ACTIVITY 2A: Problem Solving Methods

Duration: 2 Hours

Learning Outcomes
This lab activity encompasses activities 2A.1, 2A.2, 2A.3, 2A.4, 2A.5 and 2A.6

By the end of this practical session, you should be able to:

1. Demonstrate the understanding of Programming Life Cycle (PLC).
2. Relate the PLC with the life cycle of a Software Project.

CASE STUDY

Infinity Design Solution Sdn. Bhd, an advertising company wants to automate the system of managing Human
Resources (HR) data. Cik Suria was selected to be an IT programmer for Infinity Design Solution. En. Mohamed
insist to develop a system to manage staff payroll. Cik Suria has to prepare a proposal for payroll system.

INSTRUCTION:
1. You have been assigned to help Cik Suria to prepare a proposal which include:
 Decide a proper title for the system
 Elaborate a system introduction
 State the problem statements
 Identify an objective
 Explain the phases in Programming Life Cycle (PLC) with examples.
a. Specify the problem
b.Analyze the problem
c. Design the algorithm to solve the problem
d.Implement the algorithm
e. Test and verify the completed program
f. Maintain and update the program
g.Documentation

manage staff payroll

Case Scenario (proposal)

Activity 2A.1
Activity Outcome: Decide a proper title for the system
Duration : 10 minutes

Title/ System name:

STAFF PAYROLL

Activity 2A.2
Activity Outcome: Elaborate a system introduction
Duration : 20 minutes

System introduction:

The company is having a problem to payroll their staff. This system is going to be made in order to manage
the staff payroll.

Activity 2A.3
Activity Outcome: State the problem statements
Duration : 20 minutes

Problem statements:

1. The staff payroll was delayed because the payroll was made manually.

2. Sometime, the payroll was miscounted by the staff that were in charged.

3. Monthly payroll data is slow to update because everything is manual.

Activity 2A.4
Activity Outcome: Identify an objective
Duration : 20 minutes

Objectives:

1. To make the payroll become a lot faster and easier.

2.

To make sure the payroll run smoothly.

3. To make sure there is no miscounting when the payroll is given.

Activity 2A.5
Activity Outcome: Explain the phases in Programming Life Cycle (PLC) with examples.
Duration : 25 minutes
 Cik Suria asks you to prepare the planning for system development. You have to study the phases and activities
involves in program life cycle. Define the phase definition below to match the Description with its appropriate
Phase by using line in the space provided.

No Description No Phase
Run the program several times using different sets of
1 data 4 Implementation

Process of modifying a software system or component

after delivery to correct faults, improve performance
2 7 Documentation
or adapt to a changed environment

Identify the input, process and output of the problem

3 6 Specify the problem
Determine the required form and units in which the
4 results should be displayed 5 Design the algorithm

To build a code base on the algorithm being design

5 1 Verification and Testing
Develop a list of steps called an algorithm to solve the
6 problem 3 Analyzing

A written or graphical report of the steps taken during

7 the development of a program 2 Maintenance and update

manage staff payroll

Case Scenario (program life cycle)

Activity 2A.6
Activity Outcome: Relate the PLC with the life cycle of a Software Project.
Duration : 25 minutes

Based on scenario below, plan phase and activity that involved in Software Development Method.

PAYROLL SYSTEM
1. Infinity Design Solution Sdn. Bhd. stores the data for employee payroll in file system. The
calculations for payroll are done manually by the clerk.
2. IT Department want to automate the process of payroll calculation by develop a small
application.
No Phase Activities
Calculate the basic salary by increase add allowances, overtime
1 Specify the problem
and minus income tax and loan
Input:Input basic salary,

basic, allowance, overtime, tax, loan Increase allowance,

overtime,
Minus income tax and loan deduction.
2 Analyzing
Process:
Totalsalary = basic+allowance+overtime - tax - loan
Output:
Totalsalary
START

1. Input basic, allowance, overtime, tax, loan

2. Calculate Totalsalary
3 Design the algorithm 3. Totalsalary = basic + allowance + overtime - tax -
loan
4.
5. Output TotalsalaryTotal
6. END

