Chapter 5 - Data and Process Modeling

b. gray hole

A ________ process has at least one input and one output, but the input is clearly insufficient to produce the output shown. a. spontaneous generation b. gray hole c. black hole d. data structure

data dictionary

A central storehouse of documentation for an information system

d. flow

A data ________ , which is represented as a line with a single or double arrow on a DFD, is a path for data to move from one part of an information system to another. a. repository b. element c. store d. flow

d. field

A data item, which is also referred to as a(n) ________ , is the smallest piece of data that has meaning within an information system. a. alias b. record c. terminator d. field

c. process

A data store symbol is being used incorrectly if an analyst attempts to connect two data stores by a data flow without an intervening ________ . a. level b. record c. process d. rule

b. record

A data structure, which is also referred to as a(n) ________ , is a combination of related data elements that is included in a data flow or retained in a data store. a. alias b. record c. terminator d. field

b. False

A decision table is a physical structure that shows every combination of conditions and outcomes. a. True b. False

c. current

A four-model development approach may not be an option when tight project schedules, as well as management and user pressure, limit a systems analyst's ability to create models of a(n) ________ system. a. proposed b. new c. current d. optimal

b. False

A gray hole is a process that produces output, but has no input data flow. a. True b. False

c. one

A guideline for drawing data flow diagrams is to fit the diagram on ________ page(s). a. two b. three c. one d. four

d. reference

A guideline for drawing data flow diagrams is to provide a unique name and ________ number for each process. a. context b. decision c. sequence d. reference

b. process

A guideline for drawing data flow diagrams is to use the name of the information system as the ________ name in the context diagram. a. domain b. process c. parent d. business

b. process description

A model that is accurate, complete, and concise can be created using ________ tools, such as structured English, decision tables, and decision trees. a. leveling b. process description c. decomposing d. balancing

c. black box

A network router is an example of a ________ because cables carry data into and out of it, but the router's internal operations are not revealed. a. black hole b. gray hole c. black box d. data structure

Yourdon

A popular data flow diagram symbol set

black box

A process symbol in a data flow diagram

a. looping

A process that continues to print payroll checks until it reaches the end of the payroll file is an example of ________ . a. looping b. balancing c. leveling d. sequencing

decision tree

A(n) _______ is a graphical representation of the conditions, actions, and rules found in a decision table.

data element

A(n) _______, which is the smallest piece of data that has meaning within an information system, may also be referred to as a data item or field.

c. record

A(n) ________ , also known as a data structure, is a meaningful combination of related data elements that is included in a data flow or retained in a data store. a. logical structure b. field c. record d. domain

a. record

A(n) ________ , also known as a data structure, is a meaningful combination of related data elements that is included in a data flow or retained in a data store. a. record b. field c. logical structure d. domain

d. decision table

A(n) ________ , which can be created in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, or Excel, is a logical structure that shows every combination of conditions and outcomes. a. process table b. domain c. alias d. decision table

a. context

A(n) ________ diagram is a top-level view of an information system that shows the system's boundaries and scope. a. context b. parent c. child d. iteration

a. process

A(n) ________ receives input data and produces output that has a different content, form, or both. a. process b. domain c. entity d. alias

d. multicondition

A(n) ________ table can be simplified because some rules might be duplicates, redundant, or unrealistic. a. Gane and Sarson b. Yourdon c. diverging d. multicondition

context diagram

A(n) _______is a top-level view of an information system that shows the system's boundaries and scope.

b. False

Although each data element must be documented in the data dictionary, documenting the data flows isn't necessary. a. True b. False

a. True

An entity name is the singular form of a department, outside organization, other information system, or person. a. True b. False

a. child

An exploded data flow diagram includes a higher-level diagram called the parent and a lower-level diagram referred to as the ________ . a. child b. branch c. sibling d. subordinate

c. structured English

Analysts must use indentation, a limited vocabulary, and the three building blocks of sequence, selection, and iteration, when documenting in ________ . a. pseudocode b. business logic c. structured English d. standard English

alias

Any name(s) other than the standard data element name

a. True

As a rule, data flow diagrams should only show a data store when two or more processes use that data store. a. True b. False

d. Visible Analyst

As an alternative to recording notes in online or manual forms, some analysts prefer to enter the information directly into a CASE tool, such as ________ . a. Gane and Sarson b. Yourdon c. structured English d. Visible Analyst

modular design

Based on combinations of three logical structures

a. logic

Business rules, which transform data and produce required results, are also referred to as business ________ . a. logic b. approaches c. sequences d. models

b. logic

Business rules, which transform data and produce required results, are also referred to as business ________ . a. sequences b. logic c. approaches d. models

iteration

Completion of a process step that is repeated until a specific condition changes

selection

Completion of one of two or more process steps based on results of a test

c. functional primitives

Complex systems, which have many processes, require analysts to create lower-level DFDs until all processes are identified as ________ . a. types b. control structures c. functional primitives d. sinks

c. 0

Creating diagram ________ allows a systems analyst to show the major internal processes, data flows, and data stores contained in the context diagram's single process symbol. a. 1 b. 2 c. 0 d. 3

sink

Data flow diagram entity that receives data from a system

source

Data flow diagram entity that supplies data to a system

diverging data flow

Data flow in which the same data travels to two or more different locations

terminators

Data origins and final destinations on a data flow diagram

field

Data that is also referred to as a data element or data item

process description

Decision tables are an example of a(n) _______ tool that can be used to create accurate, complete, and concise models.

