You need the following mark scheme headings in a(i) of your project:

• Brief description of the end user.
• Brief description of the current methods.
• Origins and form of relevant data.

Remember - approach this section as if you were providing information for someone else to design the system. In this section, you are simply introducing the project, painting the picture.

Brief description of the end user
Start by introducing the whole organisation. Then introduce the area where you think there is a problem to be solved. A picture is always nice here. Then introduce your user - name them and outline their role and responsibilities in the project's chosen area.

Brief description of the current methods.
List the kinds of problems you think they may have, or describe briefly how they do things at the moment (as far as you know). Get across the idea that you are at this stage only guessing. If your project is for something that doesn't exist yet, you can still find something to talk about. For example, if you are thinking of producing a brand new educational game for someone in the French Department to use to help teach verb tenses, then outline how the teaching is done at the moment and what you are thinking of that would be good for your user.

Origins and form of data
Describe briefly what you guess the current data used is (if any - your project might not exist). If your project doesn't exist (e.g. producing a brand new educational game for the French Department), then guess the type of data the program might need, use, store etc. Again, the point here is that you are guessing, so say that.

The last part of this section should be you explaining that you don't really know enough yet about either current methods or data used or indeed your user's needs, so you need to do some fact finding. This will lead you nicely into the next section.

It is possible that you have your first diary entry here, because you may have approached a user, to ask if they have any problems that need solving. Your diary should be set up now so add the first entry and get a signature if this applies to you!

CHECK:

ARE YOU USING YOUR TEMPLATE(S)?

ARE YOU USING REPORT WRITING STYLE?

HAVE YOU BEEN UPDATING YOUR DIARY?