Stage 1: Preliminary Investigation Report

This assignment requires students to create a Preliminary Investigation Report (PIR) as the first step in analyzing a business situation and proposing an IT solution. The PIR documents the system planning phase of the SDLC, identifying problems, investigating the current situation, and analyzing feasibility. The report should include an introduction, problem statement, findings (scope, constraints, fact-finding, current costs), feasibility analysis (technical, financial, organizational), recommendations for further action (time and cost estimates), and expected benefits (tangible and intangible). The case study focuses on Precision Electronics Parts, Inc., which needs to replace its customer billing and payment system. Students must use information from the case study to complete the PIR, addressing the business problems and proposing a solution.

Stage 1: Preliminary Investigation Report
Before you begin this assignment, be sure you have read the Case Study and all
assignments for this class, especially Stage 4: Final System Report.
Purpose of this Assignment
This assignment gives you the opportunity to use industry-standard methodologies for
analyzing a business situation, initiating a project, and determining various aspects of
feasibility of an IT project. This assignment specifically addresses the following course
outcomes to enable you to:
 plan, build, and maintain systems that meet organizational strategic goals by
demonstrating the use of enterprise architecture and applying enterprise governance
principles and practices
 effectively communicate with stakeholders to determine, manage, and document
business requirements throughout the SDLC
Assignment
The results of your systems analysis and design work in this class will be documented in a
Final System Report. The purpose of the Report is to inform management of your system
proposal and gain approval to proceed with the project. The Report will be developed and
submitted in stages, which will be compiled at the end of class into the Final System Report.
Review the outline of the Final System Report in the Stage 4 Assignment description. Note
that it contains the analysis of the problem(s) and requirements, and proposes what kind of
a system solution is needed. It does not propose a specific solution, but it does recommend
why and how the organization should acquire the solution.
The first step in the analysis process is to create a Preliminary Investigation Report (PIR).
The PIR documents the system planning phase of the System Development Life Cycle
(SDLC). During the planning phase, the opportunities presented or problem(s) to be solved
with an information technology system are identified, investigation into the current situation
occurs, and various feasibility aspects of implementing a system are analyzed. This results
in a recommendation for further action with estimated costs and schedule, and a list of
benefits. Once it is completed and approved, the PIR becomes the major source document
for use to begin the systems analysis phase.
To start, read the case study carefully. The case study tells you that the executives at
Precision Electronics Parts, Inc., have identified a need to replace the current customer
billing and payment system and re-engineer the associated processes. As you review the
case study, list the most important relevant business problems and identify the information
presented that you will need to complete the sections of the Preliminary Investigation Report
shown below. All of the information you need to complete the projects in this class is not
provided in the case study. Using the case study, develop your Preliminary Investigation
Report. Approximate lengths for each section are provided as a guideline; be sure to
provide all pertinent information.
I. Introduction (1 paragraph)
a. Brief statement of the problem or system
b. Name of person or group who initiated the investigation
c. Name of person or group who performed the investigation
II. Problem to be solved – The basis of the system request, including an explanation
of major problems or opportunities (1 paragraph)
III. Findings
a. Scope of proposed system (1 paragraph describing the system boundaries –
what is included, perhaps where it stops)
Stage 1: Preliminary Investigation Report 1

b. Constraints (1 paragraph, including a short list of constraints)
c. Fact Finding – significant findings and conclusions (1 paragraph with more
than one finding and conclusion to be drawn)
d. Current Costs – cost of current system (1 short paragraph)
IV. Feasibility Analysis: This is not a complete Feasibility Report; instead it is a
discussion of whether and how the proposed systems is technically, financially
and organizationally feasible. Describe what aspects of the organization in the
case study and the proposed system make it technically, financially and
organizationally feasible.
a. Technical Feasibility (1 paragraph)
b. Financial Feasibility (1 paragraph)
c. Organizational/Behavioral Feasibility (1 paragraph)
V. Recommendation for further action
a. An estimate of how long it would take to implement the system and have it
available for use, and a rough cost estimate for the entire project (short
paragraph with estimated time and cost)
b. Expected benefits – tangible (with estimated quantification) and intangible
benefits (introductory paragraph and list of tangible (quantified) and
intangible benefits)
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