August 2000
SE203 : SOFTWARE ENGINEERING

QUESTION 4

Total Marks: 15 Marks

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Question 4

The University of Metropolis makes use of an in-house database system to produce its lists of enrolment for each tutorial class every year. The database system comprises three main parts, one part for each of the three schools in the University, namely the School of Engineering, the School of Applied Science, and the School of Business. Within each school, students are being sorted by lecture group, and then into individual tutorial classes. Lastly, this database system also distinguishes between newly-enrolled First-Year students, and Senior students (in the second year of study) and above; due to that the University offers modular curriculums, both the first-year and senior students can be in the same tutorial class as well.
(a) Making use of Jackson’s notation, draw the labelled Data Structure diagram for
such a database system. [8]


(b) Another method of design studied concerns the transformation of a data flow
diagram into a design representation, namely Transform Analysis. Write down
the seven steps in Transform Analysis. [7]
- Review the fundamental system model (1 mark)
- Review and refine DFD for the software (1 mark)
- Determine whether the DFD has transform or transaction flow
characteristics (1 mark)
- Isolate the transform center by specifying incoming and outgoing flow
boundaries (1 mark)
- Perform “First-Level Factoring” (1 mark)
- Perform “Second-Level Factoring” (1 mark)
- Refine the “First-Cut” program structure using design heuristic for
improved software quality . (1 mark)