1.

Design Physical System:

The physical system for the Church Management System (CMS) involves both hardware and
software components.
Hardware:
Server: A dedicated server to host the CMS database and application logic.
Workstations: Computers or terminals for users to access the CMS.
Networking Equipment: Routers, switches, and cables to connect the server and
workstations.
Backup Devices: Storage devices for backing up CMS data regularly.

Software:
Operating System: The server may run on Linux or Windows Server OS.
Database Management System (DBMS): MySQL, PostgreSQL, or Microsoft SQL Server
for storing and managing CMS data.
Application Software: The CMS application developed using programming languages such
as Java, Python, or PHP, along with frameworks like Spring Boot or Django.

2. Design Architecture:
The architecture of the CMS will follow a client-server model, where the server hosts the
CMS application and database, and clients (workstations) interact with the server to access
and manipulate data.
Key Components:
Presentation Layer: User interfaces for different functionalities such as member
management, event scheduling, financial tracking, etc.
Application Layer: Business logic to process user requests, handle data validation, and
execute database operations.
Data Layer: Database management system to store and retrieve data efficiently.

3. Alternative Matrix:
The alternative matrix evaluates different options for the components of the CMS:
Component Options
Operating System Linux (Ubuntu, CentOS), Windows Server
DBMS MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server
Programming Language Java, Python, PHP
Framework Spring Boot, Django, Flask

4. System Specifications:
The CMS will have the following specifications:
User Management:
Authentication and authorization mechanisms to control user access.
Different roles such as admin, pastor, staff, and member with varying levels of permissions.
Member Management:
CRUD operations for adding, updating, and deleting member profiles.
Profile fields include name, contact information, membership status, etc.
Event Scheduling:
Calendar view for scheduling church events, services, meetings, etc.
Ability to send notifications to members about upcoming events.
Financial Tracking:
Recording and tracking donations, tithes, and offerings.
Generating financial reports such as income statements, balance sheets, etc.
Communication:
Messaging system for internal communication among staff and members.
Integration with email and SMS for sending announcements and updates.
Reporting:
Pre-defined and customizable reports for various aspects like membership statistics, financial
summaries, attendance records, etc.
Security:
Encryption of sensitive data such as passwords and financial information.
Regular security audits and updates to patch vulnerabilities.
Scalability:
Design the system to handle growth in the number of users, data volume, and concurrent
requests.
Implement load balancing and clustering techniques for scalability.
Backup and Recovery:
Automatic backups of the database and application data.
Procedures for disaster recovery in case of system failures or data loss.
4. Deployment and Launch:
4.1. Deployment Strategy: Choose an appropriate deployment strategy, such as deploying
the CMS on a web server or using cloud-based hosting services like AWS, Azure, or Google
Cloud Platform. Configure the server environment, set up databases, and deploy the
application.

4.2. Data Migration: If migrating from an existing system or manual records, carefully
migrate data to the new CMS while ensuring data integrity and consistency. Develop scripts
or tools to automate the migration process and perform thorough validation checks.

4.3. User Training and Onboarding: Provide comprehensive training sessions for church
staff and members to familiarize them with the features and functionalities of the CMS.
Create user guides, tutorials, and documentation to support ongoing use and troubleshooting.