Unit 4: Database Design &

Development

Authorised Assignment Brief 1

Student Name/ ID
Number

Unit Number and Unit 4: Database Design & Development

Title

Academic Year

Unit Tutor

Assignment Title Manzaneque Limited

Issue Date

Submission Date

Submission Format

The assignment submission is in the form of the following.

● A formal business proposal, including a database design document
● The recommended word limit is 1,500–2,000 words, although you will not be penalised
for exceeding the total word limit
● A finished functional relational database. Final working version in a format suitable to
be run and assessed for functionality – this could be as project/solution files or final
compiled executable
● A full Testing document
● Technical and User instructional videos for successful use of the database. Use
appropriate software and submit in a suitable format
● A written report to evaluate the database and its implementation
● The recommended word limit is 1,500–2,000 words, although you will not be penalised
for exceeding the total word limit.
All work must be supported with research and referenced using the Harvard referencing
system.

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Unit Learning Outcomes

LO1 Use an appropriate design tool to design a relational database system for a
substantial problem
LO2 Develop a fully-functional relational database system, based on an existing system
design
LO3 Test the system against user and system requirements
LO4 Produce technical and user documentation.

Transferable skills and competencies developed

Computing-related cognitive skills:

● Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts, principles and
theories relating to computing and computer applications
● Use such knowledge and understanding in the modelling and design of computer-based
systems for the purposes of comprehension, communication, prediction and the
understanding of trade-offs
● Recognise and analyse criteria and specifications appropriate to specific problems, and
plan strategies for their solutions
● Critical evaluation and testing: analyse the extent to which a computer-based system
meets the criteria defined for its current use and future development
● Methods and tools: deploy appropriate theory, practices and tools for the design,
implementation and evaluation of computer-based systems.
Computing-related practical skills
● The ability to specify, design and construct reliable, secure and usable computer-based
systems
● The ability to evaluate systems in terms of quality attributes and possible trade-offs
presented within the given problem
● The ability to deploy effectively the tools used for the construction and documentation
of computer applications, with particular emphasis on understanding the whole process
involved in the effective deployment of computers to solve practical problems
● The ability to critically evaluate and analyse complex problems, including those with
incomplete information, and devise appropriate solutions, within the constraints of a
budget.
Generic skills for employability
● Intellectual skills: critical thinking; making a case; numeracy and literacy
● Self-management: self-awareness and reflection; goal setting and action planning
● Independence and adaptability; acting on initiative; innovation and creativity

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 ● Contextual awareness, e.g. the ability to understand and meet the needs of individuals,
business and the community, and to understand how workplaces and organisations are
governed.

Vocational scenario

Manzaneque Limited is a large real estate company that specialises in residential,

commercial and industrial properties. It has a large IT function that supports development
of raw land, property management, brokerages, lending and other professional services
such as lawyers, interior designers and construction workers. Owing to further expansion, it
is setting up an IT Helpdesk to handle hardware and software problems concerning the IT
systems.
As a Database Developer, you have been tasked with designing and building the new
system. Your role includes designing, developing and implementing database systems
based on customer requirements. You are also responsible for optimising the database
system for performance efficiency, as well as testing and troubleshooting and performing
bug fixes.
System Required
When someone in the company has a problem, they can contact the helpdesk. One of the
helpdesk operators will attempt to deal with the enquiry, but if an immediate answer cannot
be given the problem is passed to one of several specialists.
An Information System is needed to log and track the helpdesk queries. This will enable
analysts to see how the equipment is performing overall, whether the helpdesk specialists
are sufficiently resourced to solve problems in an acceptable time and whether there are
subject areas where employee training is needed.
Proposed System Operation
● When a new call comes into the helpdesk, the names of the caller and helpdesk operator
are logged, along with the time of the call, the serial number of the computer and, if
relevant, the operating system and software being used
● The caller’s name will be checked against a register of all personnel to retrieve the
caller’s ID number, job title and department
● Their equipment will also be checked against a register of equipment to find the
equipment type and make. Their software will be checked to see if it is under a valid
license
● Every call is logged and each problem is given a problem number, which is supplied to
the caller so it can be quoted on any subsequent calls about the same problem
● The helpdesk operator will also record notes and descriptions of the problem. A reason
for each call is always recorded even if it is just a note to say how desperate the caller is
getting (e.g. in the case of a follow-up call)
● When a problem is first reported, the helpdesk operator will also allocate a problem
type, selecting it from a list of problem types. It is the skill of the operator to know what
problem type is most relevant and how specific the problem is

