Case Study: STATEMENT OF THE ISSUE

[WMack <WMack@PEC.com>]

In response to JD Kromkowski's query, I would like to describe: some
background
information, the chartered aim of the task, and a secondary aim.  I will try
to keep 
this description general in nature, but if the clarity suffers, please let
me know.


BACKGROUND

The client I am working for has two computer systems with similar, but
different 
purposes, System E and System I.  I am directly involved with development
for 
System I.

Both systems are nation-wide (US) data entry systems which store data into a

common database.  Each system currently has its own database.

System E's database runs on a more powerful computer, but also has many
more users.  System I's database runs on a less powerful computer, but has
fewer users by about an order of magnitude (power of 10).

Both systems have anecdotal evidence, i.e. user complaints, of poor response
times and failures.  Much time, money, and effort has been expended to
resolve
the problems over the last 3 years.  Due to lack of data it is unknown
whether 
improvements have occurred.  The feeling is the level of user complaints has
not 
dimished (but even this is not really known).


CHARTERED AIM

It is a management objective to use the same database for both System E and 
System I.  The shared database will be the one currently in use by System E.

The primary aim of the task will be to determine the potential affects on 
performance for System I's users if they are moved to the shared database.  
Performance is to be evaluated both in terms of response time and number of 
failures.


SECONDARY AIM

It is my secondary aim to provide a baseline for the evaluation of
performance for 
both System E and System I.  This is not a 'hidden agenda' item.  I stated
this
explicitly in my proposal and it was readliy accepted.  However, the
database 
merge and performance enhancements are viewed as two different tasks.


I hope this serves as a sufficient jumping off point for our case study.  If
more details 
are needed, I will be happy to provide them.  I am a little unsure what our
(DEN's) 
next step should be, so any suggestions are welcome.

Wayne Mack
=============================================================================