Jessica Bailey

River Allen

Pascal Schoenhardt

AgendaAgenda

Who we areWho we are Our problemOur problem What we wantWhat we want

Who we areWho we are

We are a group of university students We are a group of university students from the University of Victoria. from the University of Victoria.

Chemistry Major, Economics Major, Chemistry Major, Economics Major, and Linguistics Major. and Linguistics Major. • Which is why we can’t do it ourselves Which is why we can’t do it ourselves

Our ProblemOur Problem

Textbooks are too expensive!Textbooks are too expensive! There aren’t any resources on campus to There aren’t any resources on campus to

get a wide range of used books at good get a wide range of used books at good prices.prices.• Local bookstores often don’t have the Local bookstores often don’t have the

selection or quantity of books required for selection or quantity of books required for university students.university students.

Very few websites cater to university Very few websites cater to university students and selling textbooks in students and selling textbooks in Canada.Canada.

What we wantWhat we want

We want to start a textbook listing We want to start a textbook listing website.website.

Students can search for textbooks by Students can search for textbooks by subject, course, university, title…subject, course, university, title…

Students buy and sell textbooks from Students buy and sell textbooks from other students.other students.

We want the website to be self sufficient; We want the website to be self sufficient; the income generated from advertising the income generated from advertising will cover the cost of running the website.will cover the cost of running the website.

Client ReflectionsClient Reflections

ChallengesChallenges• Defining what we actually wanted from Defining what we actually wanted from

the developers since we were making it the developers since we were making it up.up.

• Agreeing on things that we wanted since Agreeing on things that we wanted since everyone had different ideas. everyone had different ideas.

This was harder when our group was larger.This was harder when our group was larger.

• Finding a technique for documenting our Finding a technique for documenting our decisions. decisions.

Client Reflections cont.Client Reflections cont.

Strategies for overcoming challengesStrategies for overcoming challenges• Lost some group membersLost some group members

Made discussions, decision making, and Made discussions, decision making, and collaboration easier. collaboration easier.

• Elected one member to be a client Elected one member to be a client expert who made the final decisions in expert who made the final decisions in case of conflict.case of conflict.

Future ClientsFuture Clients

How we would treat our clients:How we would treat our clients:• With patienceWith patience• Understanding that they might not know Understanding that they might not know

the entire problem right away.the entire problem right away.• Be honest about our opinions. Be honest about our opinions.

Client RecommendationsClient Recommendations

To improve the courseTo improve the course• More frequent client logs or none at all as it’s More frequent client logs or none at all as it’s

hard to remember what happened in the hard to remember what happened in the beginning of the semester. beginning of the semester.

• A discussion on change management A discussion on change management techniques for clients. techniques for clients.

To future SENG 321 studentsTo future SENG 321 students• Choose your topic carefully!Choose your topic carefully!• Make sure it’s something that a group will be Make sure it’s something that a group will be

interested in doing for an entire semesterinterested in doing for an entire semester

We are Base5 Solutions

Your dream is in good hands!

Our team

Sylvie – research and designCody – web developmentMatthew – communicationsKimiisa – project managerJeff – product analyst

Five dedicated individuals devoted tobringing your project to life.

The project

Student Solutions requested an easy-to-use system for students to buy and sell textbooks.

Problem solved

We have developed an online marketplace to facilitate the buying and selling of books.

How it works

Browse for a bookOpen a listingContact the seller

The website

Our clean, eye-catching interface will appeal to students.

An interface for everyone

Simple, intuitive controls will be perfect for novice users.

Shortcuts will be available for experienced users.

User groups

There are four different types of users who will interact with our marketplace:

AnonymousBuyersSellersAdministrators

The anonymous user

Can browse without logging inCan view members’ profile pages

New accounts

Anonymous user can create a new account

New administrator accounts are created by existing administrators

Buyers and sellers

A logged in buyer or seller can:Manage personal informationReview usersFlag users for bad conductFlag listings with inappropriate content

Buying

Buyers can:Search for booksBegin transactionsMaintain a wishlist

Selling

Sellers can:Post and remove listings

The actual sale takes place independent of the website.

The transactions

Independent of websiteBuyer contacts seller through listingBuyer and seller free to conduct the sale themselves

Administrators

As previously mentioned, administrators can create new administrator accounts.

They can also do the following:Warn usersRemove listingsDelete and reactivate accounts

Advertising

Provided by other companies to generate site revenueRelevant to demographic

Why this is great

A complex system without the complexity!Our website has all the required functionality but a clean, simple interface.

Challenges

CommunicationFewer group membersRequisite Pro

Recommendations

Multiple small assignments instead of one large oneMore clear assignment specifications and criteriaTwo different teams rather than playing two team roles

Questions?

Thank you