2. DESIGN TOOLS Flowcharts

3. FLOWCHARTS Flowcharts can be used to indicate the essential procedures that are to be employed to create the solution and generate the required output. A flowchart uses symbols to document each procedural step required in the linear step.

4. Flowchart to machine wash clothes. START Collect soiled clothes Place them in the washing machine Add washing powder. Set the correct settings Are clothes clean Hang them up to dry END YES NO

5. When you use a flow chart to help explain the steps required to change data to information you must include the following details: Ensure you use the right symbols. When saving or opening files refer to their name and include the directory and type of file were possible. Include all or as many of the steps of processing as you can: Acquisition, Input, Validation, Processing, Retrieval, Storage, Output, Communication and Disposal. Ensure that you include validation of your work. This needs to be shown as a branch in your flow diagram. Ensure that you include testing in your work. This needs to be shown as a branch in your flow diagram.

6. FLOWCHART SYMBOLS Most common flowchart symbols used are: Terminal for start and finish. Indicates any processingthat needs to be performed. Indicates the input and output of information. Indicates the flow (direction) of procedures.

7. FLOWCHART SYMBOLS Represents a decision that has to be made based on some condition which is shown inside the symbol. It has one flow line coming into it, (usually from the top) and two flow lines leaving it. Indicates that data is to be stored. You need to give all details about where and what it will be stored under. This symbol is used to join one or more flow lines into a single flow line.(used when you need to continue a flowchart onto a new page.

8. STEPS OF INFORMATION PROCESSING  acquisition or data gathering  input the data  validate the data  process or manipulate the data  storage  retrieval  produce the output  communication of the output

9. File Management When referring to files you need to identify directories used disk storage used naming of files, disks, directories.

10. M:\nameoffile.docIf saving on the network need to specify H:\ nameoffile.xlsthe drive in at St Columba’s it is H: or M: Each organisation is set up differently. OR C:\ nameoffile.xlsIf saving on the workstations hard drive OR A:\ nameoffile.xlsIf saving on floppy disk save on A If you have a CD-ROM writer or Zip Drive this depends on the set-up but usually D and E drives are used.

11. Validation is the checking data before processing takes place. You need to ensure that you use both the following validation techniques when validating your solutions. Manual validation can be used to proofread for existence, transcription errors obvious errors… It includes tests such as existence, completeness, relevancy, accuracy and consistency. Manual validation has limitations: It can be time consuming for large amounts of data It depends on the concentration of the checker and the knowledge of the checker about the data being checked. Electronic validation is more efficient and can be effective. It includes tests such as existence, type, consistency, range and accuracy. Computer based methods include: Sorting Use of functions MAX, MIN Use of IF statement Spell check

12. TESTING Once data is valid you need to process data i.e. you need to test your solution. Testing means that you get what you expected! Testing is the process of demonstrating that a solution is in fact a solution, that it does achieve the desired objective. You must test everything!! –Electronic validation –Processing –Formulae such as IF statements, Lookups, sort… (spreadsheets) –Queries, Reports, Sorts… (Databases) –Format (all software types) –Message (Word, DTP, Web Authoring)

13. PROBLEM RESOLUTION IN THE WORKPLACE DON’T CHANGE IT DID YOU TRY TO FIX IT? DID YOU TRY TO FIX IT? DOES IT FUNCTION? DOES IT FUNCTION? YES NO YES YOU IDIOT ! NO ARE YOU GOING TO BE IN TROUBLE? ARE YOU GOING TO BE IN TROUBLE? NO PRETEND YOU DON’T KNOW ABOUT IT. DOES ANYBODY KNOW ABOUT IT? DOES ANYBODY KNOW ABOUT IT? YOU POOR GUY! YES NO HIDE IT CAN YOU BLAME SOMEONE ELSE? CAN YOU BLAME SOMEONE ELSE? NO THEN, THERE IS NO PROBLEM. YES