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EXAMINATION PAPER: ACADEMIC SESSION 2007/2008

Campus Maritime Greenwich

School Computing and Mathematical Sciences

Level Three

TITLE OF PAPER Information Systems Engineering

COURSE CODE COMP1304

Date and Time Wednesday 5th December 2007 3 hours

Bahrain 15:00 UAE 17:00

Hong Kong 18:30 Greece 15:00
Malta 14:00 London 13:00
Singapore 18:30 Malaysia 18:30
Tanzania 16:00 Syria 14:00
Trinidad 09:30 Zambia 15:00

Answer any FOUR of the following SIX questions.

Each question is worth 25 marks.
If you answer more than four questions, marks will ONLY be awarded for your
FOUR best answers.
CALCULATORS AND ELECTONIC DEVICES ARE NOT PERMITTED

Information Systems Engineering

COMP 1304
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1. One of the weaknesses of traditional systems development approaches is that

they are unable to deliver quality systems within short time-scales. By
following Rapid Applications Development approach, it is hoped that these
weaknesses can be overcome.

(a) In this context, explain what tools and techniques are available within
RAD to overcome the weaknesses in traditional systems development
approaches.
[10 marks]

(b) Discuss how these tools and techniques underpin the Dynamic Systems
Development Methodology (DSDM).
[15 marks]

2. In the Soft Systems Method the analyst considers CATWOE (Customers,

Actors, Transformation, Weltensuuang, Ownership and Environmental
constraints) when developing root definitions. Explain the importance of root
definitions in the building of human activity systems and how they fit into the
overall SSM approach. Discuss how each of the CATWOE factors adds value
to the development of the final system model.
[25 marks]

3. The two key features of a generic systems development methodology are

defined as the technical model and the managerial model.

(a) Discuss why it is important for the systems development team to pay
attention to both of these models for the development to be a success.
Why would ignoring one of the models be at the developer’s peril?
[13 marks]

(b) The Unified Modelling Language (UML) is often referred to as a

methodology by those unfamiliar with the concept. Explain why it
cannot be classed as a methodology. What does is contribute to the
methodology ideal?
[12 marks]

Information Systems Engineering

COMP 1304

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4. Any modern business organisation uses its information in the context of its
own organisational culture and internal society.

(a) Why it is important for the systems developer to pay attention to

organisational culture when developing new information systems?
[10 marks]

(b) Using an appropriate framework (e.g. Stamper’s model or Multiview),

discuss how such a framework can assist the developer in improving
the quality of systems development.
[15 marks]

5. The Dynamic Systems Development Methodology (DSDM) talks about

iteration and incremental development as being key to the success of a
development project.

(a) Explain what is meant by iteration and incremental development in this

context.
[12 marks]

(b) Discuss the tools and techniques within DSDM that aid iterative and
incremental development.
[13 marks]

6. Trevor Wood-Harper describes a number of pressures on the systems

developer who is managing the information systems development process.
These include issues of trust, stress and communication and consultation.

(a) Discuss why these issues are important to the systems developer and
how they can be managed.
[13 marks]

(b) Explain how these issues cause the role of the systems developer to
change during the development process.
[12 marks]

Information Systems Engineering

COMP 1304

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