1 Executive Summary

As part of the Best Video rental libraries inc’s 2007 review on developmental strategies, C.A.A.F software development group was assigned to conduct a feasibility studies on how to expand and expedite the current transaction processes of Best Video Rental libraries inc. The studies revealed that, the development of a relational database of accessible format is important if Best Video Rental libraries inc. is to remain or have a competitive urge over other businesses in the video rental industry. Database Management Systems are increasingly used for libraries and catalogues, but there are some specific issues relating to the accessible formats that these systems do no generally address. Any system considered for hosting the software will require customization to hold the additional information, to provide accessible user interfaces.The initial work is just a feasibility study, hence, further funding will be required to develop the operational requirements document as well as migrate the data from the existing system to the new one, should Best Video Rental libraries inc. continue to use our services.Notes:1. This report is the results of a feasibility study conducted by

C.A.A.F software development group, and does not necessarily and does not contain much detailed and technical information

2. This document is an internal document developed for Best Video Rental Libraries Inc ® and is therefore considered confidential.

The remaining sections of this document provide a general description, including characteristics of the users of this project. General description of the project is discussed in section 2 of this document. Section 2 gives the functional requirements, data requirements and

constraints and assumptions made. It also gives the user viewpoint of product use. Section 3 gives the specific requirements of the product. Specific requirements should be such that one may objectively determine whether they have been fulfilled or not. Section 3.0 also discusses the external interface requirements and gives detailed description of functional requirements.2. IntroductionThis document in a nutshell provides an indication of potential future development of Video Rental Store Database Management Software System (DBMS) as well as the software architecture required to operate the system. This software requirement specification (SRS) describes the function and performance requirements allocated to the Database Application.The scope of this document is to identify the processes that comprise the architecture and provide narratives for their functional content. The functional narratives are designed to provide all-inclusive specifications for an entire function rather than trying to derive a function from a set of individual requirements. In addition inter-process messaging and derived dependencies shall be identified. This level of specification is intended to provide enough information to properly review process system level functional content and inter-process messaging and dependencies in preparation for the subsequent effort to derive detail process requirements and design. Since this software will by default become the system functional specification, it is important to ensure that this level is as clearly defined as possible.The Video Store Database Management Software System shall be designed and developed to provide a clear and easy to use Database Management System for our customer, Best Video rental libraries inc. ®. The Database Management Software System shall facilitate and optimize employee management, customer interaction, and a virtual video warehouse.

3. Business ProfileBest Video Rent libraries inc. operates in the highly competitive video rental industry which includes; the sale and rental of movies on either DVD or VHS. Notable competitors in the video rental industry include:

Video store operators, such as Blockbuster and Movie Gallery. Online retailers, such as Netflix, Blockbuster and Amazon.com; Other retailer, including mass merchant retailer such as Wal-

Mart, Best Buy and Targets. Recent addition to the video rental industry is the “automated

kiosk” located at some fast food joints, such as McDonalds and super markets such as Shoppers.

The industry’s current practice is sequentially as follows. After the initial release of a movie, movie makers generally make their movies available to home video retailers for either rental or sale after the movie has made its “run” through the movie theater. The rental or sale price is determined by how current of a release a movie is. To promote a movie primarily for rental after its initial release, movie makers’ price their movies extremely high to discourage its sales but promote its rental. As rental demand subsides, the prices of the movies are reduced to make it affordable to consumers.

4. Problem StatementRigorous competition in the video rental industry due to price reduction from retailer, in particular from mass merchant retailers, have affected consumer rental and purchasing behavior. The trend of the market indicate that, other than prices, most consumers base their decision to either rent or buy on how convenient, easy and simple the renting process is, as compared to purchasing. Best video rental libraries inc. low number of clientele has been attributed to slow and cumbersome process one has to go through to rent a movie. Our

studies indicate that, the company’s inability to generate efficient database queries and capture critical information in a central location is giving competitors the advantage, hence the low number of customers and loss in profit.The complex nature of the existing rental process can be attributed to a number of factors:

1) Most of the operations were done manually (a new customer will have to manually fill out an application form before a clerk enters the information into the system) this results in a lot of mistakes being made.

2) The manual movement and distribution of paper-based transactions resulted in substantial delays within the process and significantly limited the company’s ability to prioritize and improve performance

3) Processes requiring precise coordination between groups in different departments tend out to be very challenging.

4) There is no centralized repository, hence change in data by one department may not reflect in another department.

5) Customer transactions (i.e. requests for statements, incorrect information, address changes, etc.) were frequently lost due to the mobility of information from one department to the other.

6) Tracking and evaluating the rental process by management to determine areas that need improvement is almost impossible.

