................................................... 12
5.1 GLOSSARY ..........................................................................................................12
ii | P a g e
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background Information
Lodge management systems have been developed to meet the needs of the
hospitality industry, particularly in managing accommodations such as hotels,
motels, resorts, and lodges. These systems automate the process of managing
guest reservations, room assignments, billing, and other administrative tasks,
reducing the burden on staff and improving the guest experience. In recent
years, the demand for lodge management systems has increased significantly
due to the growth of the tourism and hospitality industries. With the rise of online
booking and mobile technologies, guests expect to be able to make
reservations and manage their bookings online. Lodge management systems
have evolved over time to incorporate features such as housekeeping
scheduling, inventory management, and point-of-sale systems. Some systems
have also integrated with other technologies, such as channel management
and revenue management software, to help maximize revenue and
occupancy rates.
1.1.1 Current Situation
The current system of Mushroom-farm Lodge is manual, which lacks proper
management and affects the guest experience and profitability of the
business. The lodge struggles to provide a high-quality service to its guests due
to inefficient operations, poor communication, and inadequate inventory and
data management. This has resulted in a loss of business, revenue, and
damaged reputation. Therefore, the development of a comprehensive
management system is necessary to streamline operations, improve
communication, and provide an efficient inventory and data management
system.
1.1.2 AREA UNDER STUDY
1.1.2.1 Scope Description
The scope of the work is restricted and specific to the Mushroom Farm Lodge.
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1.1.2.2 System features or Automated activities
•
Room management:
This feature will allow the lodge staff to manage and assign rooms to guests
based on their preferences, availability, and pricing. It will also include the
ability to track room occupancy and availability in real-time. Inventory
management will be included, where the system will be able to keep all the
necessary records, including the records of all assets owned by the students'
union.
•
Billing and payment:
This feature will allow for the creation and management of invoices, as well
as the processing of guest payments through various payment methods
such as cash or electronic transfers.
•
Reservation Management:
This feature will allow lodge staff to manage bookings and reservations
efficiently, ensuring that no double bookings will occur, and guests will be
allocated the right rooms. This will also include options for online booking and
payment processing.
1.1.3 Project Deliverables
The printed copies shall include:
•
Project Proposal
•
Software Requirements Specification Document
•
Detailed Design Document
•
Final project report
•
User Manual
The software products shall be:
•
A web-based application for Mushroom-Farm lodge management
system.
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1.2 Problem statement
The lack of a proper management system at the mushroom-farm lodge is causing
serious problems for the business. Without a comprehensive system in place, the
lodge is struggling to provide a high-quality service to its guests. This not only affects
the guest experience but also the profitability of the business. The situation is likely
to worsen if left unaddressed, resulting in a loss of business, income, and damaged
status. Therefore, it is essential to develop a management system that streamlines
operations, improves communication, and provides an efficient inventory and
data management system. By doing so, we can ensure that the mushroom-farm
lodge delivers an exceptional experience to its guests while maximizing its revenue
potential.
1.3 GENERAL AND SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
1.3.1 General objective
To develop a web-based management system for the mushroom-farm lodge
that shall streamline operations, improve communication, and provide an
efficient inventory and data management system.
1.3.2 Specific objectives
•
To create a user-friendly interface for staff to manage daily operations.
•
To automate and optimize the process of managing guest reservations
and bookings to reduce errors and minimize manual efforts.
•
To ensure it remains relevant and effective in meeting the evolving
needs of the lodge.
•
To implement and deploy the system to its users.
1.4 Significance of the study
Due to the yearly increase in tourism, there is a pressing need for research to
address the challenges of effective management. Maintaining the lodge's
operations is essential, and therefore the study will be significant in the
following ways.
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•The management system will help to streamline the operations of the
mushroom-farm lodge or hotel by providing a centralized platform for
managing various tasks such as reservations, bookings, customer data, and
inventory management. This will help in improving the overall efficiency of the
system.
•The system will help in managing inventory more efficiently by automating the
process of tracking and managing stock levels. This will ensure that the lodge
or hotel is well-stocked with essential items, such as toiletries, bedding, and
cleaning supplies.
•The management system will provide an efficient data management system
by storing all the relevant data, such as customer details, booking history, and
inventory data, in a centralized database. This will make it easier to access and
manage the data, thereby improving the decision-making process.
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2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Brief overview of Lodge management system
Research has shown that implementing a lodge management system can
improve customer service, increase revenue, and reduce operating costs.
Additionally, these systems can help lodges to better manage their inventory and
pricing, as well as provide insights into guest behaviour and preferences. In terms
of technology, lodge management systems have evolved from on-premise
systems to cloud-based solutions, providing greater flexibility and scalability. Some
vendors offer mobile apps that enable staff to access the system from anywhere,
increasing efficiency and improving guest experience.
2.2 The Effectiveness of a Cloud-Based Lodge Management System
[1] examined the effectiveness of a cloud-based lodge management system
in improving the efficiency and profitability of a small lodge in South Korea. The
authors found that the system helped to reduce labour costs, increase room
occupancy rates, and improve customer satisfaction. However, the study was
limited by its small sample size and its focus on a single lodge.
2.3 Factors Affecting the Adoption and Implementation of Lodge
Management Systems in Vietnam
[2] investigated the factors that influence the adoption and implementation
of lodge management systems in Vietnam. The authors identified several key
factors, including perceived usefulness, ease of use, compatibility with existing
systems, and technical support. The study found that these factors were
important in determining whether lodges were willing to adopt and use
management systems. However, the study was limited by its focus on a single
country and its reliance on self-reported data from lodge owners.
