Systems Analysis – INF2009F - 2019

RestEasy Hotels Case Study – Workshop 3

Completing the Business Case – [Total 50]

Please enter the names of students in your workshop group into this table
Student Name Student Number Project Group
1.
2.
3.
4.
You have identified the current problems within the RestEasy Hotel group and defined a
set of objectives for the project. You have also modelled the various applications required
by the hotel group together with their hierarchical structure and dependencies. You are
now in a position to consider possible solutions to meet RestEasy‘s requirements, and the
feasibility of these approaches.
Question 1: Identification of Candidate Solutions (30 minutes) - [10 Marks]
It is very early in the development project to be thinking about solutions. However,
management need to visualise where their money is going. Brainstorm three possible
strategies that could be used to address the problems and opportunities identified at
RestEasy Hotels. As the final solution must be fully integrated, you should consider a
strategy that will encompass all phases of the project. This solution need not be detailed
and should consider alternatives such as make versus buy, level of outsourcing, level of
automation and the potential for a phased approach. Identify three viable solutions below.
1. Preferred Solution:

2.

3.
Question 2: Feasibility Assessment (30 minutes) - [ 20 Marks]
For your preferred solution from Question 1, assess the feasibility of implementing this
solution at RestEasy Hotels using the following table as a guideline. In the economic
feasibility section, you do not need to estimate actual figures but should list the major costs
and benefits anticipated.
Technological feasibility issues (3)

Schedule feasibility issues (3)

Organisational and Cultural feasibility issues (3)

Resource feasibility issues (3)

Economic Feasibility (8)

Costs Benefits
One Time Costs Tangible

Operational Costs Intangible

Question 3:- Risk Assessment (30 minutes) - [ 20 Marks]
In the waterfall approach to developing systems, many problems were only encountered
late in the project when the system was under construction or delivered to the end users.
Experience has taught us to identify potential risks at the start, assess their potential
impact on the success of the project and identify ways these risks can be alleviated.
Review the major sources of risk (people, structure and technology) in the context of the
RestEasy Hotels computerisation project and weigh these risks based on their probability
of occurrence and financial impact. Finally, prioritise the risks identified and where a risk is
significant, identify one or more appropriate mitigation strategies. The risk may not be
relevant to your preferred solution – for example small existing IT department is less of a
risk in an outsourced solution. Use the matrix below to document your risk assessment
Question (identify 6 risks and their corresponding mitigation strategy)

Probability Impact Mitigation

Risk 1-10 1-10 Factor Strategy
Business Case Overview
You have now completed the Business case for RestEasy Hotels. This document would
be presented to management for a decision as to whether the project should continue
along the lines you have mapped out. Alternatively, management might request further
information or follow an option not identified by your proposal. If management agree with
your assessment of the business problem and support your recommendations, we will
enter the next stage of the development project – the detailed analysis stage.
To summarise, the business case is the output from the initial stage of a development
project. Its purpose is to investigate the business problem and evaluate the viability of
alternative solutions. In doing this the analyst will perform the following tasks:
 Do some initial investigation to identify problems and opportunities
 How should RestEasy address these problems and opportunities? Define the
purpose of the project as a clear, unambiguous set of objectives.
 Identify the scope of the system (with the aid of a package diagram). This can be
achieved using models (package diagram) and also in text, by describing what
functionality will be in and out of scope. The diagram is useful in that it is easy to
build and works well as a communication tool. It can also be used to depict the old
“as is” system or the new “to be” system. It can also show the entire system or
depict individual phases of the project. Scoping is often performed in conjunction
with the next step – identifying candidate solutions, so the scope and impact of
various solutions can be investigated.
 Identify potential candidate solutions. Here consideration is given to the size of the
project and possible phasing, the make or buy options, the extent of automation and
the possibilities for outsourcing.
 Candidate solutions that offer real potential should be investigated further to assess
their feasibility. This will require evaluating their technical, organizational, schedule,
resource and economic feasibility.
 Experience has shown that high risk projects have less chance of success. One
approach to minimizing risk is to identify the likely sources of risk in the project and
to develop a mitigation strategy or contingency plan. The analyst can develop a
matrix listing the potential risks, the financial impact to the project if they occur and
the probability of their occurrence. This matrix can be developed in Excel or Word
and used to prioritise risks and document suitable alleviation strategies.
 Management like numbers so the economic feasibility should take the form of a cost
benefit analysis to illustrate payback periods and return on investment. Obviously
intangible benefits cannot be accurately quantified but should be documented as
they are often fundamental to the business.
 The analyst must also produce a project schedule identifying the activities that must
be completed in each phase of the project. This will help with estimating the time,
cost and resources required. This step will be covered in much more detail in your
third year in the project management module.
 Finally, the business case is presented to management. Your presentation will
include your recommended way forward should the project be given the go ahead.