Software requirements analysis and modelling
This week you have explored different aspects of software development, challenges of building
software, problem domain, pain points and how to write a problem statement.
In this task, you need to review the case study presented below and write a problem statement for it
and a brief report outlining any pain points you identify.
Leckie’s Choice (LC) began as a small business 20 years ago and has grown to have multiple store
locations throughout Victoria.
Currently, LC is a distributor, wholesaler and retailer of residential and industrial electrical equipment,
supplies and services. The company also provides installation and services in areas such as energy
management, solar systems, home automation, surveillance systems and data and communication
equipment.
LC has well trained, knowledgeable staff that understand their customers, through which the business
builds and maintains strong, professional relationships. The company has an informative web site,
however, customer orders are mainly dealt with over the phone and e-mail at local branches as the
business website does not support ordering.
The owners of the business are transitioning into retirement, leaving their son and daughter, John and
Ruby, in charge. John and Ruby are concerned that the business is not keeping up with the times as
the market is becoming more and more competitive. This is creating a new challenge for the business.
Both of them have observed that total quarterly sales have declined. In addition, customer queries have
recently doubled, increasing the workload for LC’s sales staff.
Some customers have commented that ordering and delivery take too long and consequently, they’ve
proceeded to purchase products directly from other wholesalers. Customers have also reported that
they are receiving more attractive promotions and loyalty rewards from other wholesalers.
John has identified that the current marketing and product promotion policies of LC do not reflect their
customers’ expectations. A new marketing manager has been appointed who is sorting through
feedback left by customers in order to develop plausible promotion policies and customer loyalty
rewards programs. While the new marketing manager is working hard to try and develop these
programs, John understands that the result does not guarantee an increase in customer traffic or
loyalty.
Pass Task 1.1: Identifying and documenting pain points
and writing a problem statement
Overview of the task
Case study:
Ruby shares a common view with John. Both of them believe that for the company to remain
competitive, it needs to use technology to its advantage but they are both unsure about how to do this.
John and Ruby have approached you, a software engineer, to identify problem areas, make
recommendations and propose solutions that will help to ensure the company stays economically
viable in the future.
In this task you will write a problem statement based on LC’s business case.
Submit the following to OnTrack:
A brief report outlining the pain points you identified.
Your problem statement based on the provided case study.
1. Review related steps and examples in regards to problem statements, pain points, problem and
solution domains and the challenges faced when building software.
2. Complete the task at the end of each article and get feedback from your fellow students so that
you can develop a good understanding of each concept covered.
3. Review the given example on how to write a problem statement in the relevant step.
4. Based on the scenario above, identify the challenges that LC is currently facing.
5. Clearly outline the pain points of LC’s business situation and the reason you believe that these
pain points require resolution.
6. Based on your findings, write a problem statement.
7. Prepare a short report describing the pain points that you identified.
8. Submit your work to OnTrack.
Instructions
- SIT773 Software Requirements and Analysis
Pass Task 1.1: Identifying and documenting pain points and writing a problem statement
Overview of the task
Case study:
Submission Details
Instructions
In this week’s learning activities, you have explored domain vocabulary and domain analysis. Domain
vocabulary provides you with the terminologies used in the problem domain, its context and the
environment.
In the previous task, you were required to write a problem statement. A problem statement may not
reflect the sources of, or root causes of the issues. In this task you will apply what you have learned
this week on domain analysis so that you can identify the root causes of these issues and understand
the problem domain thoroughly in order to propose the best solution for your stakeholders.
As you’ve learned, one of the major problems for LC is that sales and return on investment (ROI) are
decreasing. LC needs to overcome these problems as soon as possible, while maintaining customer
loyalty and attracting new customers in this very competitive market. However, at this stage, ROI is the
main problem that LC is faced with but the problem itself does not define a reasonable solution.
Fishbone diagrams, which have been explained this week, are used in order to identify the underlying
causes of a problem.
In this task, you are required to perform domain analysis and identify the root causes of LC’s problem
based on the information provided in the case study, described in the previous task, by constructing a
fishbone diagram.
Submit the following files to OnTrack:
Your fishbone diagram.
A brief report outlining your domain analysis.
1. Review related steps and examples in regards to domain vocabulary, domain analysis, fishbone
diagrams and problem statements.
2. Complete the task at the end of each step and get feedback from your fellow students so that you
can develop a good understanding of each concept covered.
3. Read the case study for LC carefully; think about the problems that LC is faced with. Then analyse
and complete your fishbone diagram.
Credit Task 1.2: Domain analysis and preparing a
fishbone diagram
Overview
Submission Details
Instructions
4. For your fishbone diagram, identify the problem definition and make this the spine.
5. Once you have a spine, you can then proceed to identify and annotate the varying factors that
contribute to the problem definition such as people, processes, equipment etc. These are the
bones in your fishbone diagram.
6. Once your diagram has the spine and bones, you can then proceed to draw shorter lines,
stemming from each of the bones that represent the underlying causes of each contributing factor.
7. Submit your work to OnTrack.
- SIT773 Software Requirements and Analysis
Credit Task 1.2: Domain analysis and preparing a fishbone diagram
Overview
Submission Details
Instructions