1. Get identity card(IC) of staff(input)

2. Process the information about basic salary of the
staff(process)
3. Get allowance and overtime amount(input)
4. Get income tax and loan amount(input)
5. Add allowance and overtime with basic salary(process)
4 Implementation
6. Minus total with income tax and loan(process)
7. Display the net salary(output)

5 Verification and Testing

1. Using a set of data to discover errors and to ensure
accuracy of the program
2. Run the program several times using different sets of
data

6 Maintenance and update
o Testing – Test the ability of the system.
o Measurement – Access data time. Example, time to
save, print and others.
o Replacement – Replace the old system to new system.
o Adjustment – Adding needs to new system.
o Repair – For example: An old system cannot update the
new data
o Updating – Update the database.

o Description of the program.

o Specification of program requirement
o Program design such as pseudocode and flowchart
o List of program and comments (to explain about the
program).
7 Documentation o Test results.
User’s manual book.
Program capabilities and limitation.
o

ACTIVITY 2B: Problem Solving Methods

Duration: 2 Hours

Learning Outcomes
This lab activity encompasses activities 2B.1, 2B.2, 2B.3, 2B.4

By the end of this practical session, you should be able to:

1. Identify the input, process and output based on problem statement.
2. Illustrate the problem solving concept using IPO chart based on the problem statement.
3. Identify various tools used in problem solving.

CASE STUDY

Infinity Design Solution Sdn. Bhd, an advertising company wants to automate the system of managing Human
Resources (HR) data. Cik Suria was selected to be an IT programmer for Infinity Design Solution. En. Mohamed
insist to develop a system to manage staff payroll. Cik Suria has to prepare a proposal for payroll system.

INSTRUCTION:
1. You have been assigned to help Cik Suria to prepare a proposal which include:
 System analysis (define input, process and output)
 Create a complete IPO chart

Activity 2B.1
Activity Outcome: System analysis (define input, process and output )
Duration : 20 minutes
You try to find out some exercises to identify input, process and output from real life application as below:

Problem 1:

Below is the set of work flows of Auto Pay Machine for Parking Ticket. Select the appropriate instruction to be place
in the correct box by categorizing them into input, process and output instructions. Highlight / underline your answer.

Set of Instructions:
1) Insert parking ticket ( input / process / output )
2) The payment will be calculated based on the duration ( input / process / output )
3) Parking fee will be displayed ( input / process / output )
4) Pay by notes or coins ( input / process / output )
5) Calculate the change for payment balance ( input / process / output )
6) Processed parking ticket ( input / process / output )
7) Verify amount of money inserted ( input / process / output )

Problem 2:

Below is the set of work flows of Course Registration for student. Select the appropriate instruction to be place in the
correct box by categorizing them into input, process and output instructions. Highlight / underline your answer.

Set of Instructions:

1) Save selected class for course registration in the database ( input / process / output )
2) Course registration slip display at the screen ( input / process / output )
3) Select course for registration ( input / process / output )
4) Printed course registration slip ( input / process / output )
5) Enter your ID and password ( input / process / output )
6) System will validate your ID and password ( input / process / output )
7) Select the class that offer the course selected before ( input / process / output )
8) Save selected course registration in the database ( input / process / output )

Activity 2B.2
Activity Outcome: System analysis (Identify input, process and output)
Duration : 45 minutes

You do some research on defining input, process and output for certain problem as examples below:

Problem 1: Input: 3 numbers

Calculate total of three numbers Process : Calculate total of three numbers by add all 3 numbers
Output : total of three numbers
Problem 2: Input: birth year, current year
 Calculate age Process : Calculate age by current year deduct birth year
Output : age

You try some exercise to get more understanding about defining input, process and output as below:

Problem 1: Input:
To buy the books from the book shop, cashier will Books’ price,book’s quantity
scan the price of the books and quantity of the book.
Then the system will calculate the total price of the
books. Process:
calculate total of books’ price by multiplying the books’
price and the quantity

