Enhancing Efficiency for DFL Associates with a Comprehensive System Upgrade

1. El-Omari, Samir Hartline, Chris M. Hau, Jenny H. Huynh, Nhi T. Johnson, Rodger D. Kwan, Winnie W.

2. Company’s Background DFL Associates is an interior design company located in Baltimore, works with: High end residential Country clubs The company specifies everything from: Exterior and Interior finishes Lighting Doors and Hardware Carpet and all furnishings

3. President Accountant Design Staff Coordinator Secretary Current System DFL Associates is relatively new (2.5 years old) Company’s members: Paper-based System Manual drafting and elevation Manual calculating: Unit cost, unit price, unit profit Inventory Sub-contractors

4. Current Problem No way to track the merchandise / inventory Time consuming due to paper based system Time consuming regarding the elevations and drafting Lack of comfort ability to process the task –Accounting- No connection between computers Lack of security for accounting files

5. Operational Feasibility Main Goal: To have more clients Manual Operation System Inventory System - No tracking Accounting System - Time consuming Absence of controls and security to protect against damage to current files system A new web site(under construction) – Increase the chance to obtain business

6. Schedule Feasibility Our project deadlines are both mandatory and desired. Mandatory - Pre-determined deadlines for each specific deliverable Desirable - If certain deliverable are not finished at certain points in the project process, this may cause the entire project to be unsuccessful

7. Is the project deadline reasonable? • Depend on how long we will have to finish the project • Whether there is enough time to process the project successfully Schedule Feasibility (contd)

8. Does the company currently posses the necessary technology? • No efficient system in place to help organizing, storing, or effectively producing the information. • Four individual non-networked computers and a basic web site on the Internet. • Technical risk involved in development and implementation for complicated system. Technical Feasibility

9. Do we posses the necessary technology? • Considering the current demand on its services. The company requires a small and fairly simple automated system that is extendable. • Compatibility will not be an issue due to the almost non-existent system in place currently. Technical Feasibility (contd)

10. Economic Feasibility Cost-Benefit Analysis: Personnel Costs: $2925 Computer Usage Costs: $7500 Training Costs: $600 Total Development Costs: $11025 Total Annual Operational Costs: $1350 Total Annual Benefit: $ 40,000

11. Final System Server Farm and Networked Computers Database, Application, Accounting Handling, Web Servers Workstations Gigabit Ethernet Twisted Pair Ethernet LAN Tier Network, Client Server Setup Star Topology Security Room Locked Secure Room

12. COTS Hardware/Software Database Server RAID 0 + 1, CD & Zip Backup, Oracle 9i Database software Web Server RAID 1, CD & Zip Backup, MS FrontPage (for editing) & other apps as needed Accounting Handling Server RAID 0 + 1, CD & Zip Backup, Peachtree Accounting software Application Server Other Apps, Single HDD (non-RAID), CD & Zip backup Other Hardware/Software Cisco Routers, Network Printers, Gigabit Ethernet hardware & Cabling, Windows 2000 Professional

13. Entity Relationship Diagram -DFL-

14. Screen Design Client information database input form and purchase history Supplies ordering form from vendors Shipment information form for clients, with tracking Vendor information form Demonstration-Screen Design / Reports

15. Reports List of Client Purchase Orders detailed List of Client Account information List of Item Ordered List of current shipments List of Vendors information Demonstration-Screen Design / Reports

16. Phased Conversion Less risk and chance of problems Users are trained and familiarized with the new system while installation is in progress Sequential Installation The benefit of COTS: users may contact technical support for Hardware/Software issues

17. Training topics to be covered setting configuration & startup/shutdown performance profiling installation and un-installation on various operating systems inserting, deleting and updating data backing up files maintenance and security problems general computer functions

18. Security and Backup • Locked computer room for servers, network hardware, & backups • Password authentication • Daily backup of important data

19. Conclusion • The new system will undoubtedly optimize total profits of the company • This system is fully scalable for growth and expansion of the firm • DFL Associates are anticipating the implementation of the new system following our proposed solution • Together working as a team, we have gained personal insight from the overall project process

20. The End Any questions or comments?