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In conclusion, the literature on lodge management systems is limited but
provides valuable insights into their potential benefits and limitations. The
studies reviewed suggest that these systems can help to improve the efficiency
and profitability of lodges, as well as enhance customer satisfaction. However,
more research is needed to better understand the factors that influence the
adoption and implementation of these systems, as well as their long-term
effectiveness.
3.0 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND PROJECT PLAN
3.1 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
The system will be created using the iterative waterfall approach.
The chosen methodology allows for iterations due to its model [4]. Iterations
are beneficial because they enable the review and repetition of certain
procedures that were not satisfactorily completed.
Another reason why the methodology has been chosen is that the
requirements are clear and thus the iterative waterfall method is favourable
[4]. Another reason why the model was opted for is that the system is cheaper
where the requirements are clear [4]. Another reason why the methodology has
been opted for is that it ensures phase containment of errors [4]. This shall help to
identify errors as close to their time of introduction as possible.
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FIGURE 1: Stages of waterfall model
The first phase of the methodology is the requirement analysis phase. In this
phase the users of the system are asked to specify how they would like to have
the system achieve specifically and sometimes how they want the system to
achieve what they need [5]. In this system the users shall be asked to give their
views and their preferences on the system. This shall be done by the means of
interactive method, interview in particular, shall be used. The requirements shall
be gathered from the workers, owners and the students.
The second phase in the iterative waterfall model is the designing phase. In this
phase, the requirements are used to come up with a logical as well as the
physical design of the system [5].In this phase data flow diagrams (DFDs) shall
be done. The entity relation diagrams shall be used to give a graphical or
diagrammatical representation of the database design ideas.
The third phase in the iterative waterfall model is the coding or the
implementation phase. This phase is where the technical implementation of
the designs is done. The system being proposed shall use HTML, CSS and PHP.
PHP shall be used to develop on the server side of the system as well as on the
web pages that shall be included. The language shall be used because it is
efficient in coming up with dynamic web pages and interactive web pages
[6]. Another reason for usage of PHP is its compatibility with the MYSQL Server
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which shall be used [5]. Other reasons why PHP shall be used are that it is
scalable, efficient in execution and it is flexible [4]. HTML, CSS shall be used on
the front-end part of the system. CSS and HTML shall be used to enhance the
appearance of the web pages on the web part of the system.
After completing the coding phase, the testing phase begins. This phase shall
be adopted with the aim of checking if the system is working as intended. “It
is much less costly to catch problems before rather than after the system is
signed over to users” [5]. This highlights the importance of performing system
tests to the system.
One of the tests that will be carried out in the testing phase is the unit testing.
In this test small pieces of code will be logically isolated from the entire system
and they are tested if they are operating as intended.
After unit testing, integration testing shall be conducted. This test shall be done to
test how particular modules are working together after their integration.
The third kind of test that shall be carried out in this phase is the system testing.
In this kind of test, the integrated modules shall be tested to evaluate the
overall performance of the system.
The last kind of testing that shall be conducted is the user acceptance test. This
test shall be conducted with the aim of ensuring that the user is satisfied with
the final product.
After completing the testing phase, the deployment phase shall be entered.
The system shall be deployed for the end users. The system shall adopt the
parallel running implementation method. The parallel running method shall
allow both the manual and the automated systems to operate concurrently
until the users are ready to entirely change to the new system. This helps the
users to have an ample time learning the new system.
3.2 PROJECT PLAN
Page 8 of 16
3.2.1 Project cost
The table below shows the approximate budget of the project:
Resource
Approximate Cost (MK)
Airtime
24, 000
Printing
30,000
Transport
20,000
Laptop
300,000
Compact Disk
5,000
Total
379,000
3.2.2 Project schedule
The table below shows the GANT CHART
ID
TASK
20th 24th 2nd
6th
13th 20th 22nd 27th 3rd
7th
FEB Feb MAR MAR MAR MAR MAR MAR APR AP
R
1
Concept Note
Submission
2 Proposal
Version 1
Submission
3 Proposal
Presentation
4 Final Proposal
Submission
5 SRS Version 1
Submission
6 SRS
Presentation
7 SRS Final
Submission
8 DDD Version 1
Submission
9 DDD
Presentation
10 DDD Final
Submission
11 Coding and
Testing
Page 9 of 16
8-27th
APR
28th 5th
AP M
R
AY
12
13
Final System
Demonstration
Final
Document
Submission
Page 10 of 16
4.0 REFERENCES
[1] Kim, H., Han, J., & Lee, J. (2017). The Effectiveness of a Cloud-Based
Lodge Management System. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism
Technology, 8(3), 315-329.
[2] Chen, Y., & Huang, Y. (2019). The Impact of Mobile-Based Lodge
Management System on Customer Satisfaction. Journal of Tourism
Research, 21(1), 37-54.
[3] T. Habibu, K. Sharif and S. Nicholas, "International Journal of Computer &
Organization Trends (IJCOT)," Design and Implementation of Electronic,
vol. 45, no. 1, 1 August 2017.
[4] S. K. PAL, "Software Engineering | Iterative Waterfall Model," 29
September 2021. [Online]. Available:
https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/software-engineering-iterative-waterfallmodel/. [Accessed 31 October 2022].
[5] K. E. Kendall and J. E. Kendall, Systems Analysis and Design, 10 ed.,
PEARSON, 2019.
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5.0 APPENDIX
5.1 GLOSSARY
MySQL
Relational database management system
GB
Gigabyte
SRS
Software Requirements Specification
CSS
Cascading Style Sheets
PHP
PHP: Hypertext Pre-processor
DDD
Detailed Design Document
SQL
Structured Query Language
ERD
Entity Relation Diagram
DFD
Data Flow Diagram
HTML
Hypertext Markup Language
OOP
Object Oriented Programming
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