1. A single copy of your work must be submitted electronically through Learning Mall Online by 11:59 pm, Friday, 20 Dec. 2024 (China Standard Time, UTC/ GMT+8).
2. This coursework will count for 70% of the final mark in this course.

Coursework Title:

Scenario:

The Scenario is the same as in the GROUP COURSEWORK.

Task Details/Description:

• The database must support several business processes described in the scenario context and specification. You may change some of the design produced in the group coursework ,based on the feedback received from the instructors.
• Include functionality (forms, queries, reports and charts) to support the main operations of the company. The database should be able to: add, edit and remove books, order books, generate invoices, reorder low stock and produce useful management information (e.g. total value of stocks).
• Entities should be identified by a concise and relevant set of attributes. They must include the basic attributes and be realistic but need not be fully comprehensive for the prototype. Continue/revise on what has been produced in GROUP coursework
• Include at least two non-trivial queries. Your queries should demonstrate the use of multiple tables, parameters, calculated fields and multi-stage query. You should also produce appropriate SQL code for at least one of your queries. The code should be annotated in the report to demonstrate your understanding (please refer to ID2.4 below in the deliverables section).
• Include at least one unbounded form, one trivial and one non-trivial form, that will help to realise key business needs, i.e. gather inputs and produce the correct output,which are user-friendly and displayed in an appropriate manner to the user (e.g. home page – unbounded form, add a new customer – trivial form, add new customer order, reorder books – non-trivial forms).
• Include two neatly formatted Access reports to provide useful management information.
• Include at least one level of grouping, and at least one summary/calculated field (e.g. customer invoice, most valued customer based on purchase orders, most popular books sold or reordered, total expenses incurred towards each publisher, most valued employee based on sales).
• Include one Access chart that illustrates some key operational information from the application to the organisation (e.g. sales made each month, popular books).

Deliverables:

ID1: Fully tested and functional database that fulfils the functional requirements meeting the business needs specified in the scenario.

ID2: Report not exceeding 1500 words (+/-10%), which MUST include the following. The front cover page, table of contents, headers, sub-headers, figure and tables, labels as well as annotations, citations and references, are not included in the word count (i.e. 1500 words). Estimated word limits for each section are provided below to help you write the report and have some idea of how much to focus on each section, while deciding the contents. You must use Harvard referencing style for your references and citations. Please note, your report MUST include the following at a (or the) minimum to score a passing mark for the corresponding grading component. Please refer to the last two pages of this document for the grading components and criteria.

• ID2.1: The front cover page of the report must include your student number and title of the assignment [No word count applies]
• ID2.2: Simple instructions briefly describing how to operate the database. The instructions must be written as if for a typical employee with limited knowledge of Microsoft Access. You should use figures and annotate them to better articulate the instructions. [estimated word limit – 200 words]
• ID2.3: Brief description of the most significant features in the database, for example, how these features meet the needs of the business, addressing the current limitations, explained with the aid of screenshots from your database application (as applicable). Justify the features and/or design decisions citing appropriate literature. You may like to focus on two-three most significant features that will help to realise the value of your application to the business. [estimated word limit – 400 words]
• ID2.4: Include a brief description of two non-trivial queries. In your description, statewhy they are non-trivial and how they meet the needs of the organisation. Additionally  please include figures/screenshots to show each query [table-view] you have generated and the corresponding output. You must also include the SQL code for one of these queries, and briefly explain the code in your own words, demonstrating your understanding, how the query will execute. [estimated word limit – 300 words, the SQL code will not be included in the word count]
• ID2.5: Include a brief description of two management reports. In your description, state why the reports are useful for the management, and how they will add value to the business. Please include figures to show sample report outputs you have generated. You may annotate them (as applicable). [estimated word limit – 150 words]
• ID2.6: Include a brief description of one non-trivial chart. In your description, clearly explain the value of the chart to the organisation. Please include a figure to show the sample output. You may annotate them (as applicable). [estimated word limit – 100 words]
• ID2.7: Include a brief description of how you have tested the database to ensure it is working properly, capable of handling errors, and generating the correct output for yourqueries. Please include a couple of screenshots to provide evidence of testing.  [estimated word limit – 150 words]
• ID2.8: A brief reflection on the strengths (at least two) and weaknesses (at least two) of your application. You must also suggest at least two ways in which you could significantly improve or enhance the application. This section should also include a brief discussion of your own performance and your learning. [estimated word limit – 200 words]

Warning! If your database cannot be opened, is corrupt or is otherwise inaccessible, or your media contains malware, you will score zero for this part of the assignment.

Please ensure you have created one or more back-up copies of your work in suitable places using appropriate mediums available to you, to avoid losing the work you may have already done.

Your work will be assessed on robustness, functionality meeting the business requirements, usability and the overall quality of your design. The working and fully functional database will contribute to the majority weight for this coursework, hence please create necessary back-ups.

Feedback Methods:

Formative feedback will be available before the final submission, to help you develop and refine your work. This will include the following methods:

Summative feedback will be provided after the final submission. This accompanies your final grade and uses the assessment criteria shown at the end of this document.

Submission:

You are required to submit two files: (1) Your Microsoft Access Application; (2) Your Report.

The coursework is going to be submitted electronically. Further instructions about how to do this will be provided during a workshop session.

Assessment Weighting for the Module:

The weight of the individual coursework is 70%

Assessment Criteria

Marking guidelines are provided at the end of this document.