Group Project
(Updated 8/27/07)

Any transaction processing system that aims at automating or at reengineering the day-to-day activities of an organization is suitable for the course project.  Projects earlier years include automated cash registrar for a small store, inventory tracking system for a manufacturing outfits, membership and billing system for a health club, inventory and billing system for a video store, automated course schedule for a school, and parking permit system for a university.

One option is to develop a system for a specific organization.  Good sources of such project have been student’s place of employment, small business owned by friends or relatives, and university offices.  I have also known students in earlier years who have called local business to find out if they have suitable projects.

Another options to develop a general-purpose system aimed at a very specific type of users.  For example, a team in an earlier semester developed a record keeping system for apartment rental offices.  They interviewed several managers of local apartment complexes and compiled their requirements.  General purpose of doctor and lawyers’ offices, heath clubs, video rental offices etc. would fall under this category.

Have a brainstorming session with your group members.  Once your team has narrowed your options to a few possible projects, please discuss it with me.  You need to get started on your projects as earlier as possible.

Group specifications and dividing up the work

Each group will consist of four to six members with one group leader.  The leader is responsible for fair allocation of tasks as well as its completion.  Team members should note that the project itself is a learning activity and that one individual should not perform the same task over and over again (for example, one person does the writing of all reports.)  It is often impractical to have all members of the group put in equal amount of effort in all parts of the project.  However, I do require that all of you put in approximately equal effort for the project, when taken as a whole.  At the end of the semester, you will get to evaluate your other group members’ performance and points will be divided accordingly. 

Any dissension, arguments about equity etc. are to be settled within the group.  If I am brought in to arbitrate, the group as a whole may be penalized with extra penalties imposed on the group leader.  However, if a group member shows a significant unwillingness to work for he group project, I should be informed.

Project Evaluation:

All reports and presentations will be judged on a competitive basis.  Contents, organization, creativity, overall preventability, applications of concepts discussed in class as well as feedback from organization representatives (if applicable) will be used to grade.

Note that late work irrespective of the cause will be penalized at the rate of 20% per day.  Each group member will evaluate the others within the group as well as provide a self-evaluation at the end of the semester.  Team leaders will get or loose credit based on whether the project proceeds on target, providing specific information within the reports as indicated below, for making sure that task assignments emphasize learning requirements and ensuring the quality of reports.

Project Documentation:

Each report should have the following in minimum:

·       A cover page with team members and title

·       Table of contents with page number

·       Each submission should have appropriate narrative discussion pertaining to the system as well as the documentation that is general at each phase.

·       Team leader should provide an appendix, indicating the tasks assigned and performed within each phase by team members.

·       Appendix should also include a copy of the log, which indicates the dates that a site is visited, and group meetings, duration, place, and the purpose of the visit (meeting).

·       Each report should be neatly typed and bounded.

·       Each report should be handled both to me as well as the company representative (if applicable) you are working with.  Please maintain a copy of all submission.

·       Some suggestions about contents to be included in each report will be discussed during the class hour.

·       More specific guidelines will be given in class.

page last updated August 27, 2007