Answers to Problems

1. Up to this point you seem to have had excellent rapport with Kevin Cahoon, the owner of a
musical instrument manufacturing company. When you showed him the data flow diagrams you
drew, however, he did not understand them.

a. In a paragraph, write down in general terms how to explain to a user what a data flow diagram is. Be
sure to include a list of symbols and what they mean.
b. It takes some effort to educate users about data flow diagrams. Is it worthwhile to
share them with users? Why or why not? Defend your response in a paragraph.
c. Compare data flow diagrams to use cases and use case scenarios. What do the
data flow diagrams show that use case diagrams have a difficult time trying to explain?

a. Data flow diagrams graphically characterize data flows through a business system and
depict the broadest possible overview of system inputs, processes, and outputs.

There are four basic symbols:

1) The double square is used to depict an external entity that can give and receive
data from the system.

2) The arrow shows movement of data from one point to another, with the head of
the arrow pointing toward the data's destination.

3) The rectangle with rounded corners is used to show the occurrence of a

transforming process.

4) The open-ended rectangle is drawn with two parallel lines, which are closed by a
short line on the left side and open-ended rectangle; it is simply a depository for
data which allows addition and retrieval of data.

b. Yes, if we want to use data flow diagrams for interaction, necessary background must be
provided to users before data flow diagrams will be meaningful rather than confusing.

c. Data flow diagrams show the input and the output from a system, subsystem or
activity allowing the users to have a picture of how they will work with the system. The
use case diagram shows the activities that occur as well as the actors or users interactingq
with the activity, but input and output are not included. The use case has less detail than
the data flow diagram, and the analyst may have to explain the use case scenario to the
users for them to understand how the system will work.

2. Your latest project is to combine two systems used by Producers Financial. Angie Schworer's
loan application system is fairly new, but has no documentation. Scott Wittman's loan
management system is older, needs much revision, and the records are coded and kept
independently of the other system. The loan application system accepts applications, processes
them, and recommends loans for approval. The loan management system takes loans that have
been approved and follows them through their final disposition (paid, sold, or defaulted). Draw a
context diagram and a level 1data flow diagram that shows what an idealized combined system
would look like.
The second diagram is on the following page.
 3. One common experience that students in every college and university share is enrolling in a
college course.

a. Draw a level 1 data flow diagram of data movement for enrollment in a college course.
Use a single sheet and label each data item clearly.
b. Explode one of the processes in your original data flow diagram into subprocesses,
adding data flows and data stores.
c. List the parts of the enrollment process that are “hidden” to the outside observer
and about which you have had to make assumptions to complete a second-level diagram.
a.

Payment
Class Request Student

Receipt

1 2
Payment
Information
Enroll Collect
Student In Student Fee
Course Payment

Student
Class
Record

Student and
Course Data
D1 Student Class D2
Records Student Payments

Student Class Record Student Student Class Record

Class
Record
3 4 5

Produce Produce
Produce Enrollment
Student Class Roster
Schedule Summary
Report

Student Class Enrollment

Schedule Roster Statistics

Student Professor Registrar

 b.

Openings
Remaining
D3
Classes Offered
Openings
Remaining

1.1 1.2 1.3

Open Class Valid Class
Class Request Request Request
Check Enroll
Check For An Prerequisites Student In
Open Section Met Class

Student Record
Student
Class and
Record Course
Data

D4 D5 D1 Student Class
Student Master Course Master Records

c. Process 1.2, checking that the course prerequisites have been met.
Process 5, producing enrollment statistics.

4. Figure 7.EX1 is a level 1 data flow diagram of data movement in a Niagara Falls tour agency
called Marilyn’s Tours. Read it over, checking for any inaccuracies.

a. List and number the errors that you have found in the diagram.
b. Redraw and label the data flow diagram of Marilyn’s so that it is correct.
Be sure that your new diagram employs symbols properly so as to cut down on
repetitions and duplications where possible.

a. 1) Data flow lines should be in one direction.

