Name: ______________________________________
COSC 2810 – Systems Analysis and Design
Chapter 3 Homework
1.        SoftWear Silhouettes is a rapidly growing mail-order house specializing in all-cotton
          clothing. Management would like to expand sales to the Web with the creation of an
          ecommerce site. The company has two full-time system analysts and one programmer.
          Company offices are located in a small, isolated New England town, and the employees
          who handle the traditional mail-order business have little computer training.
     a. Considering the company’s situation, draw up a list of software attributes that SoftWear
        Silhouettes should emphasize in its choice of software to create a Web site and integrate
        the mail-order business with business from the Web site.
     b. Would you recommend COTS software, custom software, or outsourcing to an ASP?
        State your choice and defend it in a paragraph.
     c.   List the variables that contributed to your response in part b.
2.        Below is 12 years’ demand for Viking Village, a game now available for handhelds and
          smartphones.
          Year    Demand
          1998    20,123
          1999    18,999
          2000    20,900
          2001    31,200
          2002    38,000
          2003    41,200
          2004    49,700
          2005    46,400
          2006    50,200
          2007    52,300
          2008    49,200
          2009    57,600
     a. Graph the demand data for Viking Village.
     b. Determine the linear trend for Viking Village using a three-year moving average. Include
        this in the graph from (a) above.
3.       Interglobal Paper Company has asked for your help in comparing its present computer
         system with a new one its board of directors would like to see implemented. Proposed
         system and present system costs are as follows:
         Year            Proposed System Costs        Present System Costs
         Year 1
         Equipment Lease      $20,000                    $11,500
         Salaries             30,000                     50,000
         Overhead             4,000                      3,000
         Development          30,000                     —
         Year 2
         Equipment Lease         $20,000                 $10,500
         Salaries                33,000                  55,000
         Overhead                4,400                   3,300
         Development             12,000                  —
         Year 3
         Equipment Lease         $20,000                 $10,500
         Salaries                36,000                  60,000
         Overhead                4,900                   3,600
         Development             —                       —
         Year 4
         Equipment Lease         $20,000                 $10,500
         Salaries                39,000                  66,000
         Overhead                5,500                   4,000
         Development             —                       —
     a. Using break-even analysis, determine the year in which Interglobal Paper will break even.
     b. Graph the costs and show the break-even point.
4.       Below are system benefits for Interglobal Paper Company (from Problem 3):
                 Year    Benefits
                 1       $55,000
                 2       75,000
                 3       80,000
                 4       85,000
     a. Use the costs of Interglobal Paper’s proposed system from Problem 3 to determine the
        payback period (use the payback method).
     b. Graph the benefits versus the costs and indicate the payback period.
5.     Glenn’s Electronics, a small company, has set up a computer service. The table below
       shows the revenue expected for the first five months of operation, in addition to the costs
       for office remodeling, and so on. Determine the cash flow and accumulated cash flow for
       the company. When is Glenn’s expected to show a profit?
                            July          August        September        October       November
 REVENUE                    $35,000        $36,000         $42,000        $48,000        $57,000
 COSTS
 Office Remodeling           $25,000         $8,000
 Salaries                     11,000         12,100        $13,300         $14,600        $16,000
 Training                      6,000          6,000
 Equipment Lease               8,000          8,480           9,000          9,540          10,110
 Supplies                      3,000          3,150           3,300          3,460          3,630