Audience | Objectives |  Skills | Methods | Course Structure  

PRACTICAL SYSTEMS DISCIPLINES

This 4-day workshop teaches a series of proven data analysis and logical design techniques for the systematic study and documentation of the data relationships in systems. 
The methods of Entity and Relationship analysis define the data access requirements for systems in a totally unambiguous way. This provides both structural and procedural information that feeds easily into the physical design and development of IT systems.  Data analysis and logical design training is essential for all those working on database projects or with complex file systems.  

WHO WILL THE COURSE BENEFIT?

Analysts, designers, users seconded to IT projects, managers who are or will be involved in any major systems projects or database projects in the strategy study, feasibility, systems analysis or functional specification stages.  O&M staff studying business areas with complex data relationships. Experience is assumed only to the level of "Business Systems Analysis" (BSA).

COURSE OBJECTIVES

To provide standard methods of analysis and documentation to help those working in strategy studies and problem definition stages of database or complex file projects.  To provide the delegates with an understanding of new methods of Data Analysis and Logical Design to enable them to create a comprehensive definition of the data and its structure and the processing required of it within a system or a business.

WHAT SKILLS WILL THE DELEGATE GAIN FROM THIS TRAINING?
This course will enable delegates to:

1. Understand the concepts involved with data orientated systems.

2. Establish data relationships and structures in the area under study.

3. Use the Third Normal Form (TNF) relations to develop a detailed logical model of the system under review.

4. Apply TNF and Entity Relationship Diagram (ERD) techniques for data analysis and logical design.

5. Create comprehensive documentation of the logical design to be implemented.

6. Plan a project with regard to its data base or complex file characteristics.

7. Carry out analysis and design with sensitivity to the practical problems of physical design.

8. Complete a functional specification in a form that helps physical design.

9. Apply these new techniques in the feasibility and systems analysis phases of the project.

WHAT METHODS ARE USED TO IMPART THESE SKILLS?

                               COURSE STRUCTURE

Data Oriented Projects:

Historical perspective.

Data structures:

Access paths; Data as a resource; Database or conventional techniques; Problems of database projects.

Development Cycle:

Special data orientated project stages; separation into logical and physical design; introduction to role of relational analysis, logical design, physical design process.

Data Analysis:

Entity Relationship Diagramming (ERD); techniques for producing logical designs; Identify Entity sets; Entity Matrix and chart; validation and optimisation.

Logical Design 1:

Need for data analysis; relational approach ‑ Third Normal Form (TNF); normalisation and optimisation.

Logical Design 2:

TNF design; rules for transforming TNF relations into a logical design; logical design charts.

Refinement of Logical Design:

Cost vs flexibility; present vs future requirements; data coding; alternative keys; hidden relationships; validation; good and bad data.

Documentation:

Documenting the logical data design; access profiles; defining systems needs for access to the data; transactional profile methods; collection of information for physical design.

Syndicate Work:

Delegates produce TNF and ERD logical designs for the basic and enhanced systems of the Case Study company, "Sceptre".