Business System Analysis

Chapter 1 Problems/Exercises1.)Why is it important to use systems analysis and design methodologies when building a system? Why not just build the system in whatever way seems to be â€Å"quick and easy?† What value is provided by using an â€Å"engineering† approach?It’s important to use systems analysis and design methodologies when building a system because it ensure the quality of the system being built, it is also tested and you are following an appropriate process that is very structural. If you build a system in whatever way seems to be quick and easy, it can result in a poorly developed system, yes it can be easier and cheaper but in the long run it can require extra work to maintain and more money to maintain it. The value that is provided by using an engineering approach is well designed, precise and systematic. 8.) How might prototyping be used as part of the SDLC?Prototyping is part of the feasibility analysis phase of SDLC. A simulated prototype of t he target system is created which gives the initial fee of the target system. This also helps in pre-analyzing the behavior of the target system.Chapter 2:3.) In the section on choosing off-the-shelf software, eight criteria are proposed for evaluating alternative packages. Suppose the choice is between alternative custom software developers rather than prewritten packages. What criteria would be appropriate to select and compare among competing bidders for custom development of an application? Define each of these criteria.The criteria for evaluating alternative packages from custom software developers would be: cost, functionality, and response time. As with custom software, you know from your bid that vendor support, viability of vender,  flexibility, documentation and ease of installation is taken care of, as the vendor will install the system, supply appropriate documentation, will ensure flexibility of software (if in the bid) and will offer support for its own software that it wrote for the company.As far as viability of vender, I would hope that someone checked out the company before giving a bid. When trying to decide which software a developer is going to go with we would want to follow pretty much the same criteria they we followed when going with an off-the-shelf software. Regardless if it’s an off-the-shelf or custom made I would still want the software to have the same features. Will the software developer have some sort of warranty; will they stand behind their product? Will it be easily installed? Cost, usefulness and will the developing company offer some sort of documentation.Off the shelf software, also known as â€Å"shrink-wrapped† or â€Å"canned† software, refers to standard (not custom) software applications. When you take off the shelf software out of the package, you automatically agree to the terms and conditions of the software license and agreement. The most common criteria for choosing off the shell software are the following: Cost, Functionality, Vendor Support, Flexibility, Documentation, Response, Time, and Ease of Installation.4. How might the project team recommending an ERP design strategy justify its recommendation as compared with other types of design strategies?By using a strategy through cost saving due to facilitated reuse/raw materials inventory and by innovating, integrating and transforming their design processes.

Approaches to Qualitative Research

Approaches to Qualitative Research Examples of qualitative methods are action research, case study research and ethnography. Qualitative data sources include observation and participant observation (fieldwork), interviews and questionnaires, documents and texts, and the researcher’s impressions and reactions Quantitative research Is mean of testing objective theories by examining the relationship among variables. These variables in turn can be measured typically on instruments, so that numbered data can be analyzed using statically procedures. Quantitative research methods were originally developed in the natural sciences to study natural phenomena. Examples of quantitative methods now well accepted in the social sciences include survey methods, laboratory experiments, formal methods (e.g. econometrics) and numerical methods such as mathematical modelling. Mixed methods Research Is an approach to inquiry that combines or associates both qualitative and quantitative forms? Its involves philosophical assumptions , the use of qualitative and quantitative approaches and mixing the both approaches in a study. .Mixed research is research in which quantitative and qualitative techniques are mixed in a single study. It is the third major research paradigm, adding an attractive alternative (when it is appropriate) to quantitative and qualitative research. Worldviews in Creswell Worldviews/ Paradigms are intellectual Frameworks embodying tradition of scientific Theories and research The research design (strategies of inquiry and specific methods) is based on the espoused paradigm Worldviews/Paradigms Ontology – what exists in reality _ Epistemology – what can we know; how can we acquire knowledge _ Methodology – which research methods are appropriate for generating valid evidence. The four main worldviews/paradigms (Post)positivism numerical measures of observation and studing the behaviour of individals become paramount of post positivist Constructivism Advocacy / Participator y Pragmatism (Post)positivism _Constructivism Interpretivism _ Advocacy/Participatory Critical research _ Pragmatism The four main worldviews/paradigms (Post) positivism Constructivism, (Development, testing, Refinement of theories) Advocacy/Participatory Pragmatism (Change, improvement, action in the ystem) Positivism Positivist ontology and epistemology _Objective reality exists independent of humans _Reality is relatively stable and orderly and it can be described in models, i.e. theories _ The entities used in the theories can be identified in reality, and measured and often even controlled separately (reduction) Positivist ontology and epistemology Post positivism acknowledges the human rationality, free will and deterministic Worldview is compatible. However, the total system is supposed to work orderly, contradictions are problems that must be eliminated. Positivist ontology and epistemology The entities can be measured objectively, independent of the observer and instruments . Consequently, the measurements can be repeated by other researchers and the Results can be generalised. The ideal positivist inquiry is objective and value-free. Constructivism Constructivist ontology and epistemology Social realities are not given; they are produced by humans through their actions and interactions. The reality can only be understood through social constructions such as language and the meanings that involved persons assign to phenomena. The total social system is supposed to work relatively orderly, but human Interactions include always negotiation in order to avoid conflicts and contradictions. The social reality cannot be measured in an objective way, it can only be interpreted by the researcher The studied phenomena must be interpreted in the current context, in their natural settings

