BCS THE CHARTERED INSTITUTE FOR IT

BCS HIGHER EDUCATION QUALIFICATIONS

BCS Level 6 Professional Graduate Diploma in IT
SYSTEM DESIGN METHODS
rd
Thursday 3 April 2014 - Afternoon
Answer any THREE questions out of FIVE. All questions carry equal marks.
Time: THREE hours

Answer any Section A questions you attempt in Answer Book A

Answer any Section B questions you attempt in Answer Book B
The marks given in brackets are indicative of the weight given to each part of the question.
Calculators are NOT allowed in this examination.
Section A
Answer Section A questions in Answer Book A
Basic Elements of System Design Methods
A1.
a)

b)

Outline the differences and similarities between evolutionary prototyping and

incremental approaches to systems development.
(12 marks)
Consider the following approaches to systems development: waterfall, incremental
development, evolutionary prototyping, throw away prototyping.
Consider also two methods X and Y (see Appendix at the end of the paper).
Discuss briefly which of the above approaches to systems development methods X
and Y are based upon, justifying your answers.
(13 marks)

Construction of a Method
A2.
a)

b)

Explain how Data Flow Diagrams (DFDs), Entity Relationships Diagrams (ERDs) and
Entity Life Histories (ELHs) should be checked for consistency.
(7 marks)
Explain how you would cross-check Class diagrams and State machines.
(5 marks)

c) The Y method (see Appendix at the end of the paper) specifies the development
process but it does not prescribe any set of systems modelling techniques.
Assuming that you are required to use the Unified Modelling Language (UML)
techniques, decide which techniques you would use in the different stages of the
method.
Briefly justify your decisions.
(13 marks)
Turn Over]

Selecting a Method
A3.
a)

b)

Discuss the characteristics of software development projects for which evolutionary

and throw away prototyping would be suitable.
(6 marks)
Outline the benefits of using agile approaches to systems design.
(13 marks)

c)

The X and Y methods (see Appendix at the end of the paper) are suitable for
applications which have certain characteristics.
Discuss the suitability of these methods for developing safety critical systems and
business information systems.
(6 marks)

Section B
Answer Section B questions in Answer Book B
Introducing a Method
B4.
a) You are a manger in a company where a traditional structured method has been used
for many years. This method is to be replaced by an agile method e.g. DSDM. Produce
a plan of action for introducing such a method.
Discuss briefly at least five actions which should be included in your plan.
(10 marks)
b)

Explain the difference between reverse engineering and re-engineering

in the software industry.
(6 marks)

c)

Consider the following re-engineering projects you are involved in:

x Project 1. Reverse engineering to recover lost design documentation.
x Project 2. Re-engineering to restructure the entire system.
x Project 3. Re-engineering to restructure the entire system and to add some new
user requirements.
x Project 4. Re-implementation in a different programming language.
Which stages of the Y method (see Appendix at the end of the paper) would you use
in each of these projects? Justify your answers.
(9 marks)

Evaluation and tuning of a method

B5.
a)

b)

NIMSAD (Normative Information Model-based Systems Analysis and Design) is a well

known framework for comparing and evaluating systems design methods. NIMSAD
recommends that evaluation of a method should involve evaluation of the Method
Context (the problem situation), the Method User (the intended problem solver), and
the Method itself (the problem solving process).
Why is the evaluation of all three aspects necessary?
Give three criteria that may be used to evaluate the Method Context and three to
evaluate the Method itself (i.e. the problem solving process).
(10 marks)
Explain the difference between validation and verification (V&V) in software projects.
Suggest various V&V activities and techniques suitable for different stages of the Y
method process (see Appendix at the end of the paper).
Your answer should include a brief justification of your allocation of V&V
activities/techniques to the stages of method Y.
(15 marks)

APPENDIX
Consider the following systems development methods. The methods are called X and Y. The
process and stages of each method are shown below.

Method X
Feasibility study

Analysis

Prototyping

Design

Build and test increment

Integrate

Method Y
Feasibility study

Analysis

Prototyping

Plan increments to deliver

Roll out and Integrate

Design increment

Build and test increment

User acceptance of increment