Background
Jane Rossman, manager of applications, and Rick Williams, systems analyst, had several
meetings with True Blue Systems, the consulting firm hired to assist SWL in implementing
the new ESIP system. Michael Jeremy, SWL’s finance vice president, requested that True Blue
also make recommendations about a possible SWL intranet to link all SWL locations and
support client/server architecture.
The initial report from True Blue indicated that the new ESIP system should be designed
as a DBMS so it could interface with the new mainframe payroll package. True Blue suggested
that the ESIP system be implemented on a server in the payroll department and
developed as a Microsoft Access application. They felt that this approach provided a relational
database environment, client/server capability, and SQL command output to communicate
with the mainframe. Figure 10-46 shows the proposed design of the system.
Jane Rossman met with Ann Hon to review True Blue’s report and get her approval for
training IT staff members. Jane had some prior experience in Access application development,
but Rick had none, so Jane suggested that Rick and Becky Evans, another systems
analyst, should attend a one-week workshop. Ann agreed.
Ann, Jane, and Rick met with Michael Jeremy to get his approval before proceeding further.
He asked them to develop a specific budget and timetable including all necessary hardware,
software, and training costs. They had most of the information, but they needed some
help from True Blue to estimate the cost of network implementation, installation, and physical
cabling.
The first phase of the project would use a local area network to link the various headquarter
departments to the mainframe. A second phase, proposed by True Blue, would connect
all SWL locations to a wide area network, with the possibility that employees could
access their individual ESIP accounts over the internal network or from outside the company
using the Internet.
A week later, Ann
received a memo from
Michael Jeremy that said
he had approved the project
and that she should
start work immediately.