Approach to Race and Racism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Approach to Race and Racism - Essay Example Jews suffered millions of deaths in death camps because their 'race', which was speculated to be lead by the Elders of Scion, was a threat to the supremacy of the German pure blood. The term "race" in the not so distant past had a negative connotation associated with it because it was used as an instrument to justify violation of basic human rights. The term 'Racism' has been equated to Discrimination. We see in America reputed to be of high civility, Negroes sold and made to work in the cotton field and was given no election power or the basic right of Self Determination. Yet, as the loom of time unwinds its thread, the concept behind Race has gradually transformed. Although the same notion of inferiority is still present today in some regions of the world, we now see that Race has become a classifying tool trying to rid itself of discrimination tendencies. Many nations today have mixed populations and are thriving. In The United States, for example, the colored citizen has as much right as the white citizen. This paper aims to determine how the anthropological nature of race has evolved thru time. According to the brochure entitled "Race : The Power of an Illusion", all people tend to have a notion of race. The problem, however, is that their notions vary from person to person. This problem was also stated in the 13th page of the reading Chapter 1 Some Theoretical Considerations where each student had some characterization to the term different from their peers. However, the author was able to find commonalities in the answers. Race is associated with the characteristics of each racial group. This includes not only physical features but also the culture practiced by the individual. By culture, we mean music styles, mannerisms, personality traits and the like. Race tends to become rather like classifying according to the nationality of the individual - Chinese, Russian, German, African and the likes. Essentially, the term race tries to distinguish one population or group of people. The most widely used human racial categories are based on visible traits especially skin color, facial features and hair texture and then one refers to genes and self-identification. Conceptions of race, as well as specific racial groupings, vary temporally. This characteristic is significant because of scientific reasons and its impact on social identity and identity politics. Some scientists regard race as a social construct while others maintain it has genetic basis. Although classification of people can be found in as far back as the Ancient Egyptian sacred text the Book of Gates with reference to skin tone, we focus ourselves to the development of the idea of race starting in the 19th century where it has received much attention and fan fare. Our setting will mostly be in the United States where the academic development of anthropology from an exotic undertaking became an academic discipline. The 19th Century This period was characterized by attempts to change race from a taxonomic to a biological concept and where tribesmen where shown in fairs not only to show people the variety of men but also their supposed inferiority to the Western civilized world. There were many natural scientists who delved in the subject of race such as Georges Curvier, Alfred Wallace, Francis Galton and many more but none was more influential than Charles Darwin. In his most

