Cambridge IGCSE Computer Studies 0420 — 2012 May/June Paper 3 · Variant 3

1 In this question you are asked to read about: • an existing system for booking activities at a holiday park; this is manual and paper- based; • the proposed replacement; this is to be a computer-based booking system. You are given a description of both the existing and the proposed new computerised system. Description of the existing system Guests stay at holiday homes in the holiday park for a week at a time. When a guest wants to book an activity, they can phone the holiday park receptionist. Alternatively they can visit the reception area to look at the lists of activities. Each activity has a start and finish time and some have a maximum number of participants. Some also have age restrictions. For example Messy Play for the under-fives starts at 2pm and finishes at 4pm on Saturday and there are 15 places available. An activity can be booked for that week only and the booking has to be made at least one hour before the activity starts. When a booking is made, the following details are always required: • holiday home number • number of participants • the name of each participant The following may be required: • age of each participant The lists for all activities are kept at reception. The receptionist checks the list for the selected activity to see if there are any spaces available. If spaces are available the receptionist asks for the details that are always required, and ages if required. These details are added to the list and the cost of the activity is added to the account for that holiday home. Half an hour before the activity starts the list is collected from reception. When the participants arrive to start the activity their names are crossed off the list. Description of the proposed computer-based system The proposal is to replace all the paperwork. A computer-based activity booking system will be used. It will contain all the information described above. It will allow guests to book their activities on the holiday park's intranet. They will do so using a touch screen in their holiday home or using the touch screens located in various places around the holiday park. The holiday park will use a wireless Local Area Network (LAN). All of the activities have organisers. Each organiser and the receptionist will have access to a personal computer and a printer. There will be a personal computer with a touch screen in each of the holiday homes; all of these will communicate over the LAN. In the new system, a guest uses the holiday park intranet to book an activity. Guests can book activities themselves. Bookings must be made at least half an hour before the start of the activity and places must still be available. For every activity booked, the cost is added automatically to the holiday home account. Organisers can display or print a list of participants for any of that week’s activities. A systems analyst is to be employed to review the existing manual method. The analyst will be responsible for drawing up an action plan for the new computer-based system. This will then be designed, built, tested and implemented. Technical and user documentation will be produced. Six months after the introduction of the new system, a full evaluation of its performance will be made. (a) The systems analyst needs to ensure that the project is delivered on time and on budget. What tools could the analyst use to monitor and track project progress? [3] (b) The analyst has decided to use the following methods to gather information about the existing manual system. • A questionnaire for the guests • An interview for the reception staff Explain why each of the methods used is appropriate for this manual system. (i) A questionnaire for the guests. Explanation (ii) An interview for the reception staff. Explanation [4] (iii) State one other method that the systems analyst could use. [1]

Mark scheme: 1 (a) Any three points from, max 3 marks: [3] – Gantt chart – PERT (Program/Project Evaluation Review Technique) chart – Project management software – Spreadsheet (software) (b) one mark for identifying why the method identified would be suitable for the holiday park [4] one mark for a further explanation that matches chosen method. (i) Questionnaire for guests e.g. – ensures that all the guests are asked the same questions – so results from many responses can be analysed – no need for analyst to be present – more efficient as there are many guests – can provide incentives for guests to return questionnaire (ii) interviewing for reception staff e.g. – allows questions to be tailored to the individual members of (reception) staff – can ask supplementary questions – can ask for clarification – (reception) staff may tell you things that you haven’t identified as issues Max 4 overall, max 2 for each part (iii) Any one from – observation – document search [1] (c) One mark per device, one mark per reason why it would be suitable for the for the holiday park [4] – Wireless adapter/Network Interface Card/NIC – to allow a computer to access the LAN (from anywhere within the holiday park) – Wireless Access Point/WAP/bridge – to extend the reach of the LAN as the holiday park covers a large area – (Wireless) router/(Wireless) hub – to enable computers in the holiday park to connect to the LAN/….to relay signals to the computers on the LAN – Host computer/Server – to manage the LAN – (hardware) firewall – to restrict access to bookings only IGCSE – May/June 2012 0420 33 (d) (i) Max four marks [4] one mark per improvement seen on screen (max two marks) one for explanation must match screen 1 e.g. Seen on Screen Explanation – increase size of font – to improve readability – use a different font – to improve readability – add suitable pictures – to make the screen more attractive/ understandable – add suitable heading – so the user knows what this screen is for (ii) Max four marks one mark per improvement seen on screen (max two marks) one for explanation must match screen 2 e.g. Seen on Screen Explanation – password entry to system – to improve security – move instructions – for a better start point – change/lighten colour of box – to attract attention better – move box next to instructions – to make the action clearer (e) One mark for every correct symbol [4] Process Keyboard entry or Sort Disk storage IGCSE – May/June 2012 0420 33 (f) One mark for per process, max 4: [8] – Guest) selection of activity (type/time) – Organiser selecting a of list of participants to print – Checking for available places – Booking activity/Reserving places – Updating correct holiday home account – Checking holiday home number/password One mark per input, max 3 – (Guest) selection of activity (type/time) – holiday home number/password – activity details – participant details (number, names, ages) One mark per data store, max 2 – activities – participants – holiday home accounts/guest details – database (only if none of the above are given) One mark per output, max 2 – List of Activities (screen not paper) – Confirmation of booking (screen not paper) – List of participants for an activity (paper) (g) up to three points from: [3] – login/password – use of firewall – checking of MAC addresses/station ids – Wired Equivalent Privacy/WEP/wireless security/encryption – Network name NOT broadcast – anti-spyware/ anti-virus software (h) up to three points from [3] – can be tailored to the meet the requirements for activity booking – in contact with the actual programmers if there is a problem – software can develop as it is used – doesn’t contain unwanted features (i) One mark per example suitable for number of participants, one mark per reason [6] – 36 – this checks that system can accept appropriate inputs – 50 – rejected boundary value – 49 – accepted extreme value – –5 – this checks that negative numbers are rejected – w – this checks that data has the right format IGCSE – May/June 2012 0420 33 (j) One mark per point, one mark per reason e.g. [8] One mark per point, one mark per reason – how to load the software – so it can be installed ready to use – how to run the software – so the application can be started for regular use – frequently used general tasks – how to save/delete/amend/update (etc.) files – typical screen layouts – so that users know what to expect – typical printouts expected – so that users know what hard copy is available – sample runs – provides knowledge of what to expect in everyday use – show how to troubleshoot/what to do if errors occur – so that common problems can be easily sorted out – FAQs/frequently asked questions – so that guests or reception staff can use the system without asking for help – hardware requirements for the system – so that there are no problems with installation – software requirements to run the system – so that the application works as expected – how to carry out specific tasks – such as printing activity lists/ booking an activity etc. – how to use a touch screen – for selecting an activity etc. (k) One mark per advantage, one mark per suitable example that exactly relate to the holiday park (the following are just examples) [6] – more flexible booking – guests can book from many different places – less likelihood for information to be lost – no paper lists that need to be kept at reception for a week – fewer staff are now required – guests do their own booking not the reception staff – fewer queues – more terminals available for guests to book from – less storage space required – booking forms stored electronically – greater flexibility for guests – bookings can be made up to half an hour before an activity starts instead of an hour IGCSE – May/June 2012 0420 33 (l) up to two points from [2] – consider if objectives of new system have been met – look at results from tests – discuss with reception/activities whether or not new system works – look at print outs etc. to see if system produced the correct outcomes – ask the guests whether or not system was easy to use