Each group of three to five students designed a business information system for a real client, ranging from clinical administrative systems, point of sales systems, an online hiring and renting system, a theatre booking system, an employee interaction management system, and a candidate and examination management system – to name a few. Applying the waterfall systems development lifecycle (SDLC), the groups were expected to deliver on ten milestones throughout the year, producing all the necessary systems analysis and design documentation. The end result was a workable business information system, supplemented with user and training manuals.

The day was well attended by industry partners and alumni who applauded the students’ efforts. The winners were announced and the following prizes were awarded:

· The Fifth Discipline Prize: Best Exhibition (awarded to the group with the best exhibition on project day, evaluated by Karen Kellerman from the UP Quality Unit) – Group 2: Tertius Bergh, Rex Shih, Leanie van der Westhuizen, Ben Pretorius and Craig Smith (Clinic Administrative System – University of Pretoria, Health Services)

• The Fifth Discipline Prize: Best Documentation (awarded to the group that delivered the best project documentation throughout the year) – Group 12: Reghard van Jaarsveld, Albert de Villiers, Aretha Erasmus and Lambrie Steyn (Occupational Therapist Administrative System – METT Centre)
• Epi-Use Prize: Best System (awarded to the group who produces the best final workable system) – Group 11: Lance McIntosh, Ané Kotze, Jacques Wentzel and Thomas Dyzel (Theatre Booking and Check-in System – Brooklyn Theatre)
• Investec Prize: Most Innovative Idea (awarded to the group with the most innovative idea as part of their business solution) – Group 6: Roger de Villiers, Marc-Alan Thom, Corné van der Merwe and Jaco Silvis (Employee Interaction Management System – Silcom (Pty) Ltd. Cable Manufacturers). This group also developed a mobile application interface for their system, enabling system users to lock requests from the factory floor.
• Overall third prize: (awarded to the group that has an overall third best year mark) – Group 14 with 80.58%: Jonathan Twigg, Carmen Lammerding, Dylan Lorenzo and Justin Crowley (Candidate and Examination Management System – South African Comprehensive Assessment Institute (SACAI))

• · Overall second prize: (awarded to the group that has an overall second best year mark) – Group 11 with 82%: Lance McIntosh, Ané Kotze, Jacques Wentzel and Thomas Dyzel (Theatre Booking and Check-in System – Brooklyn Theatre)
• · Overall first prize: (awarded to the group that has the best overall year mark) – Group 6 with 85.77%: Roger De Villiers, Marc-Alan Thom, Corné van der Merwe and Jaco Silvis (Employee Interaction Management System – Silcom (Pty) Ltd Cable Manufacturers)

Everyone who completed the INF370 course would agree that the third year project requires a lot of hard work and dedication – but it’s also about the experience and the journey. “During this year I really learned a lot about the efforts that go into the development of an information system, but what I appreciated the most were the group fights and the conflicts, the laughs and the late nights, the stressing about managing our time and getting the job done! This is more than just a course – this is a life experience.” (INF370 student – 2012).

A big thank you goes to Investec who sponsored both our third year Project Day and dinner this year.
 
 

 FDG Prize: Best Exhibition: Mrs Lizette Weilbach (lecturer); Tertius Bergh; Leanie van der Westhuizen; Ben Pretorius; Rex Shih; & Craig Smith


 FDG Prize: Best Documentation: Mrs Lizette Weilbach (lecturer); Aretha Erasmus; Albert de Villiers; Reghard van Jaarsveld; & Lambrie Steyn  




 Epi-Use Prize: Best System: Mrs Lizette Weilbach (lecturer); Ané Kotze; Jacques Wentzel; Lance McIntosh; & Thomas Dyzel



Investec Prize: Group with the most innovative idea: Mr Leon James (Investec); Jaco Silvis; Corné Van der Merwe; Marc-Alan Thom & Roger De Villiers


 Overall 3rd Prize: Mr Leon James (Investec); Jonathan Twigg; Justin Crowley; Carmen Lammerding & Dylan Lorenzo 


 Overall 2nd Prize: Mr Leon James (Investec); Jacques Wentzel; Thomas Dyzel; Lance McIntosh & Ané Kotze


Overall 1st Prize (Top Project): Future Enterprises Prize: Mr Leon James (Investec); Roger De Villiers; Corné Van der Merwe; Marc-Alan Thom & Jaco Silvis