APPROVED

EXAMINATION PAPER: ACADEMIC SESSION 2009/2010

Campus Maritime Greenwich

School Computing and Mathematical Sciences

Department Information System and Digital Media

Level Three

TITLE OF PAPER Information Systems Engineering

COURSE CODE COMP1304

Date and Time Wednesday 9th June 2010

Duration 2 hours

BAHRAIN 15:00 BOTSWANA 14:00

GREECE 15:00 HONG KONG 18:30
KENYA 15:00 LONDON 13:00
MALAYSIA 18:30 MALTA 14:00
MALAWI 14:00 MAURITIUS 16:00
MYANMAR 16:30 RWANDA 14:00
SAUDI ARABIA 15:00 SINGAPORE 17:30
SRI LANKA 17:30 SOUTH AFRICA 14:00
SYRIA 15:00 TANZANIA 15:00
TRINIDAD 09:30 VIETNAM 18:30
ZAMBIA 14:00 BANGLADESH 18:30

You MUST answer question 1 which is worth 40 marks.

Answer TWO questions from the remaining THREE questions, questions 2 to 4 which are
worth 30 marks each. If you answer all THREE questions from questions 2 to 4, marks will
ONLY be awarded for your TWO best answers.

CALCULATORS AND OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES ARE NOT PERMITTED

APPROVED

Section A (Compulsory)

1. Stamper’s Semiotic Framework allows the system developer to understand a system’s

requirements from a number of different perspectives.

a) Using an appropriate annotated diagram, describe Stamper’s Semiotic Framework.

[10 marks]

b) Identify and describe two key activities that would take place in the Pragmatic Layer
and Social World Layer.
[10 marks]

c) The Social World layer includes user expectations and organisational culture as two
key areas to consider. Discuss why consideration of these areas is important to the
information system developer.

[20 marks]

COMP1304 Information Systems Engineering

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Section B (Answer any TWO questions)

2. Rich Pictures and Use Cases are two modelling techniques that help the analyst
understand the requirements of a system.

(a) Using suitable examples from a case study known to you, describe how rich pictures
can be used to understand the environment and culture in which the system sits.
[10 marks]

(b) Discuss the relationship between Rich Pictures and Use Case modelling and how each
tool helps the analyst to carry out effective requirements analysis. In answering this
question, critically analyse the strengths and weaknesses of each tool.
[20 marks]

3. System development methodologies and frameworks play an important part in the

success of the development of information systems.

(a) Describe what is meant by the terms managerial model and technical model in relation
to a system development methodology.
[10 marks]

(b) Discuss the role that a formal development method or framework may play in
supporting successful system development. In your answer, comment upon why
systems failure still occurs despite the use of methodologies and frameworks during
the development.
[20 marks]

4. Two of the key principles of using a Rapid Application Development (RAD) approach
successfully are delivering products on time and facilitating collaboration in the
development process.

a) Explain one RAD tool that will help deliver products on time and another that allows
for collaboration in the development process.
[10 marks]

b) Discuss how RAD tools and techniques help meet its aims of providing a high quality,
high speed and low cost development approach.
[20 marks]

COMP1304 Information Systems Engineering

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