Criterion D: Evaluating

CRITERION D: EVALUATING

Self-Evaluation

I started the project with my interview of the owner and CEO of HyperSweet Labs Manufacturing Company where he detailed his requirements and needs. HyperSweet Labs was initially maintaining their records on paper and then shifted to Microsoft Word. The CEO said that he had go through different documents to find the required information and it was becoming more difficult and time-consuming as his operations were becoming bigger and wider. The primary research helped me to understand what capabilities the software must have – the CEO wanted me to design a database that would make it possible for him to search through the records of his employees and machines at each of his factory location.

Next, I started my secondary research on existing databases and compared them to the requirements of HyperSweet Labs. My secondary research helped me to compare the possible programs that I could use and finally narrowed down on Microsoft Access as the most appropriate software for my project. I then visited Microsoft’s website to learn all the various features of Microsoft Access and how to use them, such as creating validation rules, input masks, table forms, and even how to make a login form. I sketched out the designs of each of the individual forms within my software for the employees, machinery and factories.

My next step was to draw up a timeline of my project. A Gantt chart was created to plan out when each stage of my project will be completed. Although I tried to work according to my initial schedule, but during the course of the project, I was constantly carrying out my secondary research and adding new features to my program. Some of the deadlines could not be adhered to, but I am happy that I could complete the software on time and hand over the completed program to HyperSweet Labs.

Mr. El-Amin has been using the software for a week now, so I will interview Mr. El-Amin to gather his opinion about my software. I will also find out the strengths and weaknesses of my product and consider what further developments I could introduce into my software.

In my personal opinion, I already knew computer programming and so I enjoyed the “creation” stage the most, especially creating the login form as it requires the use of Visual Basic for Applications. I am confident that Mr. El-Amin would also be happy because my final product has been able to meet his specifications within the scheduled time and it should solve all the problems of managing his employees and machines at three different factory locations.

Expert appraisal – Interview with the CEO

Interview with Mr. Afzal El-Amin,

Owner and CEO, HyperSweet Labs Manufacturing Company

Me: Hi again, Mr. El-Amin, I am Subhadeep. I came to get your opinion on the database application for the factory workers. So, how do you find the application?

Mr. El-Amin: Yes, of course, Subhadeep. I must extend my sincere thanks to you for solving all my problems at one go. Your software is very helpful and has satisfied all my needs.

Me: Did you find the software easy to use?

It is also very user-friendly because the user interface and buttons are very intuitive. Although you had promised to provide me free training for using the software if I faced any problems, but the fact that I did not need to call you at all proves how easy it was for me to navigate the buttons.

Me: What parts of the application did you find the most useful?

Mr. El-Amin: I found it very useful that a table or report can be displayed for the employees or machinery with just one click. You also added the option of exporting the data which was also very useful for me.

Me: In the first interview, you had mentioned that you wanted to get information about your employees and machinery quicker. Has the application been able to do this successfully?

Mr. El-Amin: Yes, of course! It is much easier navigating and viewing information about everyone in the factories. I can also run a query about any employee or any machine or any factory and generate the required report. It is definitely much better than using word documents that I had been using all these years.

Me: Is there any way the software can be improved?

Mr. El-Amin: I am not sure if it is possible – but adding few extra buttons on the employee, machinery, and factory forms might allow me to open other applications. I am aware that the option of exporting the data does open up other applications. But, I was wondering if I could also open the calculator or chrome while I am inside the software. And, you could choose a better color scheme since I feel that the red and black does not suit the software for a candy making company.

I must emphasize that these are minor modifications that I am looking for, as add-ons. I am completely satisfied by the result of this searchable database and I am really thankful to you for addressing all my problems.

Evaluating against the design specification

When testing the program I compared the outcome with what was mentioned in the design specification. The following check list was followed during the project in order to fulfill all the objectives and requirements of my software.

Login screen with username and password	ü
Make data precise and consistent with validation rules and input masks	ü
Forms for displaying each individual record neatly	ü
Queries and reports for employees and machinery	ü
Table forms for employees and machinery	ü
Option of exporting data for employees and machinery	ü
View of all the factories	ü
Reports on all employees in a certain factory	ü
Reports on all machinery in a certain factory	ü
Export data of employees in a certain factory	ü
Export data of machinery in a certain factory	ü

Strengths

Weaknesses

·       Contains a login screen where the user must enter a username and password. ·       Has employees and machinery forms to navigate between the records. ·       Allows user to search for a specific record. ·       Has table forms to display the records for employees and machinery as a table. ·       Gives the option of exporting data for employees or machinery to several other programs. ·       Displays each of the factories, and gives options to export data for employees or machinery only in that specific factory. ·       Shows reports for all employees and machinery, or employees and machinery in a certain factory.

·       Does not include buttons to open other applications such as a calculator or web browser without exporting the data. ·       Does not contain reports for employees or machinery in each factory section. ·       Does not contain forms to show records for all queries.

Areas for improvement:

            I should have added more reports and queries on the employees and machinery in each factory section, as well as extra table forms to display them. The existing forms should have buttons that lead to the query tables instead of only the forms. Forms and reports to view records from a specific query could have been added, as well as special queries which allow the user to enter the value of a certain field in a query. Finally, I should’ve used a better color scheme that suits a candy making company.