Set of Apple II Hard Drive Images/hard.hdv/HARD/CPMFILES/STAN2

Text File | 1994-12-16 | 2.5 KB | 45 lines | [04] ASCII Text (0x0000)

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b.   This past summer, while working for the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, I was presented with a problem situation that left a
considerable amount of responsibility under my control.

     The problem had been evident in the supervisory Public Affairs
Office, which maintains approximately five thousand slides on hand for
use in visual presentations.  Unfortunately, the only means by which a
slide could be retrieved for use was through its associated project
heading in the file cabinet.  Furthermore, there was no specific order
inside individual sections; therefore, there was no way to distinguish
between slides that were being used, those that were on loan, those
waiting to be refiled or those that were lost.  This manual system had
been used for decades and its shortcomings were now readily apparent.

     Being the sole person in Public Affairs with a background in
computerized information systems, my task was to study the current
system and recommend an enhanced version to alleviate problems and act
as a prototype for possible Corps-wide implementation.  Embedded in
this task was the evaluation of alternatives based upon cost/benefit
analysis and feasibility studies on both technical and operational
levels.  I was also expected to provide formal documentation and a
presentation of my findings to both system users and programmers.

     As part of my effort, I had to consult experts and journals in
photography, database design, hardware implementation and various
other specialities.  Needs were continuously reconsidered and
adaptations were unavoidable.  The project extended through the entire
summer, culminating in a seventy page set of specifications which I
prepared and presented to a programming team for appraisal.  The
system is now in its implementation stage and I am often called on to
clarify important points or to evaluate programming concepts being
considered.

     In retrospect, I view my experience as a systems analyst to be
quite invaluable.  Although there were many frustrating times due to
either a lack of available information or requirement changes that
dismissed much of my initial work, the chance to apply textbook
knowledge to a real environment gave me renewed incentive to continue
with my studies.  Moreover, the opportunity to deal with systems and
public information specialists gave me valuable insight into decision
making processes and the importance of effective communication in a
business operation.