System Analysis
System Analysis
Q4. Construct a basic DFD to model the possible behavior of a retail clothing store in a mall,
suggest relevant data flows, data stores, processes, and sources/sinks. Observe several sales
transactions. Draw a context diagram and a level-0 diagram that represent the selling system at the
store. Propose a DFD model decomposed not further than level one.
Answer:
Students can draw their data flow diagrams in several ways, depending on the level of detail they choose to
capture. Students should realize that there is not one “right” data flow diagram for this or most other business
processes. Relevant data flows include payment information, receipt, goods sold information, and inventory
information. Three data stores are a goods sold file, an inventory file, and daily sales total file. Processes include
update goods sold file, update inventory file, update daily sales total file, and produce management reports.
Sources/sinks include customer and store manager. A sample context diagram and level-0 data flow diagram are
provided below. In the level-0 data flow diagram, Transform Customer Purchase, Update Goods Sold File, Update
Inventory File, and Update Sales Total File, were selected as processes rather than as sources/sinks because they
were deemed to be central to the point of sale process. Point out why these DFDs are balanced.