There are a number of positive potential impacts of the Scheduler Tool as a functioning system. These include the ability to instantly create and deploy instructor/course/room assignments for an entire university, manage and assign multiple types of constraints and preferences for a given schedule, and easily allow both a scheduler(s) and instructors to collaborate to create better and more optimal course schedules. The positive impact of the Scheduler Tool as a course example are:
In addition to the positive impacts, there are several potential negative impacts that can occur as a result of the Scheduler Tool. If the system is not well designed, documented and implemented, future end-users (schedulers) may see a decrease in productivity especially in the case that they are transitioning from a functioning third-party scheduling tool. Additionally, the scheduling algorithm must be correct so as not to permit situations where an instructor must be in two separate rooms simultaneously or a room is occupied by two separate class rooms. This type of situation would cause extreme problems for the scheduler especially in the case that every single room had been allocated. A slow implementation may produce undesired wait times when generating and modifying schedules while an implementation that places too much weight on instructor preferences could produce unfair schedules (if instructors are frugal when selecting their preferences). The initial data entry and configuration of the 'permanent' course, instructor, room and preference databases may be seen as a potential negative impact especially if hundreds of classes and teachers are to be inputted. Furthermore, scheduling data corruption would result in significant disruption and a tremendous decrease in productivity. Finally, subtle flaws may arise when the Scheduling Tool is put into practice that were otherwise undetected in our testing.
As a course example, the only negative impact would be if a poorly designed system is used as the basis for a CSC309 project. This would produce a 'trickle down' effect resulting in an inadequate/incomplete end system.