CHAPTER 3
SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT AND DOCUMENTATION TECHNIQUES
SUGGESTED ANSWERS TO DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
3.1 Identify the DFD elements in the following narrative: A customer purchases a few
items from a local grocery store. Jill, a salesclerk, enters the transaction in the cash
register and takes the customer’s money. At closing, Jill gives both the cash and the
register tape to her manager.
3.2 Do you agree with the following statement: “Any one of the systems documentation
procedures can be used to adequately document a given system”? Explain.
It is usually not sufficient to use just one documentation tool. Every tool documents a uniquely
important aspect of a given information system. For example:
Each alternative is appropriate for a given aspect of the system. As a result, they work together to
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Ch. 3: Systems Development and Documentation Techniques
3.3 Compare the guidelines for preparing flowcharts, BPDs, and DFDs. What general
design principles and limitations are common to all 3 documentation techniques?
Similar design concepts include the following:
All three methods require an initial understanding of the system before actual documentation
3.4 Your classmate asks you to explain flowcharting conventions using real-world examples. Draw
each of the major flowchart symbols from memory, placing them into one of four categories:
input/output, processing, storage, and flow and miscellaneous. For each symbol, suggest
several uses.
The major flowcharting symbols and their respective categories are shown in Fig. 3.8 in the text.
With respect to how symbols are used, student answers will vary. Possible examples include:
Input/Output Symbols
Processing Symbols
Storage Symbols
Flow (Miscellaneous)
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Accounting Information Systems
SUGGESTED ANSWERS TO THE PROBLEMS
3.1 Prepare flowcharting segments for each of the following operations:
a. processing transactions stored on a sequential medium such as a magnetic tape to
update a master file stored on magnetic tape
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Old Master
File
report
Ch. 3: Systems Development and Documentation Techniques
3.1 (continued) Assorted Flowcharting Segments
d. using a terminal to enter paper-based source document data and send it to a remote
location where a corporate computer updates the company database.
e. using a terminal to query your customer sales database
D
Terminal
f. a scheduled automatic backup of a database to an external hard drive
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Source Data
Update
Database
Data-ba
se
Query
Customer
Sales Data
Customer
Sales
Database
External
Hard
Drive
Scheduled
Automatic
Backup
Data-ba
se
Enter Query
Enter Data
Display
Query &
Response
View
Data
Accounting Information Systems
3.1 (continued) Assorted Flowcharting Segments
g. use a terminal to enter employee hours recorded on time cards to update both the
payroll transaction file and the wage data in the payroll master file
Terminal
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Payroll
Record timecard data on
the payroll transaction
file and update wage
Enter
Ch. 3: Systems Development and Documentation Techniques
3.1 (continued) Assorted Flowcharting Segments
h. use a terminal to access a price list in the sales database to complete a purchase
order. An electronic copy of the purchase order is sent to the vendor and a backup
copy is printed and filed by vendor name
to
Terminal
i. make an airline reservation online from your home computer
CustomerAirline
Computer
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ion File
A
Purchase
Order
(electronic)
Reservation file
Access price list,
create electronic
purchase order, &
print paper backup
copy
Sales
Data-
base
Purchase
Order (paper)
Request Price
list
Make an
airline
View
Price List
View
Reservation
Data
Accounting Information Systems
3.2 a. Prepare a system flowchart of the process described.
Terminal
Terminal
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Weekly: Update payroll, work in
process, & payroll transaction
databases, disburse funds,
print reports
Work in
process
database
Payroll
database
Payroll
transaction
file
Enter job-time
ticket data
Remote location
job-time ticket
Employee
query
Payroll
summary
report
Scan job time
tickets
View
job-time
ticket form
View
payroll
data
Express-mailed
weekly to
headquarters
Reservation
request
Disburse
Funds
Employee
Payments
Government
Payments
401K company
Payments
Supervisor
3.2 b. Prepare a business process diagram for the process described.
Employee Activities Performed
Job Sites Weekly Remote locations
Accounting Information Systems
3.3 a. Prepare a document flowchart to reflect how ANGIC Insurance Company processes its casualty claims.
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ADJUSTER DATA PROCESSINGCLAIMS DEPARTMENT
Notice of Loss
A
A
A
A
A
A
Accounting Information Systems
3.3 b. Prepare a BPD to reflect how ANGIC Insurance Company processes its casualty claims.
Employee Activities Performed
Claims
Department
From Claimant
Adjustor
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Prepare proof of
check