IST Year 9-10 Project Development

7/13/2019 IST Year 9-10 Project Development

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Chapter 1: Summary

PROJECT DEVELOPMENT

The stages of project development:

Defining and analysing. This involvesidentifying the problem required to be

solved (and whether it is solvable using

information technology). Factors such as

technical, operational, environmental,

time, financial and ethnical factors are

considered.

Designing possible solutions.Thisinvolves generating the solution to the

problem. It usually requires the use of

application software and may require

investigating solutions in numerous

related problems. In some cases,

programming may be required.

Producing the solution. This involvesbuilding the solution to fix the problem.

It involves applying the appropriate

application or spyware software.

Evaluating the solution. Thisinvolves checking the results and effectiveness of the solution. In addition to this, it checks if thesolution covers all the aspects. This can be used in order to improve the solution or highlight such areas

in the solution that requires such.

Features of Project Development

Each stage has certain tasks to be performed before the next stage can be started. In builds on thedecisions made in previous stages. In the development stage there is often a sufficient reason to repeat

certain stages.

Each stage is not completely separate from the other stages. The constant swapping between twostages in the process is often commonly done by people developing a solution.

The extent of each stage depends on the complexity of the tasks required to reach the necessarysolution to the problem. The size of the overall project also has effect on the size and amount of stages.

Larger projects require more stages but smaller projects can be simplified and easily completed.


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Project Management

Key features of project management include:

A project plan can be used to determine the time, persons, procedure of the required tasks. It alsocan be used to outline the resources needed to complete the project. Different tasks are assigned

to each member of the group according to talents and requirements of the project.

A Gantt Chart provides time management for the project. It determines whether the project willreach the required date set at the beginning of the project.

File Management is an important but often neglected part of project planning. An efficient filestructure and naming system will save time. Backing up of data in order to stop the loss of data is

crucial throughout a project.

Resources are the tools required to complete the tasks of the specified project. Effective projectmanagement will determine the types of resources needed. Doing this at the start of a project will

help reduce the amount of resources needed especially finances and time. Some resources include:

Group Members Hardware Software Consumables

(paper, ink, cartridges and CDs)

Internet and network access Data Finances Time

Communication Techniques

Verbal Communication. This is use of the spoken word. It involves not only the words themselvesbut tone and dynamics (loudness/softness) of the voice. Effective verbal communication skills allow

you to inform, persuade and motivate others in the relevant situations.

Written Communication. This is the use of creating something that can be read. Such examplesinclude:

Letters Poems Newspaper Articles

Text on a website Manual

In a written document the style, tone and diction (word choice) is critical to effectively persuade,

motivate and communicate to the reader.

Graphical Communication. This involves the use of graphics and visuals in order to communicate to,persuade or motivate others. This form of communication is becoming more predominant in

todays society. The use of graphics and visuals are said to be worth 1000 words. Such examples

include:

Newspaper Images Magazines Television CDs

Billboards the Internet Advertisements


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Collaboration

Collaboration is the process of working with another person. Most people in the workforce are required to

work in such groups.

Key factors:

Roles and responsibilities are determined by the type of project and skills of each group member. Effective collaboration strategies make possible

Effective communication strategies

Positive attitude.This involves valuing every contribution made. Active listening.This involves restarting, reflecting and summarising the major ideas raised by a

person and also understanding and appreciating other peoples point of view.

Conflict resolution.This involves the solving of arguments and disputes by listening to otherpeoples point of view.

Negotiation skills.This involves discussing a problem and arriving at a solution Group building. This involves getting a group of people to work together.

DEFINING THE PROBLEM

The following must be established:

problem statement a clear definition of the problem, which may involve breaking the probleminto smaller tasks or investigating the key elements to the problem

aims and objectives identifying what is to be achieved by the solutionMethods of Collecting

Data needs to be checked for accuracy and reliability:

Interview

A face to face meeting where specific questions are gathered to determine the opinionof the interviewee.

Survey (or questionnaires) A series of questions to gather specific information, some of theseoccur in the form of an interview.

Printed text Printed text includes magazines, newspaper articles, reports, books and journals. The Internet The Internet has a variety of resources including:

Information Graphics Animation

Video Audio Software

Factors effecting the solution

Technical. This factor determines the necessary technological requirements required to completethe project.

Operational. This factor determines whether the solution will fit into the current operations of theorganisation.

Schedule. This factor determines if there is sufficient time to complete the project. Financial.This factor determines whether this adequate funding to complete the project Ethical. This factor determines if the solution is ethically responsible and reaches standards in the

community.


