Systems Development Assignment 1

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It should be noted that an object model is not by itself a requirements specification or architecture. An object model as it were is a veritable tool that is for the vivid expression of some aspects of the software system with the aim of understanding it more clearly. Also note-worthy is the fact that not all the concepts required during system software design can actually be expressed using the object model.

Object modeling contributes immensely to the development of the software as all stakeholders are afford the luxury of a better understanding of the functional (and non-functional) requirements of the software system. The software project also become more resilient to staff loss due to the better involvement of all stakeholders through a highly accessible feedback system which allows all stakeholders to contribute to the system development even before coding begins.

Ultimately, the assignment is also targeted at helping student develop have a deep understanding about the importance and uses of object modeling and also build (and sharpen) their skills in identifying/selecting appropriate system development object models to address several arrays of typical development problems. Students will also be equipped with the necessary skills to bring a problem solution o board via object modeling which in no small way increase the intuitiveness of the students.

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Overview of NYALEY

NYALEY is a newly opened Savings and Loan (Company) Bank operating in Ghana with its head office in Accra and ten (10) other branches across the country.

NYALEY Savings and Loan (Company) Bank has therefore requested for a software to manage business transactions at the bank:

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Solution:

- Providing a Formalized Banking System’s Object Model for NYALEY Savings and Loans (Company) Bank

As the software project manager of NYALEY Savings and Loans (Company) Bank, I have the basic duty of setting up and organizing development teams (and members), managing and coordinating the entire design and development of any software to be developed in house and as well give specifications for software to be outsourced.

In developing efficient and effective software to manage all business transactions, the first thing to do is to fully understand the functions of the to-be-developed software. This therefore ultimately requires the “exquisite” object modelling of the functional (and non-functional) requirements of the software.

The following points explains some of the most outstanding ways by which the use of object models can in no small measure assist the analysis and design of the software system to be developed for NYALEY Savings and Loans (Company) Bank:

- An object model is a simplification of reality.

- We build object models so that we can better understand the system we are developing.

- Object models greatly aid the simplification of complex system thereby making complex systems comprehensible in its entirety.

- Object models helps in recognizing and better understating hierarchical structure of the entire system object modeled.

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- The head office coordinates transactions and management activities of the 10 branches

The NYALEY Savings and Loans (Company) Bank has its head office in Accra and as well ten (10) other branches spread across the country. The diagram below (Figure 1) shows the organization’s structural representation.

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Figure 1: NYALEY Savings and Loans (Company) Bank’s System Object model

In the organizational structural representation depicted above, the ten (10) branches are all connected to the head office. This is the same for all the transactions to be carried out in the branches as well. This means the actual transaction takes places in the head office alone as the branches only act as outlets for easy physical accessibility of the customers (and potential customers).

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Figure 2: Summary of the Managerial and Transactional activities

The diagram above (Figure 2) depicts the summary of the transactional activities of the NYALEY Savings and Loans (Company) Bank.

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- Transactions involving credit and debit of accounts are done at all branches

The two basic, most frequent and most important transactions done in a bank by a customer is depositing and withdrawing money from the customer’s account. Depositing money in an account involves crediting the account while withdrawing from an account involves debiting the account. To do any of these two transactions, the customer has to have an account with the bank.

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Figure 3: Crediting or debiting an account

The following are prerequisites for depositing money from a customer’s account:

- The customer must have an account.

- The account must be active i.e. not dormant

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Figure 4: Crediting an account

The following are prerequisites for withdrawing money from a customer’s account:

- The customer must have an account.

- The account must be active i.e. not dormant.

- There must be enough money in the account i.e. the money to be withdrawn must be equal to or less than the money in the account.

- If the immediate prerequisite is met, the amount to be withdrawn must not be greater than the maximum amount that can be withdrawn – this is usually based on the account type.

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