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Chapter 15

Designing Effective Output

Systems Analysis and Design

Kendall and Kendall

Fifth Edition

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Kendall & Kendall Copyright 2002 by Prentice Hall, Inc. 15-2

Major Topics

Designing outputOutput technologies

Factors in choosing an outputtechnology

Report design

Screen design

Web site design

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Designing Output

Output should be designed toServe the intended purpose

Be meaningful to the user

Deliver the right quantity of output

Deliver it to the right place

Provide output on time

Choose the right output method

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Output Technologies Print The authors use the term ubiquitouswhen

describing printers. What does that term mean?

Screen

Audio

CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD (digital versatile disk)Microforms (microfiche and microfilm)

Electronic output E-mail Faxes

Web pages

Bulletin board messages

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Output Technologies

Output technologies differ in theirSpeed

Cost

Portability

Flexibility (e.g., turnaround document such

as cable, phone or credit card bills)Storage and retrieval possibilities

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Video Clips

Video clips are useful forSupplementing static, printed output

Distance collaboration

Showing how to perform an action

Providing brief training episodes

Shifting the time of an actual event byrecording it for later output

Preserving an important occasion foraddition to an organizations archives

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Push and Pull Technology

Pull technology allows the user to takeformatted data from the Web

Push technology sends solicited orunsolicited information to a customer orclient

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Factors to Consider When

Choosing Output Technology Who will use the output?

How many people need the output?

Where is the output needed?

What is the purpose of the output?

What is the speed with which output is needed?

How frequently will the output be accessed?

How long will (or must) the output be stored?

Under what special regulations is the output produced,stored, and distributed? e.g., W-2 form

What is the initial and ongoing cost of maintenance andsupplies?

What are the environmental requirements (e.g., noise) foroutput technologies?

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Ways Output Bias is Introduced

How information is sortedAlphabetical

Chronological

Cost

Setting of acceptable limits

Choice of graphicsShape

Color

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Strategies to Avoid Output Bias

Awareness of the sources of bias Design of output that includes users

Working with users so that they are informed

of the output's biases

Creating output that is flexible and allows

users to modify limits and ranges Train users to rely on multiple output for

conducting "reality tests" on system output

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Designing Printed Output Report design conventions

type of data: alphabetic, special, numeric

constant vs. variable information

Paper quality, type and size

Special output forms turnaround documents

Design considerations Functional attributes:

Heading or title of the report

Page number

Date of preparation

Column headings

Groupings of related data

The use of control breaks

Stylistic/aesthetic attributes

Organization (well organized) Readability (use of white space)

Color coding, logos, preprinted forms

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Screen Design Guidelines

Keep the screen simple

Keep the screen presentation consistent

Facilitate user movement among screens

Create an attractive screen

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Graphs

Output must be accurate,

easy to understand and

use Purpose of the graph must be determined

Decision makers must be trained in using it

Provide the ability to call up a variety of userviews as well possible commands

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Web Site Design Use professional tools

Study other sites

Use Web resources

Examine the sites of professional Web site designers

Use tools that you are familiar with

Consult books

Look at examples of poorly designed pages

Create Web templates. Style sheets allow you toformat all Web pages in a site consistently

Use plug-ins, audio, and video sparingly

Plan ahead

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Planning a Good Web Site

Pay attention to: Structure

Content

Text

Graphics

Presentation Navigation

Promotion

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Structure

Design according to content

Home page should link to all other pages

Consider loading timesMay want to use Web site diagramming

and mapping tools

Find books that discuss Web structure

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Content

Provide something important

Adjust content to intended audience

Include a FAQ page

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Text

Write text so people can find Webpages when using keyword searches

Let people know that they have visitedthe correct Web page

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Web Graphics Guidelines

Use either JPEG or GIF formats

Create a few professional-looking graphics foruse on your page

Keep the background simple and readable Examine your Web site on a variety of

monitors and graphics resolutions

Save JPEG images at the highest qualitypossible within a reasonable size

Use horizontal rules to separate sections of

Web pages

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Web Graphics

Use colorful bullets for lists and hotbuttons for links

Keep graphics images small and reuse

images Use transparent GIF files tomake images that are not rectangular

Follow the three clicks rule which statesthat you should be able to go to anypage in three clicks

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Presentation Provide an entry screen (home page)

Keep the no. of graphics to a reasonable minimum

Use large and colorful fonts for headings Use interesting images and buttons for links

Use the same graphics on several Web pages

Avoid overusing color, animation, sound and otherelements that make the site cluttered

Make sure that the home page loads quickly

Add applets if possible

Make sure Web pages does not scroll horizontally,

keep the vertical page under 2 screens

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Navigation

If page is lengthy, provide links tonavigate within the page

Label hyperlinks clearly

Provide an area on the left side or onthe top of the Web page for links to

other pages in the Web site

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Promotion

Promote your site Submit and resubmit your site every few

months to various search engines

Use e-mail to promote your site, but have aspecific reason

Encourage your readers to bookmark your site Constantly maintain the site

Include the web masters name