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● Some problem types are refinements of more general problem types and so it is
possible that the problem type allocation may be altered later if more information
becomes available
● When the problem area is identified the helpdesk operator can look up previous
problems of the same type to see if the problem has occurred before and, if so, how it
was resolved
● It is also possible to look up previous problems with the same equipment or from the
same caller to see if there were other related problems
● If the problem can’t be solved immediately, the helpdesk operator will use the system to
look up which specialist to refer the problem to
● Each specialist will be an expert in one or more problem types
● If there is no specialist listed for a more specific problem type, then a specialist from the
more general problem type will be used
● The system will also list how many problems the specialist is currently working on so
that if there is more than one specialist for a problem type, the specialist who is
currently the least loaded can be allocated
● When a problem is eventually resolved, the helpdesk operator or the specialist will log
the date and time it is resolved and record some indication of how the problem was
resolved and the time taken to resolve the problem.

Assignment activity and guidance

Based on the Help Desk scenario you will need to:

1) Create a formal business proposal for Manzaneque Limited. It should include user
and system requirements that develop a fully functional design of the relational
database for the IT helpdesk system, including ERDs, normalisation, data validation,
output designs and interface diagrams evaluating the reasons that the design will
meet the requirements as given effectively
2) Create and fully implement the database Help Desk system for Manzaneque Limited,
according to your design, including user interface, inputs, outputs, data validation,
and querying across multiple tables using a query language. The system must also be
fully secure and maintainable
3) Develop and action a test plan with effective tests:
a) This must include effective data, and extreme and erroneous data in order to
build an accurate picture of the viability of the database
b) Tests must assess the breadth and usability of the programme as well as the
requirements in the brief
c) Tests must include meaningful data and elements that would be in a successful
implementation.
4) Produce a written report:
a) Evaluating the effectiveness of the database against user requirements and
suggesting improvements

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76 Authorised Assignment Briefs – Issue 1 – August 2022 © Pearson Education Limited 2022
 b) Include an assessment of the queries and data extracted in order to produce
meaningful management information
c) Assess the effectiveness of testing, including an explanation of the choice of the
test data used.
5) Produce a series of user videos as follows:
a) Technical: showing the backend of the system and its associated setup, including
data flow diagrams and flowcharts, describing how the system works
b) User: showcasing the system from a user perspective.

Recommended resources
Please note that the resources listed are examples for you to use as a starting point in your
research – the list is not definitive.

