Technical Paper: Proof of Concept (POC)

Technical Paper: Proof of Concept (POC)

Your company is a 4-year-old startup  called XYZ Software Enterprises. XYZ produces a point of sale system and  was awarded a Proof of Concept (POC) to one of the largest and oldest  restaurants in the industry (you know, the ones in the commercials all  the time). The restaurant wants XYZ to prove that the software will do  what the sales people said it could do. Your Proof of Concept will include four parts:

• Part 1: Gantt Chart.
• Part 2: Testing and User Acceptance Report.
• Part 3: Use Case Diagram.
• Part 4: Activity Diagram.

Part 1: Gantt Chart A Gantt Chart (see page 353, Figure  11-18 in your textbook) needs to be created for the entire process of  the Proof of Concept. There is a two-month deadline from today to  complete the POC. Using Visio or Excel, create a Gantt  Chart that includes all of the items listed below and adds five more  tasks minimum from the concepts learned from the course:

• The initial meeting—today.
  • Should appear as the first line.
• Teams selected to participate in the project (1 week).
• Information gathering (add the information gathering methods you will use and how long each will take).
• System configurations based on information gathering methods (2 weeks).
• Create Activity Chart based on information gathering (information to create chart supplied).
• Create Use Case Diagram based on information gathering (information to create chart supplied).
• Show the finished configurations to the team and get feedback (1 day).
• Make changes based on feedback (3 days).
• Install the system in the test store (2 days).
• Train staff (1 day).
• Run a live test of POC (2 weeks).

Note: The five or more  additional tasks can be sub-tasks for information gathering methods as  well some other sub-task or major task not in the initial list.
You  may add items from the SDLC, specific item or items on testing, or any  other concept you think should be part of the POC process learned in the  course of this semester. Note: Remember that  events in a Gantt chart can happen at the same time as other events.  Some items also cannot start until others are completed. Everything has  an estimated time frame and it is displayed in the chart. Part 2: Testing and User Acceptance Report As part of the expected documentation in the POC, XYZ wants a report on Testing and User Acceptance. Your manager is asking you to research the testing criteria they listed in the POC documents. The POC document states that they are looking for the following:

• System and Stress Testing.
• User Acceptance Testing (UAT).

For both categories, research and report on the following:

1. What these tests are.
2. Why the industry leader would want these particular tests.
3. The best ways, in detail, to accomplish the tests so that your company meets the criteria they are looking for.

These items can be added to your Gantt Chart (Part 1). Part 3: Use Case Diagram The restaurant, as part of the information gathering, outlined a use case in a chart, which is below.
Your manager assigned you to create the Use Case Diagram using Visio,  MS Word, or any other software. (See the diagrams on Page 84 and 85 of  the textbook.)

• Paste the diagram into the created report.

USE CASE ACTOR   Order Food Waiter, Patron, Chef   Serve Food Waiter   Cook Food Chef   Pay for food Waiter, Patron   Eat Food Patron    Part 4: Activity Diagram As a part of the information gathering process, a chart of items was provided by XYZ. Your manager has asked that you use  Visio, MS Word, or any other software with which you are familiar to  create the Activity Diagram (see pages 138 Figure 5-5 and 139 Figure 5-6  in the textbook.)

• Paste the diagram into the created report.

POS SALES PROCESS           Activity Diagram    Host or Hostess seats patron   Server takes drink order   Server opens order for table in POS system   Server places drink order in the POS system   System sends drink order to the Bar   Bar makes drinks   Server brings drinks to table   Server takes food order   Server adds food order in the POS system   Order goes to kitchen   Chef and staff cook the order   Food Runner brings food to table   Server takes dessert order   Server adds dessert order to POS   Chef and Staff create desserts   Food Runner brings desserts to table   Server creates check in POS   Server collects payment and enters it in POS   Server adds tipped amount to POS   Server closes table in POS    Additionally, you must do the following:

• Use at least 3 quality resources. Note: Wikipedia and similar websites do not qualify as quality resources.

This course requires the use of Strayer  Writing Standards. For assistance and information, please refer to the  Strayer Writing Standards link in the left-hand menu of your course. The specific course learning outcome associated with this assignment is:

• Develop a proof of concept of a software system for a potential customer.