Analyse: -
Hardware:
I recommend any modern and up to date computer technology, such as Dell. They provide reliable machines with easy ability to upgrade and excellent support service.
It will need to have a CD-RW and a ZIP drive to enable the data to be backed up.
Software:
I need a clear easy to use spreadsheet package. I feel the best is Excel. This choice is based on recommendations and research of other software. The advantages are it is simple, easy and reliable. I will use the most up to date version and Microsoft is constantly updating it.
Input:
The data clerk will produce and update the date every week. The data is entered via a keyboard and an accounting manager will audit the accounts monthly and do reconciliation.
Output:
The data entered will be shown on a TFT screen and stored to a CD or/and ZIP.
This will be printed off using a laser printer and filled in an accounting folder.
Back up-
Strategy:
The accounts will be needed to be backed up every Friday evening. This is to protect the data from being lost due to a power surge. It will be backed up on disk and be stored in a fireproof safe.
Design: -
Initial Design:
I am going to have a sample table to put my data on. I will draw it in rough first (see enclosed) to see if my initial ideas would work.
The columns are headed:
Employee number
First Name
Surname
Pay Scale
Hourly rate
Hours Worked
Total Pay
I quite like this lay out there are a few problems
Width of columns
Text size
User feedback:
I asked Mrs Cairns to try out my plan, she felt I should state the formulae that I used in the table and what I thought about the width of the column and the text size.
Final Design:
I altered my scheme in view of my ideas and my feedback to make it more user friendly. After I had implicated my work I realised o would have enlarge the size of the spreadsheet to include the National Insurance contributions and tax for each employee. I will incorporate this at the end of the final period.
The benefit of having this added on is that such changes are easy to change.
Test Plan:
I used my spreadsheet to test the objectives I initially set myself. The main one of there was that It worked effectively for the main user.
I requested paper data from the real user so that the data was representative of the specific company. I used there figures and fully tested my programme, I felt very happy with how it worked.
Implementation: -
Hard Copy:
See spreadsheets.
Evaluation: -
Objectives:
My objectives were four-fold. My first objective was to create a pay roll package to account for the different rates of pay. The second one was to set up Excel to save time in working out the pay and allow for changes in the working hours/pay to be easily amended. The third one was to see any overtime `worked and pay proportionately. Finally to assess when a bonus or a pay rise would be due by analysing the hours worked.
Design
Changes:
I did not make many changes to my original lay out. Practically it became clear that the size of the columns and the text needed to be adjusted and this was easily done. The sheets are clear, concise and provide the information needed.
User
Feedback:
The main way of seeing if a programme is a success is to use it. I had little feedback, but when I worked on it I feel the layout and the programme was improved.
Further
Enhancements:
Now I can see the hours and rate of pay clearly. I would like to use the system to work out my NIC and tax payments. Then the money paid net to the employees will be worked out.
Each worker can then have a mini print out of each weeks showing his/her gross pay, tax, NI contributes and most importantly his/her home pay.
