Applied Communication Technology Page 1 of 4

Applied Communication Technology (ACT) Assignment

Problem Scenario: Sand supplier tracking system

Oasis Resources is a company based in Hulu Langat, which is in the business of supplying sands
for resale and concrete to several construction companies in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.

There are two types of sands that this company supplied; coarse sand and fine sand that have
been cleaned. They have three sand mining centres and the locations are nearby to each centre.
All the administration for ordering, delivery and inventory are paper based at present. The
company has simple network with a basic database of customers and stocks database. To track
their lorrys company for delivery is time consuming at present and is error prone. The
deliveries tend to make maximum 30 times returns journey from their centre to their customers
location. Identification of each lorry is remarked only in a log book.

The management of the company seeks technology solutions to streamline and automate the
current process from what was traditionally a paper-based, manual system. The top management
has come out with a plan to develop the tracking system for the business. This tracking system
will be able to:

Reduce over-head costs

Improve staff efficiency and workflow by reducing search times and wait times for new &
repeat ordering
Increase equipment utilization
Automate inventory management
Reduce sands shrinkage and loss

You have been appointed as an IT consultant at this company. As an IT consultant you are
required to identify the suitable technology to develop a system for Oasis Resources so that the
employees can automate the inventory/ordering system, locate sands and update the delivery
status via a smart device or hand phone. With this information, employees can make more
informed decisions to improve on the use of sands, monitor maintenance, reduce loss, and
deliver to customers quicker. The management of Oasis Resources hopes that with the new
system, the company will become more efficiently managed and improving their customer
services.

Level 3 Asia Pacific University dd/mm/yy

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The management summarised their thought on the matter into a number of business and technical
requirements.

Business requirements:

Ability to do the inventory checks wirelessly, speedily and reduces the cost of
administration.
Reduce losses of sands.
Interface the logistics of delivery and collecting sands to the stockholding system.

Technical requirements:

Automated data collection using mobile wireless technology for the Store Manager.
Updating delivery status of to the main office.
Wireless interface data into existing non-mobile systems at the main office.

Deliverables

Applied technology prototype

You are required to provide the following deliverables:

A simple mobile application prototype (smart device) for the stocking business process for
scenario above.
Walkthrough of the application with the lecturer during which you should justify the
approach taken.
Documentation

1. Research on technology that going to be implemented for the system

2. User requirement or any assumptions
3. Design (system flow diagram or use case diagram)
4. Implementation
5. User Manual

Level 3 Asia Pacific University dd/mm/yy

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Management Report about the impact

You will be expected to hand in your slides for your presentation, and a fully referenced report
of approximately 3500 words, which supports your presentation. The report should include the
following:
How can the business improve its stocking practices and how can the administration duties
be handled more easily? Mention possible efficiency savings both tangible and
intangible
How can the logistics side of business be further developed and if possible simplified?
Provide several options and describe the potential benefits and drawbacks
Your report should also conclude with a proposed 3-year plan IT roadmap or return of
investment (ROI) and comments on the future of standards/cost implications and
implementation issues

You will also be expected to hand in the softcopy of the documentation.

Evaluation on Prototype

Marks will be awarded based on how well the application prototype demonstrated fulfils the
requirements of the scenario and appropriate usage of communication technologies. Any
suitable language, platform or prototyping tool may be used to produce this prototype.

Please note that what is required is a proof of concept, demo system or prototype and is not
expected to have any back-end functionality with databases etc. However, the prototype must
be fully functional in interactive operation as a simulation. In other words, all functions (at a
minimum, not less than 80% of functions) must produce some simulated response when a typical
user interacts with it.

As an example, a print report menu item shown on the prototype, when clicked on, must lead to
a simulated screen report, or the appearance of a print dialog box. The prototype must
demonstrate how the final production system will appear, react and what functions and features
will be provided to the end-user who actually uses it at work.

Level 3 Asia Pacific University dd/mm/yy

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Assessment Criteria

Detailed below is the basis used to assess and award a maximum of 100 marks for the
documentation.

1. Research 25
2. Critical Evaluation & Justification 25
3. Prototype 20
Screen shots
User manual
4. Referencing & Presentation 10
5. Management Summary/Conclusion 10
6. Documentation 10
Coursework structuring and formatting
Level of language proficiency
Sequencing and flow of facts

Marking Criteria

Grade point 13 15 Distinctive work will exhibit a high level of analysis and outstanding
Criteria (70%+) cogency and clarity in communication and reflection. The supporting
report should be exceptionally well-substantiated in its analysis,
reasoning, and conclusions within each area.
In addition, at the advanced level the student will demonstrate an
exceptional ability to synthesise innovative perspectives of the topic
with work from other parts of the discipline.

Grade Point 10 12 A student should be able to show further evidence of knowledge,

Criteria (60 69%) understanding and application of the module material. The supporting
report should be well written, supported throughout in its analysis,
reasoning and conclusions.
An advanced level will be indicated by the students reference to, and
integration of, material from previous programmes of study.

Grade Point 7 9 There should be satisfactory evidence of knowledge, understanding and

Criteria (50 59%) application of the module material in the supporting report. Generally,
the report will be less effective in conveying meaning.

Grade point 4 6 There should be basic evidence of knowledge, understanding and

Criteria (40 49%) application of the module material in the supporting report. Generally,
the report will be less effective in conveying meaning.

Level 3 Asia Pacific University dd/mm/yy