Online Shopping

Online Shopping

So you found this iPhone in one of the retail shops but you couldn't afford it. So you thought of buying it later but by that time it has gone out of stock. What to do? No worries, let's look elsewhere easy and effective. How about going online? Sounds good, right? First, let's take a look at what "online shopping" means.

* Online Shopping: An electronic commerce (e-commerce) application that business can use with each other or they can offer services or goods directly to the customer.

As a customer, can you think of how beneficial is this online service. I'd say 'very' beneficial. Just think of it: sitting down comfortably and ordering your stuff from your living room. Take a look:-
* You can shop anytime and from anywhere that suits you
* Saves time by not needing to go from one place to another
* You can purchase items from shops which you cannot access normally; like the ones not available in your country
* It allows easy comparison between prices from different shops & sellers
* No need to queue; go figure
* Those who experience difficulties in transportation needn't to worry
* You can even get a discount.
Sorry to bearer of bad news, but there are drawbacks which are not going to make you very happy:-
* There's no way to tell the actual quality of the item you're buying
* Some security concerns are still swarming
* Sometimes, you might not receive what you've ordered
* In case it doesn't arrive, you'll still be charged unless you contact the website
* Heavy charges may be imposed due to handling & shipment
* There's a chance your order will get damaged on its way to you
* Some people think that you lose some of your social life. That's what they think.

 If we try to look at this from the entrepreneur's point of view, we'll find that the story is quite different. When a business is dealing with online shopping it, there are some matters the business has to consider and these matters causes some disadvantages to the business such as:-
* Great deal of money has to be paid for the web designer who will design the website professionally.
* Staff needed to keep the website updated
* If the website crashed, then the entire operations would be in jeopardy
* Security issues are there. If the business cannot protect its customers from online thieves, then the customers would tend not to use their website or simply sue the business.
* The website has to be hosted on reliable server
But there is more to it! Despite what you've read earlier. There are benefits to the business from online shopping. Like:-
* Costs regarding the finance for retail premises and running them are not needed
* Online shopping requires less staff when compared with traditional retail shopping
* The products can be accessed and viewed globally
* It allows easy tracking of competitors
* "Customers who bought this also bought..." line is quite catchy and encourages customers to buy even more

How to buy something online? Simple. First of all, log in to the trusted website you're using. Make sure that the website is genuine i.e. check for the "s" in "https" and the padlock icon which will be located either at the bottom or at the top of the browser. Next, search for the items you want and add them to your virtual cart. Once you're done proceed to checkout. There, you need to type in your personal data such as your name, address, zip code, etc... . After that, you'll need to select the method of payment. I'd recommend using services such as PayPal as they're more secure. The card number will be stored in your account, so you won't need to reenter it when you decide to buy items next time. However, the security code is a different story. You'll need to reenter that code every time you make an online purchase. Last but not the least, choose the shipping method (if you're ordering items from outside the country). Note that the shipment & handling fees are very high. Therefore, registering with a company such as Aramex.com would be a wise decision. Once you register with them, they'll give you a list of addresses. put their address on the address bar when entering your personal data. Your order will be delivered to them with the minimum fee possible. Then they will ship it to you with a small fee. Life is Good.

When it comes to security, concerns would be rising. Since online shopping involves money, then it'll definitely involve online thieves. Hacking used to be the big problem but now it is rarely seen. These thieves have found another way of tricking users. They use what is termed as "scam" which involves phishing, pharming, etc... . A mediocre computer user would not recognize these scams. Basically, those thieves will send you a fake message claiming that they're a company with something like special offers and will provide you with a link. This link will take you to a fabricated website of their own where you'll enter your personal data and "whoops", they're sent to them. Now they can access your bank account or amazon account and wreak havoc. 
So to avoid these issues, here are some things you might be looking for:-
* Encryption: This means that critical data such credit card numbers are scrambled by a secret code that only the shop computer can unscramble it. Anyone trying to steal these data will probably fail.
* Secure Site: Check for the URL of the website you're using. It has to contain the "s" as in "https//amazon.com". This  means that this site is using encryption to your personal data. You'll also find a padlock at the bottom or the top of the screen depending on your browser. This confirms that the site is genuine.
* PASSWORD: Keep it safe. I'd recommend you to change your password every now & then. I know it may sound like a pain but its much less pain than the one you'll get if your account is ransacked. I'd also suggest you to keep different passwords for different websites and don't use a something so obvious as a password. "Fido" for instance is not a good one. Having something like "D*LyM" is quite strong and more preferred.

References:
www.teachict.com

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System Analysis Exercise 2

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Documentation

When your system is fully installed, documents have to be issued.

We have the technical documentation & user documentation. You can think of them as manuals. Detailed information about a system's design specifications, its internal working & its functionality are found in documentation.

* User Documentation: It is provided to users to help them operate the newly implemented system. It can also take the form of a tutorial.

* Technical Documentation: It is provided specifically for the systems analyst & the programmer to help them in further upgrading & improvements

1st: The user documentation is issued to familiarize the system & its various components to the user who have no idea on how to operate it. It also saves the analyst's time, as if the documentation is effective, he/she won't be contacted on a regular basis. The user documentation includes:-

- Screenshots as well as descriptions regarding the operation of the system.

- Purpose of the system

- Input & output formats and what to do when errors arise.

