Evaluating Quality of the computing artefact

(using DFD and ERD for Database Projects)

Quality – Fitness of purpose

By using Unified Modelling Language (UML) that is industry standard modelling language we can create
software design in order to fit for purpose.
Quality Evaluation
(1) The computing artefact produced (Desk checking, Walkthroughs, Inspections)
or
(2) The process used to develop the artefact (Rational Unified Process (RUP) or Dynamic System
Development Method (DSDM) Atern)

Design Methods
(1) Structed
A method that is best suited to database projects:
Data flow diagrams (DFD) and entity relationship diagrams (ERD) are the key diagrams to use in this type of
student project.
Cannot be used to model object-oriented systems
Not good for modelling websites
No integral project management approach
(2) Object Oriented
A method that can be used for most student projects:
UML notation can be used to design database systems.
Good for database design, website design and the design of real-time systems

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 Data flow diagrams (DFD)
To clearly and concisely communicate the flow of data through a system.
Data flow diagram (DFD) is a picture of the movement of data between external entities and
the processes and data stores within a system.

Gane and Sarson Notation

DFD Symbols and Definitions
Process - performs some action on data, such as creates, modifies, stores, delete, etc. Can be manual or
supported by computer.

Data store - information that is kept and accessed. May be in paper file folder or a database.

External entity - is the origin or destination of data. Entities are external to the system.

Data flow - the flow of data into or out of a process, datastore or entity

Rules for Drawing DFD’s

Rule 1: Process
Can have more than one outgoing data flow or more than one incoming data flow.

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Rule 2: Process
Can connect to any other symbol (including another process symbol)

Correct or Incorrect?

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Rule 3: Data Flow
- Is a path for data to move from one part of the Information System to another
- Arrows depicting movement of data
- Can represent flow between process and data store by two separate arrows

Correct or Incorrect?

Rule 4: Data Store

- Is used in a DFD to represent data that the system stores
- Labels should be noun phrases
- Must have at least one incoming and one outgoing data flow

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Correct or Incorrect?

Rule 5: Source/Sink (External Entity)

- External entity that is origin or destination of data (outside the system)

- Is the singular form of a department, outside organization, other IS, or person
- Labels should be noun phrases
- Source – Entity that supplies data to the system
- Sink – Entity that receives data from the system
- Must be connected to a process by a data flow

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 Correct or Incorrect

Rules for Using DFD Symbols

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Exercise: List the errors in the following DFD.

Yourdon and Codd Notation

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DFD Principles

 The general principle in Data Flow Diagramming is that a system can be decomposed into
subsystems, and subsystems can be decomposed into lower level subsystems, and so on.
 Each subsystem represents a process or activity in which data is processed. At the lowest
level, processes can no longer be decomposed.
 Each 'process' (and from now on, by 'process' we mean subsystem and activity) in a DFD has
the characteristics of a system.
 Just as a system must have input and output (if it is not dead), so a process must have input
and output.
 Data enters the system from the environment; data flows between processes within the
system; and data is produced as output from the system

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 DFD Levels
The 'Context Diagram ' is an overall, simplified, view of the target system, which contains only
one process box, and the primary inputs and outputs.

Level-0 or Context Diagram

Both the above diagrams say the same thing. The second makes use of the possibility in SSADM
of including duplicate objects. (In context diagram 2 the duplication of the Customer object is
shown by the line at the left hand side. Drawing the diagram in this way emphasizes the Input-
Output properties of a system.

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 DFD Level-1
References:
https://www.cems.uwe.ac.uk/~kg-doyle/tdrewry/dfds.htm
https://itsourcecode.com/uml/bank-management-system-dfd-levels-0-1-2-data-flow-diagram/
http://www.databaseanswers.org/index.htm

Exercise 1:
The Accommodation Office in the University helps students to find accommodation. Interested
students register their interest with the Accommodation Office. Owners of rental properties

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provide the Accommodation Office with their contact information and information about the
rental property they have available (e.g. location, number of bedrooms, monthly rent), which are
entered into a database. Students can then search this database via the Internet to find a
property that meets their needs (e.g. a2-bed apartment for €800 per month in Newcastle).
The student then contacts the owner of the rental property by sending an email through the
system to arrange a viewing. The student meets the property owner to view the property. Once
a property is rented the owner of the property calls the Accommodation Office and asks them to
delete the listing.
Your task is as follows.
(a)Create a context diagram by identifying the relevant process, data flows, and external entities
for the proposed system as detailed in the scenario above
(b)Decompose this context diagram to a context level-0 diagram by:
• Identifying the processes that represent the major functions of the system
• Assigning a number to each process, ending in 0, which corresponds to the level number of the
DFD
• Identifying the datastores and including them in the Context Level-0diagram
• Identifying any additional dataflows between the processes and the datastores
(c) Create an ERD based on the datastores detailed in the DFD. From reviewing the above
scenario, and using the crow’s foot notation:
• Identify and draw appropriate entities
- Suggest some pertinent attributes for each entity
- Select an identifier for each entity
- Define the relationships between the entities
- Suggest a minimum and maximum cardinality for each relationship
- State clearly any assumptions that you make.
Note: Please ensure that you validate each DFD when it is created. Also, ensure that the DFD’s
are balanced.

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Exercise 2:
Pizza Express wants to install a new software system to record orders for take-away pizza.
When regular customers call Pizza Express on the phone, they are asked their phone
number. When the phone number is typed into the software system, the name, address, and
last order date is automatically displayed on the screen. Once the order is taken the total

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cost (including delivery and any applicable discount) is calculated. A receipt is printed. The
order is then given to the chef to make the pizza. Occasionally, special offers (coupons) are
printed so that the customer can get a discount. Drivers who make deliveries of the pizza
give customers a copy of the receipt and a coupon (if any). Weekly totals are kept for
comparison with last year’s performance.
Your task is as follows.
(a) Create a context diagram by identifying the relevant process, data flows, and external
entities for the proposed system as detailed in the scenario above
(b)Decompose this context diagram to a level-0 diagram by:
- Identifying the processes that represent the major functions of the system
- Assigning a number to each process, ending in .0, which corresponds to the level number of
the DFD
- Identifying the datastores and including them in the Context Level-0diagram
- Identifying any additional dataflows between the processes and the datastores(c)Create an
ERD based on the datastores detailed in the DFD. From reviewing the above scenario, and
using the crow’s foot notation:
- Identify and draw appropriate entities
- Suggest some pertinent attributes for each entity
- Select an identifier for each entity
- Define the relationships between the entities
- Suggest a minimum and maximum cardinality for each relationship
- State clearly any assumptions that you make.
Note: Please ensure that you validate each DFD when it is created. Also, ensure that the
DFD’s are balanced.

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15
Flowchart

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