Problem Solution Development Life Cycle - Research Proposal Example

s PSDLC Applying the Six Steps of 'Problem Solution Development Life Cycle' (PSDLC) 10/9/2009 Introduction PSDLC: PSDLC is the standard technique used mostly by software engineers to create the basis outline and the blueprint of the concluding software. The process to do so is made simple through the notion of PSDLC, wherein the software engineer or the consultant shall thoroughly analyze the problem and then as a general rule of thumb, must come up with one or more solutions to the problem, after which the engineer shall create the blueprint of the software and realistically test it to check if the problem has been entirely resolved. The philosophy of PSDLC lies in the six orchestrated steps (DeGrace & Stahl, 1990, pp. 116-142): 1. Understanding the Problem 2. Sketching the Logic 3. Drafting the Solution(s) and Choosing the best solution 4. Conversion to computer understandable language. 5. Testing phase 6. Implementation of the software. Applying PSDLC Understanding the Problem At the outset, a radio station encompasses a lot of CDs irrespective of the station's size. The recording studio within which the software consultant works as a part time RJ possesses a crisis faced by almost all the similar business houses of an analogous scale. The problem is that the Audio CDs covers are always kept collectively in a number of generic storage boxes and units, and even though all the CDs are in their respective covers, the covers are kept in a very chaotic manner within random storage boxes; thereby making it difficult for the next or even the same RJ to work efficiently. The current process of operations is as follows: Figure 1: Comprehension of Problem Sketching the Logic The selection of the song will be the RJs personal emotional matter of opinion and therefore will not be tampered with, besides that process is not a problem. The largest dilemma is the fact that the CDs are being kept in boxes which are random and unstructured, and that too without any logical field or database filtering, as well as without any means of identification. Therefore, the prime focus would be to craft a system that might logically structure and identify the contents of each generic CD box. And not only shall the process involve classification of the boxes, but furthermore, within these CD cases the CDs might be arranged based on the genre, date released, names (alphabetical), or even based on the preference of the RJ. Drafting the Solution Following the discussions within the previous segment, the solution will be drafted based on the chief dilemma which is Unstructured and unorganized input boxes following which the elucidation of the remaining chain of commands from figure 1 shall be consequential. Ultimately, amongst the available choices of filtering the data by either genre, RJ's preference, name of the band and artist, or date launched; the easiest and the most convenient methodology would be possible only if the CDs have been organized by the name of the artist or band. These CD's shall not be alphabetically thrown into a generic box, but a valid automatic CD holder such as the one depicted within figure 2 below: Figure 2: Automatic CD holder [By courtesy of: ( CDRackem.com Inc., N.D.)] A mechanism like this shall make the manual inward and outward of the CDs or DVDs as easy as possible whilst making sure that the burden of exploration of CDs has been reduced drastically. It is expected that the station might require about 30 Boxes in all, considering the holding capacity of each box to be approximately 100 CD's or DVD's. The system shall operate in the following manner: Each alphabet (A, B, C '. Z) shall be classified separately and shall have a further sub division, like Aa, Ab' Ba, Bb' Za' Zz Although it is not a compulsion that each alphabet has a separate CD drum, but the CD drums must be stacked in an alphabetical manner with CDs within them arranged alphabetically too; furthermore, the sub categories shall be marked within these CD Drums with the help of stickers as follows: Figure 2 repeated ( CDRackem.com Inc., N.D.) Arrangement based on sub categories. Although if the number of CDs is limited to less than a 100 CDs per prime category (ABC'Z) 1 CD box shall be used for each alphabet, with 4 boxes still spare to fill up on exceeding CDs. Conversion in Computer Language Table 1: Basic Coding Logic The CD drums shall use labels made by stickers or markers and should be kept according to their primary class. Within these folders the CDs shall be arranged according to their sub classes. After which it would be much easier for the RJ to look for and to place back the CDs. Considering the present system where the RJ has to waste a tremendous amount of time looking for a CD, now that time would be cut short by more than 95% on an average considering that the number of CDs is more than 1000. Testing the system In order to test the system 100 CDs were randomly picked up from a CD storage box and the system was practically tested using these. A problem did emerge, this was the fact that some CDs get outdated soon and need to be replaced by newer CDs as the songs on some specific CDs were either no longer necessary or present in outer albums. So the consultant decided to bring back the Old CD boxes and stack CDs in them in a bunch of 4 Classes per Box, like Box1 shall encompass CDs with the artist's name starting from ABC & D' so on. And if in case the Cds are required again, the RJ could find the CD in less than 10 seconds. The second problem that was faced was related to the groups where the artist names start from a number, wherein the system failed; so a simple solution that was implemented was to use the character names for numbers like so: 1 = One, class = O and sub class = On. This was made possible by using the if, else and then statements. Conclusion and Implementation Once the system was complete, it worked like a charm. The only task pending was the implementation of the system for which the station gladly agreed and on the preceding weekend the team had started to implement the system like so' Implementation of the System At the outset, 30 CD drums were purchased and labeled class wise (ABCD...Z), after which the sub category labels were stuck within the CD drums, and a stacking location was decided and had the capacity of 10 racks per row, therefore 3 columns were selected for the task and the drums were placed alphabetically. Following which the RJs started to empty out the CD boxes and placed the old and outdated CDs within the labeled boxes specified for old CDs in the preceding segment. After which the current CDs were placed based on the class and sub class. The boxes were sufficient and only 26 were used as per the classes specified. Now the remaining possibility of system failure was limited to the management and record keeping of the RJs, who must be trained to use the system effectively. Works Cited CDRackem.com Inc. (N.D.). Atlantic 37805080 - Drum - 100 CD Organizer. Retrieved October 9, 2009, from cdrackem.com: http://cdrackem.com/atlantic37805080drum100cdorganizer.html DeGrace, P., & Stahl, L. H. (1990). Wicked problems, righteous solutions: a catalogue of modern software engineering paradigms. Yourdon Press. Read More