Cloud Computing

Richfield Graduate Institute of Technology (Pty) Ltd is registered with the Department of Higher Education & Training as a Private Higher Education Institution under the Higher

Education Act, 1997, Registration Certificate No. 2000/HE07/008.

ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS

Name and Surname:

Student ITS No:

Qualification: Year of Study: Semester:

Assignment due date: Date submitted:

QUESTION EXAMINER MARKS MODERATOR MARKS REMARKS

Please tick each box to confirm completion. (10 Marks)

Use Times New Roman font, size 12, with 1.5 line spacing throughout the document.

Apply Harvard Referencing Style for all citations and references.

For essay-style assignments, please include the following sections:

Table of Contents

Introduction

Main Body (with relevant subheadings)

Conclusion

References

Submit the assignment in PDF format on Moodle.

Use the specified cover page provided.

Include a signed declaration of originality.

DECLARATION OF ORIGINALITY: I hereby declare that this assignment is my own work and has not been copied from any other source except where due acknowledgment is made. I affirm that all sources used have been properly cited and that this submission complies with the institution’s policies on academic integrity and plagiarism.

Student Signature: Date:

FACULTY OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

2026 INFORMATION SYSTEM 621

ASSIGNMENT

Richfield Graduate Institute of Technology (Pty) Ltd is registered with the Department of Higher Education & Training as a Private Higher Education Institution under the Higher

Education Act, 1997, Registration Certificate No. 2000/HE07/008.

QUESTION TWO (35 MARKS)

QUESTION ONE (35 MARKS)

FutureBank SA is a growing financial institution trying to modernize its services. Most of its

processes are still manual, customers complete paper loan forms, accounts are opened in-branch,

and approvals take long because everything is processed by hand. The IT department has

submitted different system requests, including a banking mobile app, an automated loan

approval system, and a CRM tool. Management can only fund one project for now, so they need

to decide which one best supports their long-term strategy.

1.1 Using the scenario above, critically discuss how FutureBank SA should connect its strategic

goals with its system development choices.

Explain how strategic planning, system requests, and the business case relate to each other.

Discuss factors such as competition from digital banks, customer expectations for faster service,

compliance rules, and limited budget influence which project should come first.

End with a well-reasoned recommendation on which project FutureBank should prioritise and

why. (20 marks)

1.2 Still referring to the FutureBank SA scenario, evaluate the role a systems analyst would play

in ensuring that the selected system genuinely supports the bank’s overall strategy. In your

response, discuss the key duties of the systems analyst, such as gathering accurate requirements,

assessing feasibility, and maintaining clear communication with all stakeholders, and explain how

the analyst should handle disagreements between the IT team, bank managers, and frontline

employees. Finally, analyze the potential consequences if the analyst fails to involve end users

properly, including the risks of incorrect requirements, user resistance, wasted resources, and

possible project failure. (15 marks)

TravelGo Africa is a traditional walk-in travel agency. Over time, they’ve lost customers to online

services like Airbnb, Booking.com, Uber, and Tripadvisor. The company wants to understand

how the travel and tourism industry changed so quickly, and how it can reinvent itself using

technology.

2.1 Using the scenario above, analyse three major ways digital platforms have disrupted the

travel industry.

For each disruption:

Describe how things used to work for a traditional travel agency like TravelGo.

Richfield Graduate Institute of Technology (Pty) Ltd is registered with the Department of Higher Education & Training as a Private Higher Education Institution under the Higher

Education Act, 1997, Registration Certificate No. 2000/HE07/008.

QUESTION THREE (30 MARKS)

Explain how the new digital approach works (for example, online reviews, mobile bookings,

price-comparison tools). Link each disruption to relevant IS concepts such as cloud computing,

mobile commerce, data analytics, system integration, and personalised recommendations.

Discuss how this shift has affected competition, customer decision-making, pricing, and industry

roles. (20 marks)

2.2 TravelGo Africa now wants to use technology to stay competitive in the digital tourism

industry. Using your understanding of Business Support Systems (BSS) and Knowledge

Management Systems (KMS), evaluate how the company can improve its customer service by

using tools such as predictive analytics, customer profiling, chatbots, and knowledge databases.

In your answer, include real-world examples of how companies like Airbnb (dynamic pricing) or

Uber (surge pricing algorithms) use technology to enhance decision-making and customer

experiences. Finally, recommend two practical, technology-driven strategies that TravelGo

should implement immediately to regain its competitive edge. (15 marks)

3.1 EduTech College wants to create a single online system where students can register, view

academic records, pay fees, and access their learning material. Currently everything is scattered:

finance uses Excel sheets, academics use separate databases, and registration is done manually.

Before moving forward, EduTech needs to make sure they gather the right requirements and

model the system correctly.

Compare the use of Data Flow Diagrams (DFDs), UML Use Case Diagrams, and Class

diagrams when modelling the new system.

Explain the purpose of each modelling tool in simple terms.

Give an example of what each model might show for EduTech (e.g., a DFD for processing

registrations, a use case for “Manage Student Account,” or a class diagram linking Student,

Course, and Lecturer).

Explain when each tool is most useful during system development.

Briefly discuss limits or weaknesses of each modelling approach. (15 marks)

3.2 Still using the EduTech College scenario, explain how proper requirements-gathering

techniques and system modelling can help prevent the new online student management

system from failing. In your answer, discuss how methods such as interviews, surveys,

Richfield Graduate Institute of Technology (Pty) Ltd is registered with the Department of Higher Education & Training as a Private Higher Education Institution under the Higher

Education Act, 1997, Registration Certificate No. 2000/HE07/008.

document analysis, observation, and JAD sessions can reveal issues like duplicated data,

inconsistent processes, or poor communication between departments. Also, explain how

modelling tools such as Data Flow Diagrams (DFDs), data dictionaries, and UML diagrams

clarify what the system should do and how different components must interact. Finally,

provide two clear examples of how EduTech College would benefit from thorough analysis,

such as automated fee statements, real-time academic progress tracking, or a reduction in

manual administrative errors. (15 marks)

THE END