ITGS Case StudyTheatre Booking SystemAyushi Pradhan

Introduction A theatre booking system is used to perform

all the tasks, that one would do at the theatre itself, online. This means that it is an online booking system.

They can check performance schedules online and can place instant secure bookings.

It deals with the challenges of multiple venues, unlimited seating areas, performance schedules, and customer management.

Equipped with flexible ways to handle both booking fees, handling charges, and to collect information from customers on how they heard about the venue and individual performances.

Features Direct online booking for all tickets from the

theatre web site Flexibility to handle multiple venues with

unlimited seating configurations and ticket prices

Instant booking confirmations to the theatre and to customers.

Permanent access to both customers and bookings with easy export of customer data for reporting and analysis.

Built in online marketing features allowing fast communications with past, present and future customers.

Control the entire solution using only a web browser from any location

Low start-up costs and a pay-for-performance model

IT Concepts with respect to Theatre Booking System Flat File Database Mail Merge Spreadsheet

Flat File Database Flat files are data files that contain records with no

structured relationships. Additional knowledge is required to interpret these files such as the file format properties. Modern database management systems used a more structured approach to file management (such as one defined by the Structured Query Language) and therefore have more complex storage arrangements.

Examples:Many database management systems offer the option to export data to comma delimited file. This type of file contains no inherent information about the data and interpretation requires additional knowledge. For this reason, this type of file can be referred to as a flat file.

A flat file database describes any of various means to encode a database model (most commonly a table) as a single file (such as .txt or .ini)

Mail Merge The automatic addition of names and

addresses from a database to letters and envelopes in order to facilitate sending mail, especially advertising, to many addresses.

Spreadsheet A computer program used for

accounting, in which figures arranged in the rows and columns of a grid can be manipulated and used in calculations.

Problems in Current System Coeur Theatral Malzerei Theatergruppe

Coeur Theatral Double Bookings Payments Problem Tickets Manually Processed Lack of Integration between the systems

used Lack of analysis details for sales and

income

Malzerei Theatregruppe Does not have in-house IT department Website needs upgrading and updating Reports need to improve Communication problems with clients Hardware and software need upgrading

Challenges Faced Project Management Issues Data Management Issues Website Development & Management

Issues

Project Management Issues Development Strategies Suppliers The theatre companies will need to

investigate various suppliers of ticketing systems which could provide an existing system that can be customized, as well as companies that will build a completely new system.

Data Management IssuesDistributed database system or centralized database Both choices need to meet the rigorous requirements of modern database

systems, such as conforming to ACID (atomicity, consistency, isolation, durability) rules, and they need to manage concurrency of access and processing through record locking, to prevent multiple bookings and other problems.

Data migration Both theatre companies have substantial amounts of data saved in various

formats in their existing systems that should be copied across to the new system, such as customer and member details and records of previous performances for comparisons. This is potentially a major challenge for the PTC.

Analysis of Sales and other data The new database system needs to have the capability to produce detailed

reports, in text and graphical format, with statistical analysis. This may require the purchase of a business intelligence add-on package for the database system.

Website development & Management IssuesLanguage provision The PTC is concerned about the additional costs and expertise

required to develop and maintain the web site in five languages. They are aware that certain technical features, such as videos and animations, may be difficult to produce and maintain in multiple languages and that there could potentially be significant variations in quality between the different language versions.

Website interface The new web site must function in a range of browsers without

the need to install client-side software; it must also accept and transmit the data inputted by the users and function correctly, whatever security settings the user has selected.

Bibliography http

://www.netmedia.co.uk/pages/on-line-booking-systems.htm

http://www.ibooking.com/casestudies/tron.aspx

http://ib2012-itgs.wikispaces.com/file/view/CaseStudyGlossaryofTerms.docx.pdf

http://databases.about.com/cs/administration/g/flatfile.htm