INF3703 2023 ASSIGNMENT 2
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Using the following CASE for the whole assignment
After graduating from university with a BTech degree in Information Systems, you are appointed as
a system analyst at Logic Designs, a software development vendor. Logic Designs has been hired
by E-beats_Africa, a digital marketing company that specialises in promoting and monetizing
TikTok artists and their creative content. E-beats_Africa assigns talent agents1 to TikTokers to
market and sell creative content. Creative content is defined as a 15 second to 3-minute recording of
the artist/influencers performing music, poetry, storytelling, acting, dancing or other form of art.
After purchasing content or hiring an artist, third-party clients can incorporate artist skills or content
into their marketing/promotion campaigns. This way, E-beats_Africa sees an opportunity in the
TikTok business rule that stipulates that a TiKToker must have at least 1000 followers before they
can qualify to receive virtual currency and gifts from their followers during live videos. E-
beats_Africa commissioned Logic Design to launch a software project to produce an online e-
commerce platform to manage artist bookings and content sales. You have been assigned to the
software project management team who is responsible for planning and implementing the e-
commerce platform. Presently, the software project management team is engaged in the systems
development life cycle (SDLC) that traces the design and development of the e-commerce platform.
Question 1 : The software development life cycle
1.1 In the first phase of SDLC - the planning phase–you conduct a feasibility
analysis and recommended a data model to represent the structure of the database
design. What data model do you recommend? Motivate your response within the scope
of the case study.
Based on the case study provided, the data model that I would recommend for the database design
of E-beats_Africa's e-commerce platform is a relational data model.
The relational data model is a widely used and established model for representing structured data. It
organizes data into tables, where each table represents a specific entity or concept. In this case, the
,database would have tables for artists, talent agents, clients, bookings, content sales, and other
relevant entities.
Here are a few reasons why the relational data model is suitable for this scenario:
1. Structured data representation: The relational model allows for a structured representation of
data, which aligns with the need to store and manage information about artists, talent agents,
bookings, and content sales. By organizing the data into tables with predefined attributes,
relationships between entities can be easily established.
2. Flexibility and scalability: The relational model provides flexibility to accommodate changes and
updates in the future. As the e-commerce platform evolves, new features and entities can be
incorporated into the database design without significant disruptions to the existing structure.
Additionally, relational databases are known for their scalability, allowing for efficient handling of
large amounts of data as the platform grows.
3. Data integrity and consistency: The relational model enforces data integrity through the use of
constraints, such as primary keys, foreign keys, and unique constraints. This ensures that the data
remains consistent and accurate. For example, relationships between artists, talent agents, and
bookings can be enforced through foreign keys, preventing inconsistent or invalid data entries.
4. Querying and reporting capabilities: Relational databases offer powerful query languages, such as
SQL, that enable efficient retrieval and manipulation of data. This is essential for generating reports,
analyzing trends, and performing various operations required by E-beats_Africa to manage artist
bookings and content sales effectively.
While there are other data models available, such as hierarchical or object-oriented models, the
relational data model is well-suited for the structured nature of the e-commerce platform's data and
the need for efficient management and querying capabilities.
1.2 The second phase of the SDLC - the analysis phase - involves a macro-analysis
of end user needs. Read the case study again and identify the end user needs that the
new information system can satisfy.
Based on the case study, the new information system being developed for E-beats_Africa can
satisfy several end user needs. Here are some of the key end user needs that the system can address:
1 Artists and Influencers:
Ability to showcase their creative content (music, poetry, acting, dancing, etc.) to a wider
audience.
Access to a platform that helps them monetize their content through bookings and sales.
Convenient management of bookings, including scheduling, communication with talent
agents, and tracking of engagements.
Visibility into their follower count and progress towards reaching the 1000 followers
milestone to qualify for virtual currency and gifts during live videos.
Analytics and insights on their content performance, audience demographics, and
engagement levels.
2 Talent Agents:
, Streamlined process for submitting artists for auditions and pitching them for roles or
opportunities.
Efficient tracking and follow-up on submissions and auditions.
Negotiation and management of contracts, ensuring better pay and favorable terms for
artists.
Access to a database of artists' profiles, skills, and availability for easy reference and
matching with suitable opportunities.
3 Third-party Clients:
Access to a diverse pool of artists and influencers for incorporating their skills or content
into marketing/promotion campaigns.
Convenient booking and payment process for acquiring content or hiring artists.
Easy communication and coordination with artists and talent agents for collaboration
purposes.
4 E-beats_Africa Administrators:
Centralized management of artists, talent agents, clients, bookings, and content sales.
Real-time monitoring of platform activities, including content uploads, bookings, and
transactions.
Analytics and reporting features to evaluate the platform's performance, revenue generation,
and user engagement.
Tools for managing user accounts, permissions, and security.
Overall, the new information system aims to provide a user-friendly and efficient platform that
caters to the needs of artists, talent agents, third-party clients, and administrators. It facilitates the
process of showcasing, monetizing, and managing creative content while offering valuable insights
and administrative capabilities to enhance the overall experience for all end users.
1.3 For hosting the database of E-beats_Africa's e-commerce platform, I would recommend using
the Apache HTTP Server.
1.3.1 Apache HTTP Server is one of the most popular and widely used web servers in the industry.
Here are some reasons why it would be a suitable choice:
Reliability and Stability: Apache HTTP Server has a long-standing reputation for being stable and
reliable. It has been in development for many years and has undergone extensive testing and
refinement. It is known for its ability to handle high traffic loads and concurrent connections
efficiently, making it suitable for hosting a database-driven e-commerce platform.
Cross-Platform Compatibility: Apache HTTP Server is compatible with multiple operating systems,
including Windows, Linux, and macOS. This flexibility allows the development team to choose the
most appropriate operating system for hosting the database, based on their requirements and
expertise.
