Structured Systems Design

Audience

This course is designed for analysts, designers and developers who need to understand the design process. Development team managers who will manage the design process should also attend.

Prerequisites

Some understanding of systems development gained in either an analyst/designer or programmer role. An understanding of entity modelling and functional analysis. Attendance on our Business Systems Analysis course would provide the ideal pre-requisite.

Duration

5 days. Lecture-based with examples and a case study.

Course Objectives

The design of business systems must give solutions that fit the analysis requirements. Good design is essential for the successful implementation of a new or updated system. Development therefore needs a design specification detailing processes, data and the user interface. This course provides a comprehensive treatment of system design which is relevant to bespoke and package solutions and can be used in structured, RAD and incremental development.

At the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Develop a fully normalised data model from user requirements which can then be used to construct a working, scalable relational database.
• Normalise and validate an existing data model which has either been developed during analysis or reversed from a database.
• Design process models for update and enquiry transactions which, along with a data model and user interface design, will form a design specification suitable for use by a programmer.
• Develop prototypes for a user interface suitable for a hierarchical, Windows or Web-based software system.
• Fully participate in a facilitated workshop and understand its benefits and format.

Course Content

Data Design Concepts
Types of Database
Relational Database Origins
Relational Model
Steps in Database Design
Why Build Models

Introduction to Data Modelling
Entities and Attributes
Primary Key Types
Relationships and Cardinality
Many-to-Many Relationships
Relationship Names
Data Model Development

Data Model Refinement
Optional Attributes
Mutually Exclusive Relationships
Reflexive Relationships
Entity Sub-types
Multiple Sub-type Groups

Data Integrity
Data Integrity
Types of Keys
Foreign Keys
Referential Integrity
Attribute Data Types, Constraints and Default Values

Relational Data Analysis
Why Relational Data Analysis
Properties of a Relation
Selecting Sources for RDA
Normalisation Steps
TNF Tests
Choosing Keys for UNF
Key-Only TNF Relations
Implied Data
Multiple Repeating Groups
Transitive Dependency
Optimisation
Constructing a TNF Data Model from Optimised Relations

Data Model Validation
Normalising a Data Model
Implementation of Un-normalised Data
Cross-Referencing of Data and Processing
Volumetrics

Physical Data Design
Architecture Mapping
Resolving Entity Sub-types and Exclusive Relationships
De-normalisation
Physical Data Model
Database Creation
Optimising for System Performance

Facilitated Workshops
What is a Facilitated Workshop?
Benefits
Key Attendees
Guidelines for a Successful Workshop
Responsibilities of a Facilitator
The Workshop Process
Knowing What to Record
Managing Dysfunction

Entity Life Histories (ELH)
Benefits of Developing ELHs
Basic Notation
Events
ELH Development
Entity/Event Matrix
Advanced Notation
ELH Operations
State Indicators

Effect Correspondence Diagrams (ECD)
Reasons for Developing ECDs
ECD Notation
ECD Development
ECD Operations

Update Process Models (UPM)
UPM Notation
Steps in UPM Development
UPM Operations

Enquiry Process Models (EPM)
Enquiry Access Paths (EAP)
EAP and EPM Development
EPM Operations

User Interface Design
Prototypes and Prototyping
Purpose of Prototyping
Types of Prototype
Prototyping Tools
Target Environments
Inputs to Interface Design
Workflow Models
Menu Control Structures
Process Dialogue Structures
User Object Models
Identifying User Objects
User Object Diagrams
User Object Views
Windows and Window Navigation

Case Study
A realistic case study runs throughout the course, giving delegates the chance to put theory into practice.