Discuss the documentation requirements of systems designers and programmers, computer operators, and end users.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Systems designers and programmers need documentation to debug errors and perform maintenance of the system. Such documentation is highly technical and includes DFDs, ER diagrams, structure diagrams, systems flowcharts, program flowcharts, and program code listings. The systems flowchart shows the relationship of input files, programs, and output files. The program flowchart provides a detailed description of the sequential and logical operation of the program. Operator documentation consists of a run manual that includes such things as the name of the system, the run schedule, required hardware devices, file requirements, run-time instructions, and a list of users who receive the output of the run. User documentation describes how to use the system. The nature of user documentation will depend on the user's degree of sophistication with computers and technology. This documentation is frequently in the form of a user handbook as well as online documentation such as tutorials and help features.