EXAMINATION PAPER: ACADEMIC SESSION 2009/2010

Campus Maritime Greenwich

School Computing and Mathematical Sciences

Department Information System and Multimedia

Level Three

TITLE OF PAPER Information Systems Engineering

COURSE CODE COMP1304

Date and Time Saturday 5th Dec 2009 (2 hours)

BAHRAIN 15:00 BOTSWANA 15:00

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

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 ELECTRONIC DEVICES ARE NOT PERMITTED

FINAL

SECTION A – COMPULSORY

1. The Multiview 2 Framework (see Figure 1) provides the system developer with a
structure to help understand the activities that are required during the information
system development process.

Figure 1: Mulitview 2 Framework

(a) Using a case study with which you are familiar, describe the key activities that
should take place in the information modelling and socio-technical analysis and
design parts of the framework .
[10 marks]

(b) The technical design and construction part of the framework might include rapid
applications development RAD approaches to systems development. Explain two
RAD techniques that could be used in the development process.
[10 marks]

(c) It is claimed that Multiview2 “...brings together the analyst, the situation, and the
methodology” when solving information system development problems. In relation
to this statement, discuss why it is important for the analyst to understand the
culture of an organisation when developing information systems rather than just
following a methodology in a formulaic manner.
[20 marks]

Information Systems Engineering

COMP1304
Page 2 of 3
FINAL

SECTION B – Answer any TWO questions.

2. Good system development will include stakeholders in the development process.

(a) Discuss why stakeholder analysis and stakeholder involvement are essential steps
in the development of information systems.

[20 marks]

(b) Identify two techniques that are available to the analyst to carry out stakeholder
involvement.

[10 marks]

3. It is generally viewed that using a methodology when developing an information

system will provide a set of tools to help improve the quality and productivity targets
during the development process.

(a) Explain what is meant by quality and productivity targets.

[10 marks]

(b) Discuss why modelling is an essential part of the development process. Using a
modelling technique with which you are familiar, provide examples how modelling
helps the development process.
[20 marks]

4. When developing an information system, it might be considered that the developer uses
hard and soft development techniques.

(a) Explain what is meant by the terms hard and soft in this context.
[10 marks]

(b) Discuss why it is in the system developer’s interest to consider both soft and hard
approaches and what value is added to the information system development in
doing so.
[20 marks]

Information Systems Engineering

COMP1304
Page 3 of 3