Chapter 9 - Selecting an Approach to Computer Solutions

Alternative Approaches to Software Solutions for Knowledge Work
- Custom Application Development
  requires defining requirements, developing and testing programs, developing user procedures, implementing the application, and maintaining the application (more costly and time consuming)
- Customizing Packages Using Options
  use the built-in options supplied with the software
- Customizing Packages Using Macro Facilities
  may require Macro Recording and/or Macro Programming (some of which may be prewritten)

Selecting Among Productivity Alternatives

Summary of analysis factors for three custom options
Analysis Factor \ Alternatives	Custom application	Application package with options	Application package customized with macros
Functionality	Can be best	Good	Better
Productivity Effect	Can be best	Good	Better
Implementation Cost	Highest	Lowest	Low
Implementation Risk	Highest	Lowest	Low

Functionality Improvement - increase work effectiveness
Productivity Gain - improve work efficiency
Implementation Cost - acquisition/development, customizing, and learning costs
Risk Factors - non-completion, excessive cost, solution not what was expected, errors

Custom Applications Development
- System Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
  Feasibility Analysis -> Information Requirements Elicitation & Analysis -> General Design -> (Procedure Design / Database Design / User Interface Design) -> Implementation -> Conversion & Installation -> Operation and Maintenance
- Application Requirements
  1. Process flow requirements (Data Flow Diagram, Structure Charts)
  2. Data Requirements (Data Dictionary)
  3. Systems behavior requirements (Structure Charts. Flowcharts)
Customizing by Selecting Package Options
- Options and Their Productivity Effects
  1. Options that match the computer to the environment (paper size, International dates, etc.)
  2. Options that match personal work style (user preferences (languages, sounds, etc)
  3. Options that reduce selection and access effort (autoload, icons, desktop)
  4. Options that reduce setup effort (templates)
  5. Options that reduce process work effort (macros)
- Options for Hardware and Software Features
  1. Screen interface options
  2. Keyboard options
  3. Menus, icons, toob and button bars, and special keystrokes
  4. Storage options
  5. Output options
  6. Process options
  7. Handling of data and exception conditions
- Access Options
  1. Menus
  2. Tool bars
  3. Keystrokes (hotkeys)
Customizing Procedures Using Macro Recording
- Macro Recording within a Package
  - word processor
  - spreadsheet
  - database package
- Relationship of Templates and Macros (templates are more restrictive)
- Editing a Recorded Macro
  - be familiar with the editing capabilities and limitations of the package before recording a macro
  - ignore or reverse errors made while recording a macro
  - record macros that operate on specific data or on a set of organized data
  - when a macro must include decisions or other control logic, use macro recording to create each sequence of steps and add the control logic with the editor
Reducing Access Time for Frequently-used Macros and Templates
- Placing the Macro on a High-level Menu
- Assigning the Macro to an Icon (on the icon bar or on the document)
- Assigning Keystrokes to Run the Macro (hotkeys)
Using Help Facilities
- Using Help to Learn Package Features
  - hypertext links & indices
  - "just-in-time" learning
- Using Coaches, Wizards, and Experts