2) Flow lines shouldn't be piled up.
3) Cost of tours should be hooked to determine tour desired.

b. The diagram is on the next page.

 Tour Request
Airline Travel
Agent

1
Tours
Available
D1 Travel Brochures D2 Cost Of Tours
Determine
Tour Desired Tour Cost

Tour Request
Selected
Tour Tour Cost

Private Travel D3 Credit History

Check Tourist Credit
Agent
Credit History

Approved
Tour

Make Tourist Tourist Reservation Request

Travel Itenarary Reservation

D4 Travel Itenarary
Tourist

Travel Itenarary Tourist Itenarary

Send Itenarary
To Tourist
 5. Perfect Pizza wants to install a system to record orders for pizza and chicken wings. When
regular customers call Perfect Pizza on the phone, they are asked their phone number. When the
number is typed into a computer, the name, address, and last order date is automatically brought
up on the screen. Once the order is taken, the total, including tax and delivery, is calculated.
Then the order is given to the cook. A receipt is printed. Occasionally, special offers (coupons)
are printed so the customer can get a discount. Drivers who make deliveries give customers a
copy of the receipt and a coupon (if any).Weekly totals are kept for comparison with last year’s
performance. Write a summary of business activities for taking an order at Perfect Pizza.

A summary of the business activities for Perfect Pizza is:

a. Display customer record. Input is the customer number and the customer record.
Output is customer information.

b. Take customer order. Input is the order information (including the customer
number). Output is the total amount due for the order.

c. Send order to cook. Input is the customer order. Output is the cook's order.

d. Print customer receipt. Input is the customer order and the customer master
record. Output is the customer receipt.

e. Deliver customer order. Input is the customer receipt and coupons. Output is the
delivered receipt to the customer.

f. Print weekly totals. Input is the customer order and the previous year’s customer
order summary. Output is the weekly performance figures.

6. Draw a context-level data flow diagram for Perfect Pizza (Problem 5).

The context level diagram for Perfect Pizza is shown on the next page.
7.

Management

Phone Number

0 Performance Statistics
Customer Order
Cook Order
Customer Customer Information Customer
Order System
Product

Delivery

Cook

Explode the context-level diagram in Problem 6 showing all the major processes. Call this
Diagram 0. It should be a logical data flow diagram.

Diagram 0 for Perfect Pizza is shown on the next page.

 2
Customer Information Customer Record
Add
Customer
Record

1
Phone Number D1
Find Customer M aster
Customer Customer Customer Record
Record

Customer
Information
3
Customer Order D2
Take Product File
Customer Product Price
Order

Total Order
Amount Due
4
Customer Order D1
Print Customer M aster
Customer Customer Record
Receip t

Customer
Receip t
5

D3 Deliver Delivery
Coupons Customer
Coupons Order Customer

6
Product
Customer Order Cook Order
Send Order
To Cook Cook

D4
Sales History File

Order Summary Performance Statistics

Record Print Weekly
Totals M anagement
Customer Order
8. Draw a logical child diagram for Diagram 0 in Problem 7 for the process that adds a new
customer if he or she is not currently in the database (has never ordered from Perfect Pizza
before).

Perfect Pizza, adding a new customer child diagram.

2.1 2.2
Customer Recorded Customer Customer
Information Information Record
Record Store D1
Customer M aster
Customer Customer
Information Record

9. Draw a physical data flow diagram for Problem 7.

The diagram is on the next page.