physical model

Describes how a system will be constructed in the systems design phase

structured English

Describes logical processes clearly and accurately

c. requirements

Development of a graphical model of an information system is based on the fact-finding that is completed during ________ modeling. a. decision b. logical c. requirements d. physical

b. False

Diagram 0 contains a single process symbol and provides the most general view of an information system. a. True b. False

d. functional primitives

Documentation that pertains to processes should include a description of the process's characteristics and for ________ , a process description, which is a model that documents processing steps and business logic. a. sources b. business rules c. entities d. functional primitives

process description

Documents the details of a functional primitive

decision tree

Graphical representation of a decision table's conditions, actions, and rules

c. black hole

If a process has input, but produces no output, it is called a ________ process. a. spontaneous generation b. gray hole c. black hole d. data structure

a. spontaneous generation

If a process produces output, but has no input data flow, it is called a ________ process. a. spontaneous generation b. gray hole c. black hole d. data structure

Gane and Sarson

In a data flow diagram, the _______ symbol for a data store is a flat rectangle that is open on the right side and closed on the left side

a. True

In situations in which the same data travels to two or more different locations, it is appropriate to use a diverging data flow. a. True b. False

d. entities

Input data flows and output data flows are characteristics of ________ , which are included in the documentation that is entered into a data dictionary. a. processes b. records c. data stores d. entities

d. type

Length and ________ , which refers to whether data elements contain numeric, alphabetic, or character values, are attributes that are usually recorded and described in a data dictionary. a. sink b. selection c. source d. type

b. decomposing

Leveling may also be referred to as exploding, partitioning, or ________ . a. looping b. decomposing c. validating d. balancing

a. decision tree

Like a decision table, a(n) ________ shows all combinations of conditions and outcomes, but presents them in a graphical format that many viewers find easier to interpret. a. decision tree b. iteration c. black box d. four-model approach

sequence

Logical structure that completes steps one after another

decision table

Logical structure that shows every combination of conditions and outcomes

balancing

Maintains consistency among a set of DFDs

b. four-model

Many analysts follow a(n) ________ approach, which means they develop a physical model of the current system, a logical model of the current system, a logical model of the new system, and a physical model of the new system. a. Gane and Sarson b. four-model c. modular design d. Yourdon

record

Meaningful combination of related data elements

CASE

Modern _______ tools can help in simplifying the difficult task of maintaining full and accurate documentation for complex systems.

a. CASE

Modern ________ tools simplify the difficult task of maintaining full and accurate documentation for complex systems. a. CASE b. Gane and Sarson c. Yourdon d. pseudocode

b. iteration

Modular design is based on combinations of three logical structures, which are called sequence, selection, and ________ . a. length b. iteration c. type d. alias

d. 9

On lower-level DFDs with multiple processes, it is recommended that no more than ________ process symbols be included. a. 7 b. 6 c. 8 d. 9

structured English

One rule to follow when writing in _______ is to use limited vocabulary, including standard terms used in the data dictionary and specific words that describe the processing rules.

b. external

Only ________ entities, that provide data to the system or receive output from the system, are included in data flow diagrams. a. diverging b. external c. internal d. exploding

data flow

Path for data to move from one part of an information system to another

logical structures

Process building blocks that must have a single entry and exit point

functional primitive

Process consisting of a single function that isn't exploded further

gray hole

Process that has input and output, but the input is unable to produce the output

black hole

Process that has input, but produces no output data flow

spontaneous generation

Process that produces output, but has no input data flow

b. logic

Processes contain the business ________ that transform data and produce the required results. a. dictionary b. logic c. structures d. records

b. False

Pseudocode is a subset of standard English that describes logical processes clearly and accurately. a. True b. False

entity

Represented as a rectangle in a data flow diagram

logical model

Shows what a system must do, regardless of how it is implemented physically

entity name

Singular form of a department, outside organization, other system, or person

data element

Smallest piece of data that has meaning within an information system

b. source

Specification of a data element's ________ , which is the set of values permitted for a data element, would be included in a data dictionary as an acceptable values attribute. a. default value b. source c. domain d. type