5. Business Process Flow The current flow process to enroll a new customer is as follows:

a. A new customer enters the store and is received by a clerk. The customer is then given a form to provide all the necessary information

b. The clerk the files the form to be processed at the end of the business day

c. The customer is then notified later via mail or phone on the status of his/her application (accepted or denied).

d. If accepted, the customer is then provide with a card to use for subsequent rentals

e. To view customer records, the manager will have to manually query the database.

6. Requirements Analysis:-User-Friendliness:

-The system should provide confirmation messages for the user when the database is successfully updated. -When the database cannot be successfully updated, an error message containing a brief explanation of why the update was unsuccessful should be sent to the user.

-Ease of Use:-Employees and managers with limited technical knowledge should be able to view and update the data. -Learning to use the system should be easy for all users.-Any person with basic experience with computers should be able to learn to use the system in a reasonable amount of time.-A user manual and/or help directory should be supplied for users. Slightly different versions will be available for each type of user.

-Adaptability-The database should not have to undergo serious changes when new technology emerges (e.g., new copy formats)-The code should be well-documented so that any problems or features needing any modification can be easily recognized.

-Security-different types of users shall have different access privileges-the privacy of certain information needs to be protected and ensured-There should be protection from viruses, spyware, etc.-There should be validation messages when data is updated.-Attempts to enter invalid data should not be allowed, and should be accompanied by error messages.

-System requirements:-Windows 2000 or higher-Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher

7. System FeaturesNotation: -The terms “copy” and “movie copy” will hereafter denote an individual copy, such as a DVD or video tape, that a customer can rent-The word “movie” will mean the actual content of a copy, whether it is a film, live event, etc.Requirements:CUSTOMER:-The database shall store data about customers, including name (prefix, first name, middle initial, last name), address, phone number, and birth date.-Each customer shall have his/her own unique ID, which will be assigned to him/her at the time of registration.

-Each customer shall be required to have an account with the store in order to rent movies.MOVIE:-The database shall store data about movies, including title, release date, rating, duration, and category.-Each movie shall have its own unique identifier.COPY:-Each individual copy of a movie shall have its own unique identifier. -The format (DVD, VHS, etc.) of a copy should be stored in the database.BRANCH:-There shall be data related to individual branches, including address, phone number, and fax number

CREDIT_CARD:-The database shall store a customer’s credit card information, including credit card number, expiration date, secret number, and type.-Each customer can have multiple credit cards, but must have at least one.EMPLOYEE:-The database shall store data about employees, including Social Security Number, name (prefix, first name, middle initial, and last name), and phone number.-The database should store data about an employees start time and end time for each day.-It should store the employee’s salary information, start date, and job title.

-An employee may have a supervisor, who can supervise any number of employees.TIME:-The database should store information about the number of days allowed per rental. TIME_CARD:-Each employee has one time card for each period.-The time card should have the date and time that the period begins and the date and time that the period ends.8. System description:The system will be a database with a user interface that will allow the video store’s data to be viewed, stored, and updated via queries to the database. This will allow the store to maintain and have easy and efficient access to accurate records relevant company information.

The system will facilitate the rental of movie copies by updating database tables. It will handle any accounting information automatically. It will also facilitate the employment records of employees, keeping a log of their hours. The system will apply to all branches of the company nationwide. Thus, it will have information about different branches, allowing employees to inform customers of movie copy availability at other locations.9. Feasibility AssessmentHigh yield in profits is the major aim of every business, to be able to achieve this feat however; certain foundations will have to be put in place. These foundations may include good management which consists of making right choices and wise decisions. Likewise, engineering considerations determine the possibility of a project being carried out and also line out alternate track the project can be addressed. In addition to engineering considerations, the economic

aspect also play a major role in deciding the practicability of the project? A feasibility study determines the direction to go, or to an extent if it’s worth taking on the project.From an engineering perspective, feasibility of a project is deciding if the “desires” of the project can be realized technically. The economic viability of a project augments the technical practicability of a project to make it justifiable. Economic feasibility therefore, measures the overall desirability of the project from the financial standpoint and indicates the superiority of a single approach over others that may be equally feasible in a technical sense.The feasibility of the project was considered in an engineering sense coupled with the ultimate objective of the economic analysis to provide a decision-making tool which can be used not only for the project but also demonstration.The scope of the study is to investigate how database might be developed, implemented and supported. The objective of the feasibility studies are:[i] To investigate the technical developments necessary to implement and manage the database[ii] To estimate the resources necessary to implement and manage the service[iii] To outline a business plan; this will serve as the map for securing financial backing for setting up and maintaining the serviceThe feasibility study deals with the technical specification for the service, management structure for the service and an outline business plan. The feasibility studies also recommend alternate ways of achieving the different “routes” examined. Lessons derived from the feasibility studies show that,

Using a standard library or information management gives a better solution for systems, its greater degree of external support and interoperability with other systems.