Weblinks:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-GB (2022) Database design basics [online] Available at:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/database-design-basics-eb2159cf-1e30-401a-
8084-bd4f9c9ca1f5 [Accessed 1 August 2022]
https://www.guru99.com/ (2022) Database (Data) Testing Tutorial with Sample Test Cases
[online] Available at: https://www.guru99.com/data-testing.html [Accessed 1 August 2022]
https://www.guru99.com/ (2022) Database Design in DBMS Tutorial: Learn Data Modeling
[online] Available at: https://www.guru99.com/database-design.html [Accessed 1 August
2022]
https://www.integrate.io/ (2021) Complete Guide to Database Schema Design [online] Available
at: https://www.integrate.io/blog/complete-guide-to-database-schema-design-guide/
[Accessed 1 August 2022]
https://www.lucidchart.com/pages/ (2022) Database Structure and Design Tutorial [online]
Available at: https://www.lucidchart.com/pages/database-diagram/database-design
[Accessed 1 August 2022]
https://www.softwaretestinghelp.com/ (2022) Database Testing Complete Guide (Why, What,
And How To Test Data) [online] Available at: https://www.softwaretestinghelp.com/database-
testing-process/ [Accessed 1 August 2022]
Journal articles:
Batra, D. & Davis, J. (1992). Conceptual data modelling in database design: similarities and
differences between expert and novice designers. International Journal of Man-Machine
Studies, Volume 37, Issue 1, 1992, pp. 83-101. https://doi.org/10.1016/0020-7373(92)90092-Y.
Gunjal, B. (2003). Database System: Concepts and Design. Proceedings of 24th IASLIC–SIG-
2003.
Kaur, T. & Singh B. (2003). Testing of Databases. IJISET - International Journal of Innovative
Science, Engineering & Technology, Vol. 1 Issue 6. ISSN 2348 – 7968
Kaur, Taranpreet & Sehra, Sumeet Kaur. (2015). Designing and Development of Database
Testing Tool. International Journal of Computer Applications (0975 – 8887) Volume 120 –
No.19. 14. doi:10.5120/21334-4330.

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Kraleva, Radoslava & Kralev, Velin & Sinyagina, Nina & Koprinkova-Hristova, Petia &
Bocheva, Nadejda. (2018). Design and Analysis of a Relational Database for Behavioral
Experiments Data Processing. International Journal of Online Engineering (iJOE). 14. 117.
doi:10.3991/ijoe.v14i02.7988.
Letkowski, J. (2015). Doing database design with MySQL. Journal of Technology Research.
Volume 6.
Reading:
Captain, F. (2013) Six-Step Relational Database Design™: A step by step approach to relational
database design and development, 2nd edn, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Hernandez, M. (2003) Database Design for Mere Mortals: A Hands-On Guide to Relational
Database Design, 2nd edn, Addison Wesley
Stephens, R. (2008) Begin Database Design W / WS (Wrox Programmer to Programmer), 1st edn,
Jossey-Bass
HN Global:
HN Global HN Global (2021) Reading Lists. Available at:
https://hnglobal.highernationals.com/learning-zone/reading-lists
HN Global (2021) Student Resource Library. Available at:
https://hnglobal.highernationals.com/subjects/resource-libraries
HN Global (2021) Textbooks. Available at:
https://hnglobal.highernationals.com/textbooks

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78 Authorised Assignment Briefs – Issue 1 – August 2022 © Pearson Education Limited 2022
Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria

Pass Merit Distinction

LO1 Use an appropriate design tool to design a relational
database system for a substantial problem
P1 Design a relational M1 Produce a D1 Evaluate the effectiveness of
database system using comprehensive design for the design in relation to user and
appropriate design tools a fully-functional system, system requirements.
and techniques, containing which includes interface
at least four interrelated and output designs, data
tables, with clear validations and data
statements of user and normalisation.
system requirements.
LO2 Develop a fully-functional relational database
system, based on an existing system design
P2 Develop the database M2 Implement a fully- LO2 & LO3
system with evidence of functional database D2 Evaluate the effectiveness of
user interface, output and system, which includes the database solution in relation
data validations, and system security and to user and system requirements
querying across multiple database maintenance. and suggest improvements.
tables.
M3 Assess whether
P3 Implement a query meaningful data has been
language into the relational extracted through the use
database system. of query tools to produce
appropriate management
information.
LO3 Test the system against user and system
requirements
P4 Test the system against M4 Assess the
user and system effectiveness of the testing,
requirements. including an explanation of
the choice of test data
used.

LO4 Produce technical and user documentation.

P5 Produce technical and M5 Produce technical and D3 Evaluate the database in
user documentation. user documentation for a terms of improvements needed
fully-functional system, to ensure the continued
including data flow effectiveness of the system.
diagrams and flowcharts,
describing how the system
works.

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