- Hardware & software needed

- Troubleshooting guides and a list of FAQs 

The technical documentation  is also split into two parts:-

* System Documentation: It provides a detailed overview of the whole system. It includes:-

- Test plans & test results

- Results of system analysis (including elements such as DFDs)

- What is expected from the system

- Overall design decisions such as the choice of hardware and/or software.

* Program Documentation: It is produced for the pieces of program code that have been written. It includes:-
- A description and the purpose of the software.
- The input & output data formats that have been used.
- Program flowcharts that were produced.
- The program listing
                 --- This will help any future programmer to make modifications to the system ---

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Implementation Chart (Home-Work)

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ISBN Calculations (Check Digit)

During the design stage, the designer has to limit the chances of inaccurate data. Therefore, validation checks have to be established. These checks include:-

1) Range Check: Checks whether data is within acceptable boundaries.

2 ) Length Check: Checks if the data is entered with the required number of characters

3) Character Check: Checks that the data entered doesn't include invalid characters

4) Picture Check: Checks that data is entered in a specific format.

5) Limit Check: Similar to "Range Check", only it has one boundary.

6) Presence Check: Checks that data is actually present.

7) Consistency Check: Checks that data field tie up with each other

8) Check Digit: Performs complex calculations on a range of numbers, then compares them with the check digit. (We'll go into this more deeply with the ISBN calculations)

 

1. Take the first 12 digits of the 13-digit ISBN
2. Multiply each number in turn, from left to right by a number. The first digit is multiplied by 1, the second by 3, the third by 1 gain, the fourth by 3 again, and so on to the eleventh which is multiplied by 1 and the twelfth by 3.
3. Add all of the 12 answers.
4. Do a modulo 10 division on the result from step 2. (Don't know what a modulo 10 division is? It's easy. It's just the remainder from a whole number division by 10. I bet you learned to do that in junior school, before you even learned about decimal fractions.)
5. Take that remainder result from step 4.If it's a zero, then the check digit is zero. If the remainders isn't zero then subtract the remainder from 10. The answer to that is your check digit.

 

Let's take #9781861972712# as an example:-

9 x 1 = 9
7 x 3 = 21
8 x 1 = 8
1 x 3 = 3
8 x 1 = 8
6 x 3 = 18
1 x 1 = 1
9 x 3 = 27
7 x 1 = 7
2 x 3 = 6
7 x 1 = 7
1 x 3 = 3

Add the results 

9 + 21 + 8 + 3 + 8 + 18 + 1 + 27 + 7 + 6 + 7 + 3 = 118 

Modulo 10 the result

118 modulo 10 = 110 remainder 8

Work out the digit

8 doesn't equal zero, so check digit = 10 - 8 = 2 

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Evaluation

There, the system has been fully installed and it's up & running. The users of the system are to evaluate the system. During this stage, two key questions will be asked:-

Q1) Does the finished solution meet its requirements?

Q2) Does it solve the problem?

 

What's the point of a solution which doesn't solve its corresponding problem? Nothin' right? So when these key questions are answered positively, then the system has succeeded. If otherwise, then it was a waste of time & resources.

Further to those two questions, the evaluation considers:-

* Lessons learnt from the problems encountered, so the next project will be even smoother & successful.

* Any maintenance and support needed in day-to-day running of the system 

By now, the analyst will have determined the success of the new system, that is by getting feedback from the users. He will also have seen if the users are satisfied. He will have recorded the extensions suggested to the system based on the users' opinions. This gives him a clear idea about the limitation of the system.

Once these limitations have been identified, the analyst now has to interview the users and collect their opinions, suggestions regarding the limitations and further extensions. They will have to decide whether the good features of the system can compensate for these extensions. If not, then the analyst will have to analyze the new system and see where the extensions should be included. The system life cycle goes on...

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Implentation

At this point, the system is designed, tested and is ready to be implement it. The thing is, how to do so? Knowing that there are four ways in which you can implement the system. So, which one is the best choice? Like with the methods of recording info back in the analysis stage, there is no black & white rather than it's all shades of grey.

 

1) Parallel Running: Both the old & the new system will work simultaneously and then the new system gradually dominates.

* Pros: Workers can be trained to use the new system while it is being implemented. If there are any problems with the new system and it has to halt, the old system will still be there as a backup.

* Cons: Two sets of workers have to be paid to keep both systems running. It takes a lot of time to be fully implemented. Actually, it is the slowest method of implementation.

2) Phased Implementation: Implementing the system one part at a time. This is like buying a fixed asset with monthly payments (Hire Purchase).

* Pros: If one aspect of the system fails, the other aspects will remain unaffected. Workers will have time to get used to the new system.

* Cons: It is a slower method when compared to direct changeover. If the new system fails, there's no hope to revert to its predecessor.

3) Direct Changeover: From the name itself, the old system is replaced instantly with the new system.

* Pros: Only one set of workers have to be paid, so it doesn't cost as much as in parallel running where two sets have to be paid. It's the quickest way to fully implement a new system.

* Cons: No backup is there. So if the new system fails, you're done for. It can be difficult to make improvements to the new system and keep it working.

4) Pilot Running: The system is implemented in one branch of the organization whilst the other branches carry out with their existing one.

* Pros: If the system doesn't work properly, the other branches won't be affected. The later branches benefit from the mistakes made in earlier branches.

* Cons: It is a slow method of implementation.

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