Question

Corcoran Computers buys computer components for low prices, assembles the components into computers, and then sells the computers at high prices. Each computer is assigned a unique identification number, and computers that have common configurations are categorized into types (e.g., Longitude is a laptop that is easily networked and is recommended for businesses, Elemental is a desktop that is intended for home and small businesses). Corcoran purchases computer components from wholesalers. One of Corcoran’s purchasing agents submits an order to the wholesaler that has listed a given component for sale. If the order is accepted, one of Corcoran’s inventory clerks receives the items. Sometimes suppliers will consolidate multiple orders from Corcoran into a single shipment. Suppliers sometimes fill a Corcoran order with multiple shipments.

Rarely does Corcoran place a purchase order that a supplier can’t or won’t fill. Occasionally Corcoran needs to return components to a supplier, either because the supplier sent the wrong parts, or because of a change in planned production of a category of computers. Corcoran only returns approximately 10 percent of purchased components, and never combines multiple purchases into a single return. Purchase returns are handled by Corcoran managers; however, Corcoran also wants to track the associated purchase agents, as returns will reduce the purchase dollar value that gets applied against the purchase agents’ authorized limits.

When payment is due for a purchase, one of Corcoran’s cashiers issues one check for payment in full for the items on that purchase. Sometimes if multiple purchases have been made from the same supplier within a short time, Corcoran pays for those purchases with just one check. One of Corcoran’s managers is required to authorize all purchase orders greater than $5,000 and also to sign all checks (including checks written for expenditures other than purchases of computer components). Corcoran needs to keep track of the managers’ participation in these events as well as the participation of other employees in these events.

Corcoran needs to enter suppliers and employees into the database before any transactions involving them occur.

The following attributes are of interest to Corcoran. Do not add attributes to the list. Use the boldface abbreviations in parentheses next to the attributes in the list. List any assumptions you make, along with the reasons behind your assumptions (i.e., state what you think is vague in the problem, say what you are going to assume to clear up the ambiguity and make a case for that assumption).

• Purchase Order Number (PO#)
• Supplier ID (SuppID)
• Inventory clerk (ICID)
• Purchase Order Date (PODate)
• Name of cashier (CsrName)
• Manager ID (MgrID)
• Purchase Date (PurchDate)
• Name of purchasing agent (PA-Name)
• Location of cash account (Ca-Loc)
• Cash Account Number (CashAcct#)
• Name of supplier (SupName)
• Dollar limit for cashier (CsrLimit)
• Receiving Report Number (RR#)
• Component ID code (CompoID)
• Cash Disbursement Date (CD-Date)
• Name of inventory clerk (ICName)
• Purchase return ID (PR-ID)
• Cashier ID (CsrID)
• Manager name (MgrName)
• Cash Disbursement Number (CD#)
• Date of purchase return (PR-Date)
• Supplier telephone number (SupPh)
• Current balance of cash account (AcctBal)
• Purchase agent ID (PA-ID)
• Manager telephone number (MgrPh)
• Inventory clerk address (ICAddr)
• Computer component description (Comp-desc)
• Total dollar amount of a cash disbursement (CD-Amt)
• Authorization limit for a purchasing agent (PA-Limit)
• Standard cost for a computer component (Std-Cost)
• Quantity of a computer component returned (Qty-Ret)
• Type of supplier (i.e., wholesaler or individual) (SupType)
• Quantity of a computer component ordered on purchase order (Qty-Ord)
• Ordered cost for a computer component on a purchase order (PO-Unit-Cost)
• Quantity of a computer component received on a purchase (Qty-Rec)
• Actual cost of a computer component on a particular purchase (Item-Unit-Cost)

Required

1) Create a UML Class diagram using the REA ontology for Corcoran Computers’ acquisition process. Be sure to include classes (with stereotypes), associations, attributes, and multiplicities.

Answer 1