output data flows

Standard DFD names for the data flows leaving an entity

attributes

Standard DFD names that enter or leave a data store

data repository

Storehouse of information that is also called a data dictionary

c. flow

Systems analysts draw sets of data ________ diagrams as a graphical technique to describe an information system. a. store b. structure c. flow d. element

a. sink

Systems analysts refer to an entity that supplies data to a system as a source, and an entity that receives data from the system as a(n) ________ . a. sink b. record c. primitive d. field

c. repository

Systems analysts use a data ________ to collect, document, and organize specific facts about a system, such as the contents of data flows. a. table b. structure c. repository d. tree

origin

The DFD beginning for a data flow

destination

The DFD ending point for a data flow

d. store

The Gane and Sarson symbol for a data ________ is a flat rectangle that is open on the right side and closed on the left side. a. tree b. element c. item d. store

four-model

The additional cost and time associated with developing a logical and physical model of a system is one disadvantage of the_______ approach.

data flow label

The data flow name as it appears on the DFDs

a. True

The default value is the value for a data element if a value otherwise is not entered for it. a. True b. False

d. stores

The four basic symbols used in data flow diagrams depict processes, data flows, data ________ , and entities. a. repositories b. dictionaries c. tables d. stores

entities

The four basic symbols used in data flow diagrams represent processes, _______, data flows, and data stores.

parent diagram

The higher-level diagram on a DFD that has been exploded

c. 0

The highest-level data flow diagram contains process ________ , which represents the entire information system, but does not show any internal workings. a. 1 b. 2 c. 0 d. 3

child diagram

The lower-level diagram on a DFD that has been exploded

b. sources

The process of determining which entities and data flows to include in a context diagram begins with a review of system requirements and identification of all data ________ and destinations. a. repositories b. sources c. trees d. stores

a. dictionary

The second component of structured analysis is the data ________ , which includes the details that are contained in a set of DFDs. a. dictionary b. table c. structure d. tree

domain

The set of values permitted for a data element

b. flow

The symbol for a data ________ is a line with a single or double arrowhead. a. element b. flow c. tree d. item

d. rectangle

The symbol for a process is a ________ with rounded corners. a. square b. pentagon c. triangle d. rectangle

d. rectangle

The symbol for a process is a ________ with rounded corners. a. triangle b. square c. pentagon d. rectangle

a. entity

The symbol for a(n) ________ is a rectangle, which may be shaded to make it look three-dimensional. a. entity b. data store c. data flow d. diagram

context diagram

Top-level view of an information system that shows its boundaries and scope

business logic

Transforms data and produces required results

b. Yourdon

Two popular data flow diagram symbol sets are the Gane and Sarson symbol set and the ________ symbol set. a. modular design b. Yourdon c. four-model d. structured English

leveling

Two techniques, _______ and balancing, must be used if lower-level data flow diagrams are being created.

a. True

Typical characteristics of a data store include the data store name, a description, alternate name(s), attributes, and volume and frequency. a. True b. False

pseudocode

Used in program design as a shorthand notation for actual code

leveling

Uses a series of increasingly detailed DFDs to describe an information system

data flow diagram (DFD)

Uses symbols to show how a system transforms input data into useful information

default value

Value for a data element if a value otherwise is not entered for it

c. parent

When a data flow diagram is partitioned, the higher-level diagram is referred to as the ________ diagram. a. context b. control c. parent d. child

d. functional primitives

When a set of DFDs is created, the processing logic is broken down into ________ , which are used by programmers to develop code. a. types b. decision trees c. sources d. functional primitives

c. diamond

When using control structures to document processing logic, a(n) ________ shape represents a condition or decision. a. triangle b. square c. diamond d. oval

c. Type

________ , which is an attribute that is recorded and described in a data dictionary, refers to whether a data element contains numeric, alphabetic, or character values. a. Iteration b. Selection c. Type d. Alias

a. Volume

________ and frequency, which are data flow attributes that are included in a data dictionary, describe the expected number of occurrences for the data flow per unit of time. a. Volume b. Record c. Flow d. length

b. Iteration

________ is a logical structure that involves the completion of a process step that is repeated until a specific condition changes. a. Selection b. Iteration c. Sequence d. Control

a. Selection

________ is a logical structure that involves the completion of one of two or more process steps based on the results of a test or condition. a. Selection b. Iteration c. Sequence d. Control

d. Terminator

________ is a synonym for DFD entity because it can be a data origin or a final destination. a. Data structure b. Functional primitive c. Control structure d. Terminator

b. Leveling

________ is the process of drawing a series of increasingly detailed diagrams, until all functional primitives are identified. a. Looping b. Leveling c. Validating d. Balancing

d. Balancing

________ maintains consistency among a set of data flow diagrams by ensuring that input and output data flows align properly. a. Looping b. Leveling c. Validating d. Balancing