Database Design & Development

You are employed as a Database Developer for a large IT consultancy company. The company has been approached by a double glazing company called Double Pane which is expanding rapidly due to the huge growth in demand of their products and services from building contractors. New housing developments are growing as a result of the government’s agenda to regenerate the old disused factory complexes outside the city of London. Double Pane have, to date, managed their business by using a computerised system which was developed by a college student five years ago. The system is now too slow and no system documentation was produced when it was implemented so changes to the system cannot be made easily. The CEO of Double Pane feels that their business requirements have changed, and they need to invest in new technology and a new system in order to grow and manage their business successfully. Double Pane currently has sales agents who follow up sales leads which are mainly generated from their marketing material and calls taken by staff in the company office. Sales are also generated by the agents who visit building contractors. Each visit from a lead results in a quote and some of these quotes result in an actual sale, either to supply only, or to supply and install. Double Pane supplies a huge range of windows and doors. They buy most of their products in bulk from a few large manufacturers and store the products in their warehouse. They also make some bespoke windows and doors in their workshop in the warehouse. Your company has accepted the contract to develop a database system for Double Pane and to provide the necessary technology to run the system. Your brief is to develop the database system element of the contract from Double Pane. You have been asked by your manager to investigate the system requirements; and design, create and implement the system. One of the requirements of the contract is that user and technical documentation be made available to Double Pane.