Assignment+2

**1. Activity chart- a holistic overview of related task and roles.**

 * a) General Tasks**

1. receive phone order 2. process/prepare order 3. finalizing order 4. give order to customer/deliver order 5. receive payment


 * b) Task Breakdown**

1. receive phone order i) Purpose - to determine the customer's order ii) Functions - to obtain the customer's phone number, address, order, and method of payment iii) Objects - operator: telephone, computer. customer: cellphone, credit card (depending on payment type) iv) Roles - customer and operator v) Links - linked to tasks 2-5 vi) Constraints - people have different accents, some phones are quieter than others vii) Issues - hard to determine orders from customers with accents, volume of customer's voice may be too low to understand, calls might get disconnected.

2. process/prepare order i) Purpose - to produce the customer's food ii) Functions - gather ingredients, make the food, then cook it iii) Objects - receipt, ingredients, metal pans, oven iv) Roles - cook v) Links - linked to task 1, 3, 4 vi) Constraints - food gets cooked for the same length of time and depending on the amount of toppings some may take longer to cook, therefore undercooked vii) Issues - order may be wrong due to human error (size, amount, toppings)

3. finalizing order i) Purpose - packaging all food items to be made ready for customer ii) Functions - cutting food items and placing them into boxes with the appropriate condiments, keeping beverages ready for pick up/delivery iii) Objects - food items, pizza cutter, cutting board, metal gripper, pizza/salad/wing box, condiments, beverages, receipt iv) Roles - operator/cook v) Links - linked to task 2, 4 vi) Constraints - no significant constraint vii) Issues - condiments may be missing, placing the wrong boxed item with the receipt

4. give order to customer/deliver order i) Purpose - to give customer their food items ii) Functions - giving the food items to customer, or delivering food items to customer iii) Objects - food items, receipt, vehicle (delivery) iv) Roles - customer, cashier/operator, driver (delivery) v) Links - linked to task 3, 5 vi) Constraints - traffic conditions, weather conditions, incorrect address, incorrect phone number vii) Issues - delivery may be late, food items may get cold, the wrong food might have been placed with the receipt, customer does not arrive/customer is not home

5. receive payment i) Purpose - to collect payment from customer ii) Functions - customer pays the amount owed iii) Objects - computer, receipt, cash register, credit/debt card (if applicable), card machine (if applicable) iv) Roles - customer, cashier/operator, driver (delivery) v) Links - linked to task 1, 4 vi) Constraints - incorrect method of payment, card machine out of power vii) Issues - declined credit/debt card, driver forgets card machine, driver does not have change

4. Provide a small (1-2 pages) writeup summarizing what you did and why.
When refining a problematic task, it is essential to identify the source of the constraints and issues. In order for the task to be accomplished with maximum success, these issues need to be resolved before they even arise. All things must be considered and handled accordingly. For this assignment, I selected the process of a pizza ordering service, as I have prior knowledge on this subject. In selecting the task that needs the most redefining, I have picked one which arise problems the most often. This task would be the delivery of the pizza (and/or other food items). As with almost all food delivery services, there is a time guarantee, and as with almost all food delivery services, orders sometimes can be late or incorrect. The first flowchart is based on the current takeout and delivery service for Pizza Hut. With some pizza chains, there is a policy of a guaranteed time or “it’s free.” At Pizza Hut, that policy does not exist, instead there is only an estimated time of delivery. This leads to various problems and unsatisfied customers. The problem arises most when the order is delivered, but it is either late or is the wrong order. To minimize this from happening, I propose that the orders be double checked before sending it to the customers. I have also identified problematic process of payment method. When customers pay with credit cards for delivery, the operator is required to take the credit card information by phone, which is entered into the computer system. That information is then required to be entered into the card machine to print out a receipt for the customer to sign. In the refined flowchart, I have eliminated that process by simply taking the card machine to the customer with the order. The card machine can process a bill much easily when swiped with the card rather than entering the information. I believe these methods would save a lot of time and guarantee faster deliveries, while also reducing errors which results in more satisfied customers.