Case Study Assignment
For the Book Exchange Project, analyze the cost vs benefits of:
- desktop app vs web app
- buy/configure/maintain on site webserver vs cloud-based host such as Amazon
For the Book Exchange Project, build a growth estimating spreadsheet.
- Since this is a new system, there will be no "current level"
- Define at least 5 potential performance factors
- Then estimate 1 year, 2 year & 5 year estimates for those factors
The Used Book Exchange Project
You are part of a small startup company with 10 full time employees:
• The Founder
• 2 System/IT staffers
• 7 Software Developers
Your company, has been selected to design and build the Used Book Exchange Project.
The client wants an application that allows the members of the exchange to contribute books and then borrow books from the exchange. This is very much like a library...except...to join the Exchange, a member must contribute 20 books. Contributing 20 books entitles the member to borrow up to 5 books at a time for an unlimited period of time and each additional contribution of 5 books entitles the member to borrow one additional book. All the books must be G/PG in nature, this is a family friendly book exchange after all!
Non-Members should be able to:
• Self-register and create a new account
• Enter the set of books they are contributing
• This process generates a notification to the Admin for further action
The Members of the Exchange should be able to:
• Login to the Exchange
• See what books they are currently reading
• Review their personal borrowing history
• Search the Exchange for books
• Borrow a book from the Exchange
• Return a book to the Exchange
• Write & post a review of a book to the Exchange
• Terminate their membership
o ONLY if they have not books currently checked out!
• Edit their own demographic information
• Change their password
• They DO NOT get their donated books back
The Administrator of the Exchange should be able to:
• Add/Update/Remove books from the Exchange
• Ban a member from borrowing
• Review the current status of the Exchange
• Approve/Disapprove New Member Self-registration requests
• Add/Edit/Delete Members
You will have the opportunity to interview the client. The client is open to new ideas and enhancements to the basic project, as well as additional capabilities not previously identified.
The client is undecided on whether this should be a desktop application or a web-based application. Your company will need to make a recommendation in that regard as part of the design process.
Likewise the client is undecided on whether the system should be self-hosted or cloud-based. Again, your company will need to make a recommendation in that regard.
Finally, the client has big plans for this project. While the initial plan is to roll out the system to a small set of groups who want to start exchanges. The ultimate goal is to allow the exchange system to be deployed nationwide in a franchise-like manner and possibly even globally. This will impact your technology choices and possible deployment strategies.
While this initial contract is fixed fee, the client intends to retain your company on a permanent basis for enhancements and support. The client is expecting to participate in all aspects of the design and implementation process.