Difference and effect between chinese and american parenting Research Paper

Difference and effect between chinese and american parenting - Research Paper Example These two approaches are different but the same cannot be said of the effects that emanate from them. As puzzling as this may sound, the Americans who handle their children with gentleness and the Chinese who tend to be somewhat harsh eventually achieve a similar goal. According to Yates (p.3), the Chinese adapt to the culture of shaming and manipulating children and many times the children adapt to the environment. Similarly, the Americans apply their own tactic of encouraging a child even when there is evident disappointment. In both cases, the parents are aiming at the same goal, which is to improve the student, but applying differing tactics. Worth distinguishing at this point is that manipulative parenting is not similar to authoritarian since the latter tends to motivate a child with fear while the former with challenges. Whereas some have argued that children brought up through authoritarian tend to be well behaved, Porter (p.543) claims these children tend to be less-resourceful and poor self-image. The American parent hardly uses this approach but some Chinese parents have applied. Instead, it is recommended that parents apply either the authoritative or permissive. These two approaches allow parents to set standards for children but in the permissive case, the parent avoids enforcing the standards. An authoritative parent will set standards enforce them but portray a very high level of nurturing the child (Oreilly & Candida p.4). Upon failing to meet a certain task, a Chinese mother will most likely insult or deny the child perceived rights. In contrast, the American will give the child, appreciate first before commenting on the need to improve. A recent book by a renowned author, Amy Chua, seems to suggest that children tend to respond more to threats and denial of what they consider luxurious. The effect of this approach by the Chinese parent

Restorative Justice and Young People. A professionals view Dissertation

Restorative Justice and Young People. A professionals view - Dissertation Example With the exclusion of any of these assumed notions or procedures, a RJ process may be potentially weakened, and its basic ideals in tension. Often in a RJ there may be a lack of rectitude or proportionality in the achieved results, however it must be borne in mind that the processes through which justice is achieved (RJ or otherwise) is often replete with incomplete endeavours. This is primarily owing to the theory that though justice cannot be achieved, one must strive tirelessly to achieve it. RJ is a process, in which from some perspectives justice cannot be achieved, yet it is worth striving for, to enable a better social output from the criminals. 1 Introduction 1.1 Background study The traditional mode a practiced in the criminal justice system is based on retributive justice, which is founded on the â€Å"system of institutionalized vengeance† (Price, 2001, par. 1). ... The prosecutor represents the State, and not the victims who are seen as mere witnesses in the case. Thus, we find that the present criminal justice procedures are primarily offender-centric, and focus on guilt, sentencing prison terms (punishment), and protecting the offender’s rights. Thus, incarceration (or the threat of incarceration) is major process and achieving justice in the traditional method and appears as a deterrent, though empirical results have shown its failure in proving itself as an effective long-term deterrent effect (ibid). In the traditional justice system, it is assumed that to punish the criminals in a manner (through incarceration) that would disallow them going back into the normal society, which is a rare exception, as most criminals are released and allowed to re-enter the society. As they re-enter the other members of the society become dependent on them for not causing any further damages within the community. High percentages of reconviction of t he released criminals, thus, show that the traditional criminal justice system is lacking in some form (Sherman and Strang, 2007). The theory that harsher punishment helps to deter crime rates by creating an aura of fear, has been proven to be false for many criminals, for time and over (Sherman, 1993), thus, making it necessary for the governmental agencies and the experts to look for alternatives approaches, the most popular of which is restorative justice. Restorative justice  often referred to as "reparative justice" (Weitekamp, 1993) is a modern method within the criminal  justice  system that tends to address the needs of the concerned parties, the victims (or the victims’ families) and the offenders. In this