Output :
Total price of the books

Problem 2: Input: weight (kg) and height2 (m2eter)

Aiman wants to know his BMI. His weight is
calculated in kilogram and height is calculated in
meter. Help Aiman to find his BMI. Process : calculate the BMI by divide the weight (kg) with
the height (meter)

Output :
BMI

Problem 3: Input: video serial number

To rent a video, customer need to scan the video
serial number at our shop scanner and the details of
the video will be save in the system automatically. Process :
Next, the scanner will print out the details about the Save the video’s details in system
video rental. Lastly, the customer needs to go to
counter and pay for the rental fee. Output :
print

Problem 4: Input:
Every employee needs to thumb their fingerprint Thumb’s fingerprint
everyday as proof of their daily attendance to the
work. Then the attendance system will save the Process :
employee information such as name, time and date. Save the employee’’ss name, time and date and tick the
attendance
The information can be printed out at the end of the
month.

Output :
PrintAttendance

Problem 5: Input:
Create a receipt for a list of five (5) purchased items. 5 purchased items
Print the total price, compute the total with 8.25%
 tax and print the money tendered (plus any change Process :
given). Calculate the total price that has been computed the total
with 8.25% tax

Output :
TotalPrint

Problem 6: Input:
You have been hired by Prima Hotel as a Develop a program
programmer. Your task is to develop a program that
can count the total rate by multiply room rate with Process :
number of days, and add 10% room service charges. Calculate the total rate by multiply room rate with number of
Draw the flowchart by using the problem analysis days, and add 10% room service charges
below.

Output :
TotalDraw a flowchart

Problem 7: Input:
Mr Wong is a mathematics teacher. He wants to Hour
teach his students about how to convert time in hour
into the times in minute. Help Mr Wong to solve his
problem. Process :
Multiply hour with 60 minutes

Output :
Minutes

manage staff payroll

Case Scenario (define input, process, output)
Activity 2B.3
Activity Outcome: System analysis (Identify input, process and output )
Duration : 15 minutes

Define input, process and output for module manage staff payroll.

Case Senario: Input:

The system will automate the process of calculate basic, allowance, overtime, tax, loan
payroll for employees worked at Infinity Design
Solution Sdn. Bhd. Each employee will be Process :
recognized by employee ID. The system will receive Salary = basic+allowance+overtime-tax-loan
basic salary, allowance, overtime, income tax and
loan deduction. The system will automatically
calculate the gross salary, total deduction and net
salary for the employee.
Output :
 Salary

Activity 2B.4
Activity Outcome: create a complete IPO chart
Duration : 25 minutes

Cik Suria wants you to summarize your input, process and output into IPO chart. You do some research on IPO
chart as examples below:

Problem 1: Input: 3 numbers

Calculate total of three numbers Process : Calculate total of three numbers by add all 3 numbers
Output : total of three numbers

IPO chart:

Input Process Output

3 numbers Add all 3 numbers Total

Problem 2: Input: birth year, current year

Calculate age Process : Calculate age by current year deduct birth year
Output : age

IPO chart :

Input Process Output

birth year, current year Current year – birth year age

You try some exercise to get more understanding about IPO chart as below:

PROBLEM IPO CHART

 Input
Input Process Process Output Output
Total ==Book1
hours height2(m2Minutes BMI =+ weight(kg)/Minutes
hours*60
weight(kg),
Book1,book2 ) Print: Total BMI
Book2 height2(m2)
Problem 1:
To buy the books from the book shop,
cashier will scan the price of the books
and quantity of the book. Then the
system will calculate the total price of
the books.

Problem 2:
Aiman wants to know his BMI. His
weight is calculated in kilogram and
height is calculated in meter. Help
Aiman to find his BMI.

Problem 3:
Mr Wong is a mathematics teacher. He
wants to teach his students about how
to convert time in hour into the times
in minute. Help Mr Wong to solve his
problem.

Problem 6 flow chart

START

crvRoom1

Total = (crv/2Room1*10%)
+Room1

Print: Total

END