Design and Implementation of Database Management Software for a Confectionery Business
Chapter One
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
After much study of the way this business is being run in Mr. Biggs’s Enugu, there is a great need for a computerized database management software that will make the business run smoothly so there will be accurate and effective communication between the buyer and the staff of the business.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
The aims and objectives of carrying out this study are as follows:
- – Minimize order time and response time between buyers and sellers.
- – Bridge the communication gaps that exist between the staffs and the customers.
- – Provide a more secured, faster and more accurate means of buying the product.
- Provide a faster, more reliable, less cumbersome and more efficient means of payment.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
Database software and databases in general are powerful tools for any business. Storing information in a structured, comprehensive way that allow you to view and manipulate that information can aid you in automating your business processes, improve your knowledge of and service to your customers and help you set your business up to generate sales both physically and in the world of electronic commerce. And although programs like Microsoft Excel have some limited database capabilities, sometimes Excel just isn’t enough.
However, as we’ve stated a seemingly inordinate number of times, the more robust and extensive the capabilities of any software package – databases- includes- the more time you will have to devote to realizing the software’s potential. Learning to manipulate and use database software in particular can be a very time consuming process but there are option to “Speed up the process”.
Most of the companies that offer database software also offer CD or classroom training. Additionally, they often include templates or “add-ons” that create database for basic business function like contact management, time and billing information and more. Finally, you can go to your local or online bookseller and purchase one of the myriads of books on the subject. We own two books on Microsoft Access 2000, Microsoft Access 2000 Bible by Cary .N. Prague and Michael R. Irwin and the complete reference Access 2000 by Virgina Anderson. Both books top out at more than 1,300 pages.
Computability a number of areas to keep in mind. What programs and /or file types can you export? This is extremely important. Additionally, some database software integrates with accounting programs like quick books. If you’re using Quick books and want to interchange customer or time and billing data, this is important as well.
Images- do you want to include images photos or the media files in your database? Make sure it supports image as well as standard data and text formats.
Report generation- it’s always a good idea to go to the vendor website and view a couple of examples of both report generation and building a “user” or data entry interface. If you cannot get the data in or out easily, your database software won’t be of much use of you.
Your system- another constant refrain, however, database can be big PC storage, memory and CPU hogs if you have a fairly large set that you manipulate to create extensive reports or you have a large and varied E-commerce catalog make sure your PC or MAC is up to the task.
A personal guide for building a reach type organization.
THE IMPORTANCE OF A DATABASE
Not-for- profit organizations must track information about people including volunteers, clients, potential donors, current donors, extent attendees, who support or who might support their programs and services. Managing this information is crucial. A database allows you to manage and use incredible variety of information easily. Database are easy to set-up, easy to manipulate and easy to use. A database allows you to maintain order in what could be a very chaotic environment.
Employees and Volunteers of no-for-profit organizations have to manage existing resources very carefully. There may not be the resources to hire a full-time database manager or a short-term consultant initial database structure can be very basis, easy to use and to maintain. Databases can be expanded and manipulated as your organization grows and your resource increases.
CHAPTER THREE
DESCRIPTION AND ANALYSIS OF THE EXITING SYSTEM
This section discusses and describes how the existing system of buying and paying of goods take place in Mr. Biggs’s Enugu. The process is described as follows.
When customers want to buy something, he first all pay the money to the parson in charge of the sales, then the person in turn will now count the money to see that the money is complete before handling what the person want to buy to him/her. If the customer are very many, the person in-charge will keep counting the money while others will be waiting, and the person in-charge might not even know if what the person wants is there because the person will make enquiries to know if what he/she wants is available or not, in that case, they will waste more time in attending to customer.
FACT FINDING METHODS USED
The following are the various methods I used for my fact finds:
– Interviews method
– Observation method
– Reference to relevant documents.
CHAPTER FOUR
DESIGN OF THE NEW SYSTEM
These chapters discuss how the old system can be improved upon by computerizing the various operations of the old system. It focuses on the design and implementation of a based database management software made available by Mr. Biggs’s. Due to the numerous problems of managing transaction manually, there has been a great need to reduce to the barest minimum risk stress and cost of manually transaction of the business.
The web based database management software will provide solution to these problems. Buying and selling using this web based database management software will make transaction easier, faster, cheaper and more convenient. It gives adequate room for proper and easy accessibility. The content of this chapter includes the input and output specification and design, the procedure chart, the system requirement.
CHAPTER FIVE
IMPLEMENTATION
Implementation supply means putting the new design system into use. The new system is different from the old system because the new system is computerized as well as being on Internet too. It is developed using the Internet language {HTML}. The newly design system is developed to create room for easier and Quicker accessibility of different varieties of Mr. Biggs’s products thereby minimizing cost risk and saving time to different customers that peruse their product catalogues to make purchases. Therefore, this new system to be implemented so as to become effectively operational. The following requirements must be met;
– There must be a web browser in the computer system e.g. Internet explorer or Netscape that will be able to run the program this browser is an application optimized for accessing of information on the internet.
– The Internet programming language {HTML} must be installed. HTML-Hyper text mark-up language is the language that the Internet understands various Websites are designed using the language
– Mr. Biggs’s must be connected to the Internet through the Personal Web Sever {PWS}
– The staff that is to hand le thus system must be well trained either by organizing training courses, workshops/seminars or by providing tutorials or handbooks for them to go through so that they can effectively operate the system.
CHAPTER SIX
DOCUMENTATION
Documentation deals with the environment used in running the program and the steps taken to operate the new system. This newly design system which was developed with the Internet natural language {HTML} is designed in modules and stored in the hard disk and in 3.5 Floppy diskettes which serve as backups. The modules are linked together with hyperlinks and they are Interactive in nature. They include.
– HOME PAGE: This is the first page that opens when the web site is browsed. It contains little history about how the software is being operated and also on how data are being added to database.
CHAPTER SEVEN
RECOMMENDATION
This newly designed software which is developed through careful documentation will help Mr. Biggs’s Enugu to achieve optimum quality and sales which will help them to generate great output: To achieve these, I recommend that Mr. Biggs’s Enugu should be:
– Connected to Internet through the plus) Personal Web server)
– They should devote enough resources to training their staff/ Operators so that the will be competent, well-trained and experienced staff/operator who will handle the new system.
– The new system can be modified to enhance its operation and to achieve better quality.
– They should carry out further researches on this work on how to improve the qualities of their products.
– The software should be often revelwed and updated so as to meet the customer’s new requirements.
REFERENCES
- Adeoye F.O and Nwachukwu G.N. (1998)” Electronic Commerce Principles Method Coan Proceeding (2001)
- Clarke R. (1997) “Promise and Threats In Electronic Commerce” Coan Proceedings (2001)
- Manning R. (1998) “Electronic Commerce On The Internet, Online.
- Row H. (1997) “The Electronic Handshake” Online, Coan Proceeding (2001) .
- Saltera (1999) “Green Paper On E-Commerce” Coan Proceedings (2001)
- Sarker M Bulter B. And Stewfield C. (1997).
