Skill Test: Model of a Library System

In a previous post, I discussed the use of fictitious situations to use as a discussion platform to "test drive" the skills and thought processes of a potential candidate during an interview. The example below details the aspects of a Library System.

• Discussion Topic:  Library System
• Context:
• The town of Anyville has raised enough funds to build a custom system to support the activities of the town's library. The system in question will need to be able to administer the creation of new patron's accounts. After an account is issued, then the patron will be allowed to check out any of the resources stored in the library. Every resource kept in the library (book, periodical, digital media, computing devices, meeting rooms, maps and reference materials) can be checked out or reserved for patron's use. The system must allow for the easy process of returned material and help library staff to return materials back to the correct shelf location. The system should also allow the body of material to be accessible to be searched on-line. Patrons with "good user standing" status can reserve materials on-line and pick up at the library. Only books and digital media (CDs, DVDs) can be reserved on-line. All other resources have to be requested in person at the library.  The system should allow managerial reports to present delinquency status and trends over time. Also, it should provide managers with a report listing out the top 5 most sought after resources in the different classification categories. The system should also be able to produce alerts at the point of check out or on-line reservation about a patron's delinquency status.
• Feel free to edit this to your needs and set up aspects of the problem to cater for the type of skill you are looking for
• What to ask the candidate
• System Analysis and Design Track
• please construct a UML Use Case diagram of the most important use cases of the system
• please construct a UML conceptual model diagram that shows all the aspects of the house in the "context" portion above.
• please construct a UML class diagram that represents the home described above
• please construct a UML system sequence diagram that illustrates interactions of major aspects of the system
• Data Modeling Track
• please, construct an entity relationship diagram (ERD) that can be used to represent the home described above
• What to look for in your candidate's answers:
• assuming that you know UML, compare and contrast what the candidate came up with and what you would have come up with
• pay extra attention to the assumptions that the candidate made. If they do not mention any assumptions, please, simply ask them: What assumptions did you make as you were thinking about this problem?
• Use this opportunity to ask questions and experiment / explore what it would be like to work with this individual