10. Draw a physical data flow diagram for Problem 8.

Physical child data flow diagram, Perfect Pizza:

Phone Syntax Canceled

Number Errors Transaction

2.1 2.2 2.3 New Customer

Phoned Customer Recorded Customer Valid Customer
Information Information Information Information
Visually
Key Validate Confirm
Customer Customer Customer
Information Information Information

2.4

D5 New Customer Create New

Journal File Customer
New Customer Journal
Journal Record New Customer
Record Information

2.5

D1
Customer Master Format
Customer Record Customer New Customer
Record Information
 (Problem 9) Physical Diagram 0 for Perfect Pizza

2
D5 New Customer
Phoned Customer Information New Customer Journal Journal File
Add Record
Customer
Record Customer Record

Customer Phone
Information Number
1

Phone Number D1
Find Customer Master
Customer Customer Customer Record
Record

Customer
Information
3
Phoned Customer Order D2
Take Product File
Customer Product Price
Order
Customer Order Record
Order Summary D4
Record Sales History File

7
Customer
D6 Order Record
Customer Order File Performance Statistics
Print Weekly
Totals Management
Current Year Sales
History Record
D7 Current Year Sales
History
4
Customer Order Record D1
Print Customer Master
Customer Customer Record
Receipt

Customer
Receipt
5

D3 Coupons Deliver Customer Delivery

Coupons Customer
Order Customer

Product

Customer Order Record Cook Order

Send Order
To Cook Cook
11. Partition the physical data flow diagram in Problem 7, grouping and separating processes as you
deem appropriate. Explain why you partitioned the data flow diagram in this manner. (Remember
that you do not have to partition the entire diagram, only the parts that make sense to partition.)

Diagram 0 for Perfect Pizza is partitioned by grouping the following processes together:

Processes 1, 2 and 3 are all happening when the customer is on the phone, and should be
partitioned into one online program.

Processes 4 and 6 are performed after the order is taken and may be grouped into one program.

Process 5 must be partitioned separately, since it is done at a different time.

Process 7 is done once a week as a batch program and must be partitioned separately.

12. a. Draw a logical child diagram for process 6 in Figure 7.24.

b. Draw a physical child diagram for process 6 in Figure 7.24.

a. Logical child diagram for process 6, Create Customer Statement.

D1
Customer Master

Cusomer
Customer Billing
Record Statemen t

6.1 6.2 6.3

Pending
Order Item Totals Order To tal
Find Produce
Customer Calculate Billin g
Record Order To tal Statement

Complete Order Info rmation

b. Physical child diagram for process 6, Create Customer Statement

D1
Customer Master

Customer
Record

6.1 6.2
Pending Name and
Order Record Find Customer Information Address Lines
D3 Format Name
Pending Order File Matching
Customer and Address
Record Lines

Pending
Order
Item
Information

6.3

Item Lines
Format Item
Lines

Item
Record

D2
Item Master

6.4

Pending Order Totals Total Lines

Format Total
Lines
13. Draw a physical data flow diagram for process 1.1 in Figure 7.25.

Physical data flow diagram for process 1.1, Validate Customer Account

D1
Customer Master

Customer
Record

1.1 1.2
Customer Keyed Customer Customer Not
Order Key Number Find Found Error
Customer Customer
Number Record

Customer
Information

1.3
Customer
Display Record Display
Customer
Record

Customer
Information

1.4
User Valid Customer
Confirmation Confirm Information
Correct
Customer
14. Create a context diagram for a real estate agent trying to create a system that matches up buyers
with potential houses.

Context diagram for the Home Finder System.

15. Home
Requirements 0

Potential Home Finder

Buyer Seller
System Home Information

Potential Homes
Listing

Draw a logical data flow diagram showing general processes for Problem 14. Call it Diagram 0.

Diagram 0 for the Home Finder System

1
Home Master
Home Information Record D1
Create Home Home Master File
Seller Master
Record

Home
Master Record

2 Home
Requirements Record
Home Requirements D2
Potential Create Home Home Requirements
Buyer Requirements
File

Home
Requirements
Record

3 4

Print
Potential Match
Homes Requirements
Potential Homes Listing Potential Homes to Homes
Listing

16. Create a context-level diagram for billing in a dental office. External entities include the patients
and insurance companies.

Context diagram for the Dental Billing System

17. Draw a logical data flow diagram showing general processes for Problem 16. Call it Diagram 0.

Diagram 0 for the Dental Billing System is shown below.

