CHAPTER 7 THE SYSTEM LIFE CYCLE

PAST PAPER
1. Company is planning to improve its computer system. They have employed a systems analyst
who is recording and analysing information about the current system.
(a) Describe why he needs to identify the inputs, processing and outputs of the current
system.
2. A sports club is planning a new computerised record keeping system to replace their manual
system.
(a) A systems analyst recommends that new software is required. The analyst could either
write the software or purchase it off the shelf.
Give two advantages to the sports club of the analyst writing the software.
(b) Explain why it is better to use a computer to store the records rather than the manual
system.
(c) The systems analyst recommends that the system is implemented using direct changeover,
but the sports club feel that parallel running should be used.
Describe direct changeover and parallel running, giving a different benefit and drawback of
using each method of implementation.
Direct changeover
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Drawback ...................................................................................................................................
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Parallel running .........................................................................................................................
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Benefit ......................................................................................................................................
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Drawback ..................................................................................................................................
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3. During the analysis stage for a new computer system, the systems analyst could examine
existing documents.
(a) Name two other methods the systems analyst could use to research the current system.
Give one benefit and one drawback of each.
(b) When the new computer system has been produced, it will need to be tested. There are
three types of test data that can be used to test a system, normal, abnormal and extreme.
Explain what is meant by normal, abnormal and extreme test data.
Normal ......................................................................................................................................
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Abnormal ..................................................................................................................................
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Extreme ....................................................................................................................................
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Following testing and implementation, documentation needs to be produced.

(c) Tick three elements you would only find in technical documentation.

4. The systems life cycle is followed when a new computer system is being created.
Tick whether the following statements are examples of the Analysis stage, the Design stage
or the Evaluation stage of the systems life cycle.

5. As student data is entered into a school registration system it needs to be verified.

(a) Name two types of verification.
(a) Explain using examples why it is necessary to carry out validation as well as verification
for this system.
6. The systems life cycle is shown. The Design, Evaluation, Documentation and Implementation
stages are missing.
Write these stages into their correct places.

7. Tawara High School has developed a new computerised system to timetable lessons and
examinations. The school needs the new system to be in use before the start of the new school
year. The school is planning to implement the new system using either direct changeover or
parallel running.
(a) Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using direct changeover compared with
parallel running as a method of implementing the system.
In your answer name the method you would use, giving reasons for your choice.
8. The network manager at a school has been asked to develop a student registration system to
help staff keep a record of student attendance.
(a) Describe the steps required in the analysis of such a system.
9. A teacher is creating a spreadsheet that will record the grades students achieved in recent tests
and compare the average grades of these tests with the students’ forecast grades. The grading
the teacher is using awards 1 for the highest grade down to 10 for the lowest. The teacher has
created a validation rule on the grade entered.
Give examples of data used to test the validation rule. Your answers for abnormal test data
must be for a different reason in each case.
10. A new database system has been set up for a bookshop. Part of a record from the database
system is shown. Each field has a validation check which needs to be tested.
(a) For each field identify the most appropriate validation check. Each check must be
different. The validation checks for two fields have already been identified; these types of
validation check must not be used for the other fields.

(b) The Purchase_price field uses a range check. The prices of books range from 1 to 100.
Identify three items of test data which could be used with the Purchase_price field, giving
reasons for your choice. The reasons must be different in each case.

11. Two types of documentation are written when a new computer system is created. Some items
only appear in the technical documentation and other items only in the user documentation
whereas some items appear in both.
Tick (3) whether the following items only appear in Technical documentation, only appear
in User documentation or appear in Both.

12. The owner of a soccer club has employed a systems analyst to create a new computerised
system to store details of club members.
The systems analyst starts by researching the existing system. One way he could do this is to
interview members of the soccer club.
(a) Discuss the benefits and drawbacks of individually interviewing the members.
13. A computer system uses two types of documentation: technical and user. Some items only
appear in the technical documentation and other items only in the user documentation,
whereas some items appear in both.
 Tick (3) whether the following items appear only in Technical documentation, only in User
documentation or in Both.

14. Tick (✓) the most appropriate method of implementation to match the statements below.

15. The owner of Tawara Hotels is planning a new computerised booking system. There are ten
Tawara Hotels throughout the world. The current booking system allows people to book
rooms in any of the Tawara Hotels. He has employed a systems analyst to research the current
system and then install the new system.
When analysing the current booking system, the systems analyst must identify the user
requirements.
Explain why it is important for the systems analyst to do this.
16. Tick (✓) the relevant stage of the systems life cycle for each of the following activities.

17. Before the new booking system is installed, the systems analyst has to decide on a method of
implementation. One method of implementation is pilot running.
Name two other methods of implementation and describe two benefits of each.

18. Tick (✓) whether the following descriptions of analysing a system refer to Interviews,
Observation or Questionnaires.

19. Tick (3) whether the following advantages of analysing a system refer to looking at existing
paperwork, observation or questionnaires.
20. Tawara Tours has created a new online booking system to allow customers to book holidays.
The system was written using modules.
(a) Describe how the new system could be tested prior to it becoming operational.

21. A system can be analysed using different methods.

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of analysing a system by interviewing staff rather
than using questionnaires.
22. The manager of a medical centre keeps the doctor’s stock records in a database. The stock for
any item is not allowed to fall below 15 items and the manager keeps a maximum of 100
items in stock.
The table shows examples of the stock.

As data is entered it needs to be verified and validated.

(a) Explain why verification is carried out.
(b) Write down the field name from the table that would be the most appropriate for each of
these validation checks. Each answer must be different.
Check digit ..............................................................................................................
Length ....................................................................................................................
Type ........................................................................................................................

23. A teacher is setting up a database which she will use to record her student’s exam marks. The
teacher is planning to test the mark range using different types of test data. The range of
marks that the teacher can award is 0 to 100.
(i)Write down one example of extreme test data that the teacher can use to check the range.
(ii) Extreme test data is one type of test data. The teacher uses two other pieces of test data.
Write down the type of test data for each of the examples.
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24. The secretary of a sports club is setting up a database of members to replace the current
manual system. He will need to create a database structure.
Describe the steps involved in setting up and testing the database structure before it can be
used in the new system.
25. When the new system is completed it needs to be implemented. The secretary of the sports
club can implement it using direct changeover or parallel running.
Describe the term parallel running, giving one benefit and one drawback of using this method
of implementation.