ELECTRONIC DATA

PROCESSING (EDP)
u Need for EDP
u Examples of EDP
u Effects of introducing computers in
data processing systems
u Stages of computerization
u System flowchart
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 Introduction
u dataprocessing was possible a long
time before the invention of the
computer, e.g., using
u abacus - manual data processor
u old-fashioned cash registers - mechanical

u when an electronic device (computer) is

used to process data, this is called
electronic data processing (EDP)
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 Need for EDP
u Advantagesover other ways as
computer operates
u faster
u more accurately
u more reliably
u more economically

u Characteristics
of data processing tasks
u How computers can help 3
 Characteristics of data processing tasks
u accurate records must always be maintained
u high speed processing is required
u large volumes of records are handled
u calculations are often routine & repetitious
u much of the work is very tedious, e.g., sorting
& searching

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 How computers can help?
u accuracy
u provided that instructions & data are correct
u speed
u consistency
u same results can be produced with same data,
instructions & process
u storage capacity
u stored on various media
u automation
u human work is not needed during the process 5
 Examples of EDP
u Payroll system
u Mailing list
u Stock control system
u Ticket buying (URBTIX) system
u Point-of-sale system
u Electronic fund transfer
- easy pay system(EPS)
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 Effect of Introducing Computer
Data Processing Systems
u Advantages

u save time, save money

u save staff for some routine work
u better control over an organization
u better knowledge & better reaction
u better customer services
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u Disadvantages

u extra cost in employing specialists

u staff may find this unacceptable due to the

changing of working procedures

u extra cost in equipment, office space &

furniture
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 Criteria for Computerization
u What is the problem of in the existing
system?
u Can the problem be solved using a
computer
u It is cost-effective?
u Is the use of computers acceptable to
the staff?
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 Stages of Computerization (8)
u preliminary study
u feasibility study
u system analysis
u systems design
u program design, coding & testing
u systems implementation
u systems maintenance
u systems evaluation
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u Preliminary study
u investigates & identifies the areas
that need to be computerized

u Feasibility study
u decide whether computerization is
the best solution to the problem, the
project needed to be process or not

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u Systems analysis
u the present system is analysed

u Systems design
u the type of hardware & software
u input & output format
u storage method, file structure
u processing specification & system
flowcharts
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u Program design, coding & testing
u done by programmers

u Systems Implementation
u changeover from the existing system
to the new one
u staff training, installation of hardware
& software
u 4 common approaches of changeover:
parallel, direct, phase, & pilot
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u Systems maintenance
u thesystem is continually modified &
maintained to meet the users’ new
requirements & fix the newly
discovered bugs

u Systems evaluation
u todetermine whether it is meeting
initial requirements
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 Systems Flowchart
ua diagram uses symbols & interconnecting
lines to show the data flow & sequence of
operations
u help systems analysts & analyse & design
systems
u symbols: manual operation, merge, manual
input, document/report, punch card,
magnetic tape, magnetic tape, a magnetic
disk, display, communication link & process
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