Dental Procedures 0 Insurance Bill

Dental Insurance
Patients Billing Company
System
Dental Bill Insurance Payment
Information

D1
Patient Master

Patient
Record

1
Patient Procedure
Dental Procedures Add Dental Record D2
Patients Procedures Procedures File
Completed
Record

2
Patient
Record Determine
D1
Patient Master Insurance
Billing Patient Procedure Record
Amount

Insurance
Amount

3 4

Insurance Total Amount Due Calculate

Company Send Patient
Insurance Bill Insurance Bill Amount Due

Patient
Amount
Due
Insurance Payment
5 Amount 6
Insurance Payment
Information
Process
Insurance Patient Name and Send Patient
Payment Address Bill

Insurance Payment
Record Patient Dental
Financial Bill
Information

D3 Insurance Payment D1
File Patient Master

Patients
18. Create a use case for the list of six activities for the FilmMagic video rental system. Refer to
Figure 7.17.

The following use case is for the six activities of the FilmMagic Video Rental System.

Use case name: FilmMagic Video Rental System Process ID: 0

Description: Rent video items, add new customers, return video items, perform reporting.
Trigger: Multiple - customer checks out videos, returns them, add new customer.
Trigger type:  External  Temporal
Input Name Source Output Name Destination
Customer ID Customer Rental Receipt Customer
Video Rental Items Customer Management Reports Management
Payment Customer Total Cash Received Accounting
Video Information Video Purchase System Video Rental Card Customer
Returned Video Customer Monthly Bonus Letter Customer
Information
New Customer Customer Video Rental Card Customer
Information
Yearly Bonus Letter Customer
Steps Performed Information for Steps
1. Customer rents video items by supplying a customer ID and the video Video Rental
items. Payment is collected and the customer is issued a rental receipt. Information, Customer
ID, Payment
2. Reports must be produced for management. Rental Information,
Cash Transaction
Information
3. The customer returns videos that have been rented. Returned Video
Information
4. A summary of the cash received is produced for the accounting Cash Transaction
department. Information
5. New customers are added to the Customer database. New Customer
Information
6. Print Monthly Bonus letters. Customer Information
7. Print Yearly Bonus letters. Customer Information
19. Create an event table for the six activities of the FilmMagic video rental system.

The event table for the activities listed for the FilmMagic Video Rental System is shown below.
1
Event Source Trigger Activity Response Destination
Customer rents Customer Customer ID Find Customer Customer Customer
video. and Video ID and Video receives video
are scanned. A Records are items and a
payment is read. A receipt receipt.
collected is printed and Records are
cash is updated.
accepted
Cash Received Cash Temporal, Send Cash Accounting
Report is Transaction daily Received
printed. Information Report
Customer Customer Returned Video record is Records are
returns video Video Items read, Customer updated.
items. are scanned. record is read,
Rental
Transaction
record is
updated.
Management Video and Temporal Send Management
reports are Customer management
produced. records reports.
New customer Customer New Customer Verify Video rental Customer
is added. Form customer card is issued.
information Customer
and add new record is
customer data. updated.
Monthly bonus Customer Temporal, Send monthly Customer
letters is records monthly customer
produced. bonus letter.
Yearly bonus Customer Temporal, Send yearly Customer
letters is records yearly customer
produced. bonus letter.
20. Create an event table for the activities listed for World’s Trend order processing system.

The event table for the activities listed for the World’s Trend Order Processing System is shown
below.
2
Event Source Trigger Activity Response Destination
Customer Customer New order is Find Customer Back-ordered Inventory
places an received. and Item Item record is Control
order. records. created. Department.
Produce a
back-ordered
item record if
an item is not
in stock.
Update
records.
New customer Customer New Customer Add new Record is
is added. Information customer added.
record.
Picking slips Order, Item Temporal, Send picking Warehouse
are printed. and Customer daily slips
records
Shipping Order, Temporal, Send shipping Shipping
statements are Customer daily statements department
printed. records
Customer Shipping Temporal, Send customer Customer
order is statements, daily order
shipped. Order goods
Customer Customer and Temporal, Send customer Customer
billing order records. monthly billing
statements are statements
printed.
Accounts Customer and Temporal, Send accounts Accounting
Receivable order records. monthly receivable
report is report
printed.
21. Create a use case for the list of seven processes for the World’s Trend order processing system.

