BISI 4230 - Case Study 2 (prepare for in-class discussion)
Willowbrook School
Solutions
1. Do you think this is a feasible project? Justify your answer, and address each type of
feasibility, noting any unusual challenges that Willowbrook School might present
when evaluating feasibility.
Refer to in-class discussion
2. List the system requirements for the new fee billing system. Give at least one
example of how to achieve more effective outputs, inputs, processes, performance,
and controls.
[Note: answers will vary, but be encouraged to use imagination.]
Typical examples might include the following:
 Outputs: The system must provide monthly bills that break down fees by type,
together with a grand total for the month.
 Inputs: The data entry screen for drop-in after-care should allow for entry of
multiple drop-in after-care uses.
 Processes: The system should be able to produce a single bill for families with
more than one child at Willowbrook.
 Performance: The system must prepare billing statements for distribution one
week prior to the first of the month, and a summary report for the finance
committee for the third Monday of the month.
 Controls: The system must provide security that prevents volunteer workers from
accessing and updating billing information.
3. Draw an FDD that shows the main operations described in the fact statement.
[Note: Answers will vary.]
A typical FDD might resemble the following diagram:
FDD for Willowbrook School Billing System
Billing System
Calculate monthly bills
Generate monthly fee report
Receive and post fee payments
Generate receipt
Obtain drop-in after-care charges
Apply fixed fees
Generate monthly bill
4. Prepare an ERD for the information system of Willowbrook School.
Answers will vary here, depending on how you conceptualize the entities. A sample
diagram follows:
STUDENT
ENROLLED IN
AFTERCARE AND
ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
CREATES BILL
ACCOUNTING
SYSTEM
PAYMENT
PARENT
GENERATES
REPORT
FINANCE
COMMITTEE
5. Prepare a context diagram and diagram 0 DFD for the new system.
Again, answers will vary here. It is important that the answers for Assignments 1
and 2 illustrate that students understand how entities are handled differently in
ERD’s and DFDs. A sample context diagram and diagram 0 DFD follow:
Initial Context Diagram for Willowbrook School’s Information System
Payment
Registrations
Parent
Student Data
Academic and
AfterCare
Programs
0
Receipt
Bill
Willowbrook
Information
System
Drop-In Hours
Reports
Report Data
Receipt Data
Accounting
system
Payment Data
Diagram 0 DFD for Willowbrook School’s Information System
Finance
Committee
Payment
Data
4
Payment
Reco rd
Pa y ments
Pa rent
Fina nce
Co mmittee
Acco unting
Sy stem
Receipt
Report Data
5
Reports
Genera te
Receipts
Student
Data
Bill
Receipt Data
3
6
Genera te
Bills
Genera te
Mo nthly
Repo rts
Fixed
fees
2
D5
Dro p-In Da ta
Variable
Monthly Fees
Drop-in Report
D2
Registration
Data
Genera te
Dro p-In
Repo rt
Reg istra tio n da ta
1
Registration Data
Reg ister
Students
6. Prepare a list of data stores and data flows needed for the system. Under each data
store, list the data elements required.
The data flows are as follows:
Aca demic a nd
AfterCa re
Pro g ra ms
DropIn
hours
Bill
Drop-in Hours
Drop-in Report
Fixed Fees
Payment
Payment Data
Receipt
Receipt Data
Registration Data
Report Data
Reports
Student Data
Variable Monthly Fees
The Data Stores are as follows:
Drop-In Data
Registration Data
Data Elements for each data store are as follows: (Note that answers may vary
here – students should pick out all the data elements identified in Chapter 3 as
existing, and should speak to new elements needed to create “family” bills.
Drop-In Data
Household #
Student Name
Student #
Month
Date of Attendance
Block Attended
Registration Data
Household #
Student #
Student Name
Monthly Fixed Fees