Assignment Brief

You have recently been employed by a local IT company that build bespoke database applications for small businesses. The company receive requests from a wide range of businesses including shops, leisure facilities and local clubs. These are all currently using a paper-based or simple spreadsheet system but think that an IT system will be more effective and improve efficiency. You have been given a new client to work with.

The new system should allow for placing orders, managing stock, managing membership, managing bookings as well updating clients / customers / members and adding new ones, depending in the business. Business chosen - The Community Crafting Club. (Provides crafting classes).

After the initial contact and gathering of information on the client’s needs you make some decisions on the how to progress. It has been agreed with the client that the system must be simple to use as some of their staff are not familiar with computer systems. Draw up a brief outline of how you feel the system should be implemented and then present your findings to your manager (tutor) to ensure you will be able to build an effective system.

Task 1
Your client has not used a relational database before, so you write a short report for them explaining the concepts of a relational database.
This report should discuss the following:
	A comparison of a flat file system (their current system) with a relational database
	Definitions of database terminology, with examples, to include
o	Data redundancy
o	Referential integrity
o	Normalisation
o	Types of relationship and their importance
o	Fields and data types
o	Primary keys

Task 2
Design the system that you are planning to implement for the client using a minimum of 3 tables.
This will include:
	An Entity relationship diagram showing the database design in 3rd normal form
	The structure of the tables to be used including primary, foreign and compound keys and their purpose
	The data types of fields and any validation
	Design of at least two forms to allow easy data entry

Implement the design using database software and use the forms to enter some data.

Task 3
Your client already generates some reports although this is currently a tedious and time-consuming process.

Create at least three queries to demonstrate to the client the power of their new database. This should include generating queries using multiple tables and criteria, and the use of static and dynamic parameters.

Create at least three reports from the implemented system. This should include grouped reports and reports based on queries.

Write a brief user guide for the client to explain how to select data, generate and output information from queries and create reports. Explain the use of static and dynamic parameters, evaluating their use.

Task 4

Devise a test plan to ensure the system is working as expected and meets the specified user requirements.
Justify the data you have used in the test plan.
Follow the test plan and log any errors together with updates to the system to ensure it works as expected.

Demonstrate the system to your manager (tutor) and with their feedback evaluate the completed system against the user specification. 
List some recommended improvements to the system for the client.