Background

Forrest runs Y Not Flowers, Inc. (YNF), a wholesale flower distributor with stores in several major metropolitan areas of the U.S. He is considering expanding his business, but he thinks his current accounting and financial systems are restricting that expansion. He also worries that YNF is not adequately prepared to face expected business risks. He has come to you for assistance.

Instructions

Your supervisor met with Forrest and discussed his requirements in detail. At that meeting, they agreed on the following deliverables for your project.

1. Document process activity using BPMN. After gaining an understanding of YNF’s business processes, you will document current processes using business process modeling notation (BPMN). This involves documenting at least five current business processes. These diagrams will serve multiple purposes. YNF expects to use them to train new employees. Plus, they will provide information about potential improvements to those processes by the efficient use of information technology. Additionally, they will also highlight areas where YNF is exposed to unnecessary risks in his business.
2. Prepare an integrated data model using UML class diagrams and the REA framework. This data model will serve as the blueprint for YNF’s prototype database that you will also develop. Also, prepare a corresponding table listing for the prototype database. Identify where different fields/attribute names provide the same information and develop recommendations for changes in field names.
3. Prepare a prototype database for YNF. Forrest has agreed to provide financial data from his business for the 1st quarter of his fiscal year. That data will be in Excel format. You will move the data into Access, structure it appropriately, and set relationships consistent with your data model. Make changes as necessary in file structures to implement efficient tables and eliminate duplication.
4. Prepare financial reports using your database. You will prepare queries as necessary to provide the following reports and management information.
   1. YNF income statement for the 1st quarter.
   2. YNF balance sheet as of the end of the 1st quarter.
   3. Income statements for each YNF stores for the 1st quarter.

Project Resources

You will need to make use of the following files as you work through the project:

• Summary of Y Not Flowers interviews
• Excel spreadsheet of Y Not Flowers