What is the Analysis
This is the very first stage of the process cycle. Clarifying exactly what the client wants. The analysis is the formal written report that outlines exactly what problem has to be solved.
To begin with, a systems analyst will meet with the client to determine:
- the purpose of the software
- the functional requirements of the software
The purpose of a piece of software is often expressed as a description of what the software will be used for.
The functional requirements will specify inputs, processes and outputs.
Analysis Example
A farmer plans to hire out quad bikes and allow customers to ride them across a route on his land. Customers will pay £40 for the experience. Concession tickets at £27.50 are available for people under 18 years old and people over 60 years old. Tickets must be purchased as a group booking. The minimum number of people in a group is 2 and the maximum number of people in a group is 10.
Your task is to write a program that will enable the farmer to calculate the total cost of a single group booking.
Purpose
- Give brief description of program
- Read over a few times then write a brief description.
- Who is the program for?
- What is the main purpose of the program?
A farmer has decide to hire out quad bikes to groups of people to ride across his land. He would like a program developed to calculate the total cost of a single group booking. The number of people in a group must be between 2 and 10 inclusive. The cost per person to purchase a ticket is £40 per person, this is reduced to £27.50 for anyone whose age is below 18 or over 60.
Functional Requirements
Input
- Describe the data the program will ask the user to enter
- Read over and identify user input.
The program will need:
- the name of the group (which is making the booking)
- the number of people in each group (between 2 and 10 inclusive)
- the age of each person in the group (loop for number of people in group)
Process
- A description of the calculations and logic operations the program will carry out
- Is the program carrying out any calculations?
- Will any input be validated?
The processes the program will carry out are:
- Input validation – number of people (between 2 and 10 inclusive).
- Calculate cost depending on age
- Running total within loop of the total cost
Output
- A description of the data that the program will display to screen
- What will the program display on the screen?
- Does any output need to be formatted?
The program will display the
- heading ‘Booking Details’
- name of the group
- number of people in the group
- total cost of the booking (formatted to 2 decimal places).
The task is unclear on the age range that the user can input. Further information regarding the range of acceptable ages would benefit the construction of program. For example all children must be over the age of 7 and adults must be under the age of 80.
Otherwise – state there is no further information required to complete the program.
Completed Analysis
A farmer will hire out quad bikes to groups of people to ride across his land. The program developed will calculate the total cost of a single group booking. The number of people in a group must be between 2 and 10 inclusive. The cost per person to purchase a ticket is £40 per person, this is reduced to £27.50 for anyone whose age is below 18 or over 60.
Input – The name of the group making the booking, number of people in each group (between 2 and 10 inclusive) and the age of each person in the group.
Processes – Input validation – number of people (between 2 and 10 inclusive), calculate cost depending on age and running total within loop of the total cost
Output – The program will display the heading Booking Details, name of the group, number of people in the group and total cost of the booking (formatted to 2 decimal places).