Report 2 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Report 2 - Research Paper Example The average income level of individuals in the economy had been recorded to increase substantially but due to the recent recession the growth of the income level has slowed down considerably (Euromonitor International, â€Å"Country Factfile†). However, French mousse is evidently a frequently available product in the market of France. Its high availability in turn decreases its cost of purchase with minimum influence of the income level enjoyed by the population of the market. 2. Age The total population in the economy of France comprises a majority of young people, i.e. belonging to the age group of 15 to 64 years covering almost 64.7% of the total population. The people aged between 0 to 14 years comprise around 18.5% of the total population while the age group of over 65 years captures almost 16.8% of the population (CIA, â€Å"France†). Due to the fact that French mousse is stated to have a huge amount of calorie, it is most likely that health conscious people will tend to avoid consuming the product at a large proportion. On the similar context, French mousse can be delivered to any of the age group as a beverage. Moreover, there is no age limit for the consumption of the product. Thereby, the market segmentation should be based on the preferences of the customers rather than their age group, as the product can be consumed by consumers belonging to any and every age group. 3. Gender The total population of the economy of France comprises a sex ratio of 0.96 male(s)/female on an average basis (CIA, â€Å"France†). However, to be related with the market segmentation of French mousse, the product can be consumed by both males and females irrespective of their gender. In other words, gender does not have a strong influence on the market potential of French mousse and thus can be ignored while determining the target market. 4. Geography The geography of France comprises of five major cities in terms of population and urbanization, namely, P aris, Marseille-Aix-en-Provence, Lyon, Lille, and Nice-Cannes. The urbanization rate in the economy is figured to 85% according to the latest available data (as on 2010), which is also recorded to increase by 1% annually (CIA, â€Å"France†). Therefore, the target market of French mousse shall be focused on the urban markets of the economy, as it comprises of the majority of the population. Moreover, as it is quite likely that people residing in urban areas will possess stronger preference for the products, such as French mousse and targeting the urban markets shall be highly beneficial. 5. Usage The current statistics depict that the economy of France has witnessed a downfall in the growth of the consumer spending on food after the recent economic downturn. Conversely, the average consumer expenditure on food figures is around US$ 1,422 monthly (i.e. Consumer Expenditure on Food (US$ Million)/Population = (179,782.5/63,197,000) x 1,000,000 = US$ 2,844.78/12 = US $1,422). Wit h reference to the above findings it can be stated that as the expenditure of the population is decreasing it is quite likely that the preference for costly beverages will also decrease in turn. Therefore, it will be highly beneficial to market the product at a low price targeting the group of people who possess stronger preference for the product. 6. Other Considering the other factors of the French economy, it can be stated that the social aspects have a strong inf

Create an argument that explains your point of view Essay

Create an argument that explains your point of view - Essay Example Rolling Stone tries to evaluate his past life and finding reasons why he engaged in the bombing. What factors in his life motivated his actions. It however, is debatable on the question as to whether they are awarding him a celebrity status considering how they went about it. Putting him on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine which is on â€Å"normal† cases braced by celebrities and rap stars, is in a way giving him a celebrity status. The average American citizen or even anywhere else in the world takes what he or she is fed by the media seriously. In a large sense the sets the agenda for the public. They determine, to a big extent, which models will be talked about by the public, which music the public will be excited about and in this case, arguably, who will be the next celebrity. By putting him on the cover, they did just that. It is however risky to give him a celebrity status considering he will develop a following which will turn out to be counterproductive. This shoul d not be mistaken as an outright rejection for the story, it is important that people also understand the â€Å"other† life of suspects like Tsarnaev. However, this should be done very carefully so it doesn’t seem as though the acts they are suspected of are being glorified. Images, for instance the one used on the cover of Rolling Stone seems glorifying. ... The question that people will probably be asking is how this magazine influences on other would be bombers. The article might actually encourage more of attention desperate individuals to engage in such acts. Al-Qaida, a self-confessed terror group indicated in their twitter handle that they were happy of all the media attention they were receiving due to the west gate attack in Kenya. This means that the terrorists value attention, and they do most of what they do to get attention. Now giving them this attention by reporting the acts of bombing, most people think should be enough. Going ahead and featuring them on a celebrity magazine, on the cover of it, is not the best way to deny them the attention. Tsarnaev is now becoming an iconic figure for his followers. Assuming they were more who engaged in one way or another in the bombing, the featuring of Tsarnaev makes them feel as though they can as well do with the attention. The magazine is turning him into some sort of a hero for h e has done. Celebrities are known to be individuals highlighted by the media mostly because of the interest they arouse among the public. Tsarnaev, should not arouse interest and the media should not attempt to paint him as arousing interest. As human beings we all have an evil part. It is said, that all human beings have a potential of being an angel or a beast, how we turn out all depends on which is natured by the society. For balance and stability, our evil parts should be shunned and our good parts honed. The media has a huge responsibility in shaping these. In the social media, due to the anonymity provided by such platforms, people often praise bad and glorify evil. This could be to get attention or to feel up for social gaps at home or in