Proper management of resources should be adhered to, to achieve optimum result of the scarce resource

Unless very necessary, duplication of effort should be strongly discouraged

The feasibility studies team based their efforts on recommendations relating to management of the service which include; creating, enhancing and maintaining records, quality control, control requests, and maintenance of copyright permission and collections register.Our recommendation from this feasibility studies is that a new database will be very beneficial Best Video Rental Libraries Inc. This can however be realized with adequate funding. 9.1 Economic AnalysisOur economic analysis revolves around current market trends; price and alternatives, changes in the market may therefore influence the analysis results. The main aim was geared towards presenting the best option or better still improve on the current option. There are a number of tangible and intangible benefits. These benefits are listed below.

TANGIBLE BENEFITS1. Elimination of paper work (save money)2. Increase response time (enhance database queries)3. Reduction in processing error (from numerous paperwork)4. Faster service time5. Effective communication between locations6. Elimination of job steps7. Increase throughput8. Increase sales9. Most importantly increase in profit

INTANGIBLE BENEFITS

1. Reduction in customer complaints2. Better decision making3. Increase in competitiveness4. Increase customer base5. Improved resource management6. Improved customer service7. Increased control ability8. Proper account management

9.1.1 Financial SummaryThe financial summary is summary derived from Best Video Rental Libraries Inc. financial report for the fiscal year of 2006. Analysis should therefore be done in reference the 2006 fiscal year financial report. OPERATION STATEMENT (2006)Total Revenue $10,250.50Gross Profit $5,150.50Operating Income -$624.50Loss of Income Based on the financial statement, Best Video Rental Libraries Inc. realized a loss of $1.2 million dollar. This loss can be safely attributed to the company being out competed in the market, hence the reduction in their share of the market base. Total expenditure outweighs profits therefore a loss was realized.To recapture their market share, the new system will significantly change operation boosting customer confidence. This feat will however not be instantaneous but will be realized in the course of time as user confidence and comfortability gets to par.The cost of the system breakdown reflects a non-recurring cost and it includes all step of the software development lifecycle, which are

research, analysis, design, development, coding and testing of the our DBMS. The below listed breakdown include all associated costs.

Required Hardware/Software

Cost ($)

Network Software/ Hardware

20,000

Old pc upgrade 4000Software purchase 30,000Other hardware/miscellaneous

4000

TOTAL 58,000

DEVELOPMENT HOURS COST TOTAL2 Network Engineers

60 50 6000

2 Software Engineers

300 55 33000

2 System Analyst 250 40 200001 DBA 55 40 22001 Database Analyst

40 40 1600

4 Software Developers

350 40 56000

Other (data entry etc)

200 14 2800

121,600

TRAINING/MISCELLANEOUS COST1 week training for system administrators

10000

1 week training for store managers

15,000

Legal Professional/consulting 60000TOTAL 85,000

HARDWARE/ SOFTWARE 58,000DEVELOPMENT 121,600

TRAINING 85000TOTAL NONRECURRING COST 264,600

ANNUAL SOFTWARE OPERATION/MAINTENACE COSTPERSONNEL HOURS COST TOTALProgrammer / Analyst 300 40 12000Network Engineer 300 50 15000TOTAL 27000

SYSTEM MAINTENANCE

Application Software Maintenance

$60000

TOTAL 60000

TOTAL DEVELOPMENT (NONRECURRING COST) 264,600MAINTENANCE COST (RECURRING COST) 87,000

The above costs and benefits are combined into the cost-benefit analysis below. The project is feasible and worthwhile project because it provides a Net Present Value return of

Year 0 Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5

Economic Benefits

$0.00 200,000 550,000 780,000 1,000,000 1,050,000

Initial Cost

264,600 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Recurring Cost

87,000 87,000 87,000 87,000 87,000 87,000

Total Cost

351,600 87,000 87,000 87,000 87,000 87,000

OLD VS. NEW COST

0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000OLD SYSTEM

0 250,000 450,000 750,000 1,020,000 1,250,000

NEW SYSTEM

351,600 450,000 640,000 760,000 880,000 1,050,000

9.1.2 Break-Even and Payback Analysis

9.2 Technical Analysis Our new system “breaths” some enhanced performance in the system. The enhanced features and benefits of the new systems improves:1. Query/ Response Speed: Using analytical function to support

processing optimizations query performance. Requests which previously requires self-joins or complex procedural processing may now be performed with simple SQL statements. An enhancement in performance which is brought about by new functions improves significantly the response from queries for every production report, complex queries or ad hoc queries.

2. Easy To Learn: Implementation using carefully select syntax and data structure make it easy learn new keywords.

9.3 Operational AnalysisThe ineffective current system used by Best video rental libraries inc. has been the main problem of loss in revenue and decrease in customer base. With the implementation of our VDBMS however, the cause of the mishap which are mainly cause slowness in their business processes has been addressed and solved.Branch managers can effectively communicate with other branch manager to help synchronize