The following use case is for the six activities of the World’s Trend Order Processing System.

Use case name: World’s Trend Order Processing System Process ID: 0
Description: Add customers and their orders, produce picking slips, pick items, prepare shipping
statement, ship customer order, create customer statements and produce accounts receivable report.
Trigger: Multiple - customer places orders, produce various reports and statements, add new customer.
Trigger type:  External  Temporal
Input Name Source Output Name Destination
Customer Order Customer Back Ordered Item Inventory Control
Department
New Customer Customer Order Picking Lists Warehouse
Information
Shipping Statement Customer
Billing Statement Customer
Accounts Receivable Accounting
Report
Steps Performed Information for Steps
1. Customer places an order. If the item is not available in stock, a back- Customer Order, Item
ordered record is sent to the Inventory Control Department. Information, Customer
Information.
2. Customers are added to the Customer Master. New Customer
Information
3. Picking slips are printed. Order Information,
Item Information,
Customer Information.
4. Shipping statements are printed. Order Information.
5. The order is shipped to the customer. Order Goods, Shipping
Statement.
6. A billing statement is sent to the customer. Order Information,
Customer Information.
7. An accounts receivable report is sent to the Accounting Department. Order Information,
Customer Information.
22. Create a CRUD matrix for FilmMagic.

The CRUD matrix for the FilmMagic Video Rental System is shown below.

3
Activity Customer Video Rental Cash
Master Master Transaction Transactions
Rent Video Items R, U R C C
Produce Cash Received Report R
Check In Customer Video Return R, U R, U
Produce Management Reports R R
Add New Customer C
Produce Monthly Bonus Letter R
Produce Yearly Bonus Letter R

23. Create a CRUD matrix for the files of World’s Trend.

The CRUD matrix for the World’s Trend Order Processing System is shown below.

Activity Customer Master Item Master Order File

Add Customer Order R, U R, U C
Add Customer Record C
Produce Picking Slips R R R
Prepare Shipping Statement R R R
Ship Customer Order R

24. Use the principles of partitioning to determine which of the processes in Problem 19
should be included in separate programs.

Processes 5.1, 5.2, 5.3 and 5.4 are performed online to create the Warranty Registration file and
should be partitioned into one program.

Processes 5.5 and 5.6 are performed in a batch mode and may be grouped into one program.

25. Create a physical data flow child diagram for the following situation: The local PC Users Group
holds meetings once a month with informative speakers, door prizes, and sessions for special
interest groups. A laptop computer is taken to the meetings, and is used to add the names of new
members to the group. The diagram represents an online process and is the child of process
1,ADD NEW MEMBERS. The following tasks are included:
a. Key the new member information.
 b. Validate the information. Errors are displayed on the screen.
c. When all the information is valid, a confirmation screen is
displayed. The operator visually confirms that the data are correct and either accepts the
transaction or cancels it.
d. Accepted transactions add new members to the MEMBERSHIP
MASTER file, which is stored on the laptop hard drive.
e. Accepted transactions are written to a MEMBERSHIP
JOURNAL file, which is stored on a disk.

Canceled
Errors Transaction

1.1 1.2 1.3

New Member Keyed Member Valid Member
Information Information Information
Validate Confirm
Key New Membership Member
Member Information Information

1.4

D1
Member Master Add New
New Member Member Confirmed Member
Record Information

1.5

D2 New Member Create

Journal File Member
New Member Journal Confirmed Member
Journal Record Record Information

Physical data flow diagram for the Personal Computer Users Group.