Library Research Project

Scenario:

For many years, your Uncle Frank has been running a small landscaping business. Through these years, he acquired many steady clients and knew most of them on a first name basis. Once a month, after completing the work for that day, he would calculate (on the spot) how much the client owed for the month with services rendered each week; he would collect the payment and write a receipt.

His clients were charged various prices. Some clients were given a 10% discount because they were old friends. Some clients were given a $10.00 discount per lawn because of the amount of their business (5 lawns or more). New clients just paid the regular advertised price of $35.00 per lawn.

Recently, your uncle has hired some additional help because he has been getting older and can’t do all the work like he used to. These employees are good and do a great job on landscaping, but for some reason, they have a hard time collecting payments. Either they forget to get a payment or they quote the wrong amount to the client. Your uncle knows he has to find a solution to this problem quickly; otherwise, he may go bankrupt.

At the next family gathering, your uncle asked you if you knew of any solutions for this problem. Since you are in college and taking a computer course, you know that this problem could easily be solved with the use of a computer.

After discussing this with your uncle, you agree to set up a computer and create a program that would keep track of his clients. It would calculate the bills and print invoices that would be mailed to the clients. It will also keep track of the client payments when they were received.

When the clients received their invoices, they would have 30 days to send in their payment. When the payment was received, the program would update the account to reflect this payment, but if no payment was received, then this month’s bill would be added to next month’s bill plus a 5% late charge.

Now that you have a basic plan and have identified the information that you need for this program, you feel you are ready to start development. You told your uncle that you will need to purchase software for this program. Since your uncle is in charge of the finances, he requests that you give him a proposal containing several options. He will review your proposal and make the final decision.

He asks that you not only look at the immediate needs of the business but at future possibilities too. He wants you to think of this business as maybe being yours one day. Your uncle also mentions that he would love to be on the Internet and have a branch office near his vacation home.

Research the Library, Internet, and any other resources at your disposal to decide on at least two possibilities for this program. Supply supporting evidence for your decision.