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DESIGNING POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

1. Develop possible solutions that could solve the problem2. Deciding on the appropriate solution

Design Techniques

Concept mapping. This is a technique for representing knowledge using diagrams.

Brainstorming. This technique generating ideas to solve the problem. Observation.This technique involves watching someone or something in order to develop skills. Research.This technique involves investigation into a subject to gain knowledge and understanding.

The accuracy and reliability of the source needs to be tested.

Prototypes.These are working models of the solution IPO tables (Input-process-output table). This technique used to describe the solution. It specifies

the requirements needed the processes and tasks that need to be performed and also the final

output.

Storyboarding. This technique involves a series of sketches which outline the process.


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Feasibility Report

Deciding on the most appropriate solution, feasibility study analyses each of the solutions and decides also

based on constraints and recommending. It contains:

Title page Contents Problem Statement Aim of the solution Summary of the investigation

Possible Solutions Recommendation Project Plan Appendix

Specifications

Specifications are a detailed description of the solution.

External specifications. These outline the appearance of the solution. Internal specifications.These outline the hardware and software required to reach the solution.

PRODUCING THE SOLUTION

Application Software

Application software is software designed for a specific purpose:

Word processing software Desktop publishing Spread-sheets Database management system (DBMS) Paint programs Draw programs

Web browsers Video editing software Animation software (Flash etc.) Presentation software (PowerPoint etc.) Authoring software

Importing and exporting

Importing is the action taken to receive data produced by another program. Exporting is the action taken

to send data to another program.

Testing

Testing ensures the solution is working correctly:

Hardware testing. Diagnostic software is used to test whether the processer is operating efficiently.Peripheral devices are tested to ensure that they are also working.

Software testing. The data is tested to identify and eliminate any potential problems while thesoftware is being used.

Documentation

Documentation is a written description to explain the development and operation of the solution. It may

explain how the solution is to be used or the steps required, in building the solution.

EVALUATING THE SOLUTION

Evaluating the solution involves checking all aspects and making sure it covers all aspects of the initial

problem as well as any subsequent problems that arise during the process. Evaluation is an on-going

process throughout the project. A constant process of developing, analysing and evaluating improves

efficiency of organisations.


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Evaluation Criteria

These are criteria used to make judgements on whether the solution is working:

Functionality. This is whether the solution works or not. Quality of information. This tests if the quality of the solution is adequate enough. Some factors

include:

Accuracywhether the solution is correct or not Relevancewhether it is appropriate to the requirements of the problem Timelinesswhether the age of the information is appropriate to the task. Integritywhether the solution is complete or lacks necessary information.

Ethical information. This checks that the solution does not break copyright laws, invade privacy orcontain offensive material. The solution also needs to be free of any bias.

Environment of the solution.This checks that whether the solution is affected by outside factorsand whether the solution is friendly to the environment.

Presentation of the information.This checks that information is presented in the correct format, sothat it can be understood. It also checks the effectiveness of the presentation of the solution.

Methods of Evaluation

Testing. This involves checking every part of the solution. Inspection.This involves using an expert to complete an examination of the solution. Inquiry.This involves gathering information from users of the solution.


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CHAPTER REVIEW A

1. BThis stage (Designing possible solutions) focuses mainly on generating different solutions.2. AThe project plan is the key in the stage of defining and analysing the problem.3. DIt is not up for team members to judge each others skills and talents.4. DAs the answer suggests, this requires the information technology requirements.5. BA storyboard is a series of frames or sketches representing the screen image.6. AThe solution of similar problems can help investigate possible solutions to the current problem.7. DThe solution is produced using application software.8. ADesktop publishing such as Microsoft Publisher provides greater control in the layout of text and

graphics.

9. ATesting is a method of evaluation not a criteria.10.AChecking the solution is the key process in evaluating the solution.

CHAPTER REVIEW C

1. Resources are an important factor in planning a project. What are resources? When they should beidentified?

Resources are the tools needed to complete a project such as information collected, money and time. Theyshould be identified early in the project solving process in order to save money, time and other resources.

3. Explain the difference between the first and second stage in developing a solution. In the first stage you define the problem and collect data in order to assist the solving of the problem. In the

second stage, the solution is actually developed.

5. Why is it important to gain some knowledge and skills on different types of applications?It is important to gain knowledge and skills on different types of applications as you will not know when in

the project development process, when you will require certain application software to solve the problem.

6. Briefly outline 5 commonly used evaluation criteria.These criteria are:

Functionality, whether the solution works. Quality of information, whether the solution is adequate enough. Ethical standards, whether the solution meets ethical standards. Environment of the solution, whether the solution is affected by outside factors. Presentation, whether the solution is presented in the correct format.

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IST Year 9-10 Project Development