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CSCI380-Week 13-Lecture 1

The document discusses process modeling and data flow diagrams (DFDs). It defines key concepts in process modeling including logical and physical models, processes, external agents, data stores, data flows, and control flows. It also covers creating DFDs, decomposing processes, and common errors in modeling processes with DFDs.

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28 views13 pages

CSCI380-Week 13-Lecture 1

The document discusses process modeling and data flow diagrams (DFDs). It defines key concepts in process modeling including logical and physical models, processes, external agents, data stores, data flows, and control flows. It also covers creating DFDs, decomposing processes, and common errors in modeling processes with DFDs.

Uploaded by

12110159
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Chapter 7

Process Modeling

McGraw-Hill/Irwin Copyright © 2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Models: Logical and Physical
Model a pictorial representation of reality.
Just as a picture is worth a thousand words, most
models are pictorial representations of reality.

Logical model a Physical model a


nontechnical pictorial technical pictorial
representation that depicts representation that depicts
what a system is or does. what a system is or does and
Synonyms or essential how the system is
model, conceptual model, implemented. Synonyms are
and business model. implementation model and
technical model.

2
Process Modeling and DFDs
Process modeling a technique used to organize and

Flow of data through processes


Logic
Policies
Procedures

Data flow diagram (DFD) a process model used to


depict the flow of data through a system and the work or
processing performed by the system. Synonyms are
bubble chart, transformation graph, and process model.
DFDs have become a popular tool for business
process redesign.
4
Process Concepts
Process work
performed by a system in
response to incoming data
flows or conditions. A
synonym is transform.

6
External Agents
External agent an outside person, organization unit, system, or
organization that interacts with a system. Also called an external
entity.

being modeled.
As scope changes, external agents can become processes,
and vice versa.
Almost always one of the following:
Office, department, division.
An external organization or agency.
Another business or another information system.
-users or managers
Named with descriptive, singular noun

7
Data Stores
Data store stored data intended for later use. Synonyms
are file and database.
Frequently implemented as a file or database.

Almost always one of the following:


Persons (or groups of persons)
Places
Objects
Events (about which data is captured)
Concepts (about which data is important)
Data stores depicted on a DFD store
all instances of data entities
(depicted on an ERD)
8 Named with plural noun
Data Flows & Control Flows
Data flow data that is input to or
output from a process.
A data flow is data in motion
A data flow may also be used to
represent the creation, reading,
deletion, or updating of data in a
file or database (called a data
store).
Composite data flow a data flow that
consists of other data flows.
Control flow a condition or nondata
event that triggers a process.
Used sparingly on DFDs.
14
Simple Data Flow Diagram

5
Differences Between DFDs and
Flowcharts
Processes on DFDs can operate in parallel (at-the-
same-time)
Processes on flowcharts execute one at a time

DFDs show the flow of data through a system


Flowcharts show the flow of control (sequence and
transfer of control)

Processes on a DFD can have dramatically different


timing (daily, weekly, on demand)
Processes on flowcharts are part of a single
program with consistent timing
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Process Decomposition
Decomposition
the act of
breaking a
system into sub-
components.
Each level of
abstraction
reveals more or
less detail.

10
Decomposition Diagrams
Decomposition
diagram a tool
used to depict the
decomposition of a
system. Also called
hierarchy chart.

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Types of Logical Processes
Function a set of related and ongoing activities of a business.
A function has no start or end.

Event a logical unit of work that must be completed as a


whole. Sometimes called a transaction.
An event is triggered by a discrete input and is completed when
the process has responded with appropriate outputs.
Functions consist of processes that respond to events.

Elementary process a discrete, detailed activity or task


required to complete the response to an event. Also called a
primitive process.
The lowest level of detail depicted in a process model.
Should be names with a strong action verb followed by an object
clause that describes what the work is perform on (or for).
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Common Process Errors on
DFDs

13

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