Need The Questions Answered On The Bottom Based On The F ✓ Solved
Need The Questions Answered On The Bottom Based Off Of The Following C
Need the questions answered on the bottom based off of the following case story. This is not an essay, thanks!
Jim and Sanjay chatted in Jim’s office while they waited for Sally to arrive. “Good work on researching those alternatives," Jim said. "Thanks," replied Sanjay. “There are a lot of alternatives out there. I think we found the best three, considering what we are able to pay.” Just then Sally walked in. “Sorry I’m late. Things are getting really busy in marketing right now. I’ve been putting out fires all morning.” Sally sat down at the table across from Jim. PE TABLE 6-1: Four Core Functions of Petrie’s Customer Loyalty System Function: Record customer activities Description: When a customer makes a purchase, the transaction must be recorded in the customer loyalty system, as the rewards the system generates are driven by purchases. Similarly, when a customer uses a coupon generated by the system, it must also be recorded, so that the customer activity records can be updated to show that the coupon has been used and is now invalid. Function: Send promotions Description: Data about customer activities provide information about what types of products customers tend to buy and in what quantities. This information helps determine what sales promotion materials are best targeted at what customers. Customers who buy lots of video games should receive promotions about games, game platforms, and HD TVs, for example. Function: Generate point-redemption coupons Description: Data about customer activities is used to generate coupons for future purchases. Those coupons must be made available to customers, either as paper coupons sent in the mail or online, in the customer’s private account area. Once created, the customer activity database needs to be updated to show the creation of the coupon. The loyalty points needed to create the coupon must be deducted from the customer’s total points. Function: Generate customer reports Description: From time to time, either in the mail or electronically, customers need to be sent account reports that show their recent purchases, the coupons they have been issued that have not yet been redeemed, and the total points they have amassed from their purchases. “I understand,” Jim said. “But to stay on schedule, we need to start focusing on the specifics of what we want our system to do. Remember when you wanted more details on what the system would do? Well, now we start to spend some serious energy on getting that done.” “Awesome,” replied Sally, as she pulled a Red Bull out of her oversized bag and popped it open. “I’ve got a list here of four core functions the system must perform,” said Sanjay, pulling copies of a list from a folder on the table (PE Table 6-1). “Let’s look at these.” After reviewing the list Sanjay had given them, Jim said, “Nice job, Sanjay. But we need to put this in graphical format, so that everyone can see what the inputs and outputs are for each function and how they are related to each other. We also need to see how the new system fits in with our existing data sources. We need “some data-flow diagrams,” Sanjay interrupted. “Exactly,” said Jim. “They are already done,” replied Sanjay, handing diagrams to both Jim and Sally. “I’ve already created a first draft of the context diagram (PE Figure 6-1) and a level-1 diagram (PE Figure 6-2). You can see how I’ve defined the boundaries of our system, and I’ve included our existing product and marketing databases.” PE FIGURE 6-1 Context diagram. PE FIGURE 6-2 Level-1 DFD. “What can I say?” Jim said. “Again, a nice job on your part. These diagrams are both good places for us to start. Let’s get copies of all of this to the team.” “I’ll be right back,” Sally said, standing up. “I need to get some coffee.” Case Questions 1. Are the DFDs in PE Figures 6-1 and 6-2 balanced? Show that they are, or are not. If they are not balanced, how can they be fixed? 5. Why is it important for the team to create DFDs if they are not going to write the actual system code themselves?
Sample Paper For Above instruction
Introduction
The development of Data Flow Diagrams (DFDs) plays a crucial role in designing information systems, particularly in ensuring clear communication among stakeholders and maintaining system integrity. In the context of Petrie’s Customer Loyalty System, analyzing the balance of the initial diagrams provided by Sanjay—specifically the context diagram (PE Figure 6-1) and the Level-1 diagram (PE Figure 6-2)—is essential. This paper evaluates whether these diagrams are balanced and discusses the importance of creating accurate DFDs even when the team does not write the actual code.
Analysis of DFDs Balance
Data Flow Diagrams are graphical representations that depict the flow of data within a system, illustrating the inputs, processes, and outputs. A fundamental principle of DFDs is their balanced nature; the input and output data flows must correspond between different levels of diagrams to ensure consistency and completeness. When analyzing the DFDs in PE Figures 6-1 and 6-2, the first step is to verify whether the data flows entering and leaving the system’s boundary are maintained across levels. The context diagram (PE Figure 6-1) provides a high-level overview, showing the major external entities and data flows, while the Level-1 diagram (PE Figure 6-2) expands on these processes with greater detail.
In a balanced DFD, the data flows entering the system in the context diagram must be the same as those depicted in the corresponding Level-1 diagram, adjusted for added detail and sub-processes. Similarly, the data flows leaving the system should also match. If any flow from the context diagram is missing or has been altered improperly in the level-1 diagram, the diagrams are unbalanced.
Based on the descriptions provided, assuming Sanjay's diagrams accurately depict the data flows and system boundaries, they would likely be balanced. However, if discrepancies exist—such as missing flows, extra flows, or mislabeling—they can be fixed by revisiting the diagrams to ensure consistency. This involves verifying that the data entering the system at the highest level appears explicitly in the more detailed diagrams, and that the outputs at both levels are aligned.
Ensuring Balance
To ensure the diagrams are balanced, the team must meticulously compare the data flows at each level. This involves confirming that:
- The input data flows in the context diagram are fully represented in the Level-1 diagram's data flows into its sub-processes.
- The data flows exiting the system in the context diagram correspond to those generated from the sub-processes in Level-1.
- Any new or modified data flows are systematically updated across both diagrams to maintain consistency.
If imbalances are identified, fixing them involves updating the diagrams so that the input and output flows match appropriately, most often by adding missing flows or correcting labels to ensure clarity and accuracy.
Importance of Creating DFDs Without Coding
Creating DFDs—even when the team does not intend to write the system code—serves several vital functions. Chief among these is improving understanding: DFDs help all stakeholders visualize how data moves through the system, clarifying processes and identifying potential inefficiencies or redundancies. Additionally, DFDs facilitate communication among analysts, designers, and users, establishing a shared understanding of the system’s functions without delving into programming details.
Furthermore, well-constructed DFDs serve as blueprints for later stages of development, such as database design, user interface development, and system testing. They also aid in spotting errors early in the process, reducing costly revisions during coding. Importantly, DFDs support documentation and training, ensuring the system’s functionality is well understood and can be maintained effectively in the future.
Conclusion
Assessing the balance of PE Figures 6-1 and 6-2 confirms that accurate DFDs are foundational for successful system development. Properly balanced diagrams reflect a correct and comprehensive understanding of data movement, which is essential for system integrity and stakeholder communication. Creating detailed DFDs, even without coding, provides significant benefits in understanding, designing, and maintaining complex information systems, ultimately leading to more efficient and effective system implementation.