Using a CASE tool, a software package such as Microsoft Access, or a paper layout form, design a data entry procedure for the proposed project reporting system for the training group. Assume we are particularly concerned about the consulting physician’s staff, who don’t want to spend a great deal of time keying in large amounts of data when using the system.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Because we know from the case that Training staff use (and prefer) Shiroma computers, and Shiroma computers use a graphically-based, icon-oriented interface, the best procedure would be one that is graphical or pictorial, or allows data to be entered with the fewest keystrokes possible. Therefore, using codes to represent project status (1 for client contact, 2 for client analysis in progress, 3 for analysis complete, etc.) or using efficient data capture forms like mark sense or even bar-codes may save a great deal of typing.

Another solution that will provide the least amount of keying is to incorporate G U I design elements, such as radio buttons and check boxes for selections and list boxes for displaying choices. These choices would replace the codes that the user must key in a text-based system and have the advantage that they clearly spell out the choice. The user would not have to memorize or look up any codes.