Chapter 9, Problem 1P

a)

Program Plan Intro

DBLC (Database Life Cycle):

• DBLC is a sequential process which is used to trace the history of the application that is present within the information system.
• The history of the application can be traced from the beginning till its last even though being outdated.
• DBLC is concurrent to SDLC because the database represents the core of the information system.
• It is composed of six phases:
  • Initial study:
    • Examining the operations of the current system.
  • Design:
    • It focuses on designing the database model which satisfies both operation and objectives of the company.
  • Implementation and loading:
    • It is a process of designing the specifications.
  • Testing and evaluation:
    • Ensure the database performance.
  • Operation:
    • The process that is designed to make it operational.
  • Maintenance and evolution:
    • Performs routine maintenance activity within the database.

Explanation of Solution

Order in which the design of the database made for the ABC car service and repair Centers:

The correct sequence of process are based on the phases of DBLC, here the sequence are arranged based on the main three phase namely analysis, design, and implementation:

The order that is sorted based on the phases of DBLC:

Analysis:

• The shop manager gets interviewed.
• The mechanic of the shop is interviewed.
• Operations of the company are obtained in the form of general description.
• For every system process descriptions are created.

Design:

• E-R diagram is used to create a conceptual model.
• The system flow charts and diagrams for data flow are created.
• The conceptual model gets normalized.

Implementation:

• The table structure gets created.
• The contents are loaded into the database.
• Application programs are created.
• The system gets tested.

Correct order:

Correct order	Description
7	Normalize the conceptual model
3	Obtain general description of the company operations
9	Load the database
4	Create a description of each system process
11	Test the system
6	Draw the data flow diagram and system flow chart
5	Create a conceptual model using ER diagram
10	Create the application program
2	Interview the merchants
8	Create the table structure
1	Interview the shop manager

b)

Explanation of Solution

The main modules that are needed to be included for the development of the system:

• Inventory.
  • Maintains the inventory of the system,
• Payroll.
  • Payroll information gets processed
• Work order.
  • Processing details of the work order.
• Customer.
  • Payments and receipt of the work order made are maintained.

Sub-modules of the main modules include:

Inventory

• Parts
  • Parts those are used or maintained or purchased.
• Purchasing
  • Holds the purchase history.

Payroll

• Employee payroll
  • The payroll for the employees gets processed.

Work order

• Maintenance
  • Histories of maintenance are recorded.
• Work order
  • Maintenance histories that are made to the card are recorded.

Customer

• Billing
  • Bill of the work order are being tracked
• Payment
  • Payments received are being recorded.

Structure of the module design:

The structure of the entire system will be as shown below:

ABC car service and Repair Information system

• Inventory
  • Parts
  • purchasing
• Payroll
  • Payroll of Employee
• Work order
  • Maintenance
  • Work order
• Customer
  • Billing
  • Payment.

c)

Program Plan Intro

Data Dictionary:

The collection of description of data objects and a set of information that describes the content, format and structure of a database is called Data Dictionary. It is also used to control access in database and describe the relationship between the elements.

Function of data dictionary in database design:

The functions of data dictionary in the database design are listed below:

• The contents of data dictionary are used for verifying the components of database design such as entities, attributes and relationships that exists between them.
• Database design is used by the designer to check for their homonyms and synonyms.
• It also verifies the entities and attributes created can be able to support all the queries in required way along with report requirements.

Explanation of Solution

Usage of data dictionary in the development of the system:

The usage of data dictionary in the development of the system:

• They ensure the contents of the data dictionary provide consistency across the modules that are developed.
• They are used to evaluate the ability of the system and generating the reports that are required.
• They validate the relationship that is represented.
• They validate the support of the attributes in the report generation.

Example:

The data that are created needs to be used in a proper way, the billing system utilizes the records of the payment and receipt of the customer and this type of data ensures a proper report generation is made for the history of maintenance along with their payment and receipt history.

d)

Explanation of Solution

Recommendation that can be given to the shop manager:

• The role of the designer is to provide solutions to the problems that are identified during the initial stage.
• The system that is developed is subjected to both external and internal constraints.
• Consider the following example:
  • Consider the designing work that is made the system developed must concentrate and prioritize the development of module that will bring the benefits at the stated time and with the given budget.
  • The time required in the development of the system need not to be spends on identifying the relationships.
• The modular system that is developed needs to be developed in a way that any future improvements that are necessary can be merged to it whenever required.
• Consider the following example:
  • Consider the management is interested in integrating the service stations of all the states for providing service statewide.
  • This kind of integration can provide greater benefits.
  • By this the car history that is being serviced will be available at any location; through this the data maintenance history of the car will be available to the mechanic who services the car. This enables the service being offered in an efficient way.
  • Thus, the order of service can be placed at location.

e)

Explanation of Solution

Best approach for the conceptual database design:

• The best approach to provide the conceptual database design based the given nature of the business would be centralized and top down approach.

Top down approach:

• The design approach begins by identifying the data sets and by defining the data elements for each of the sets.
• This process takes place by identifying the available entity type that are different and attributes of each entity gets defined.
• This type of design approach is well suited for the database designers who deal with the complex and large databases.

Centralized approach:

• This type of database design is suited for small organization
• They have relatively small and simple databases with entire view can be identified easily.
• The process of the entire design is subjected to designers.
• The validation and completion of this design is completely based on the single conceptual design.

Reason:

• The design that is designed by the designer should ensure that any changes or enhancements that are needed to make are being available at the flexible rate.
• Any future integration that are requested or made needs to be accepted by the system design.

e)

Explanation of Solution

List of four reports that system can contain:

The below are the list of four reports that system can contain and they are:

• Report on monthly activity.
  • It contains the summary of service by category which is categorized based on branch and by month.
  • It acts as a base for forecasting personnel and maintains the stock requirements for each branch and period.
• Report on the mechanic summary sheet.
  • It contains record of number of hours worked by the mechanic.
  • This kind of data will be greatly helpful for the payroll processing.
  • This is used for maintenance personnel for making scheduling activity.
• Report about monthly inventory.
  • It contains records about the summary of inventory.
  • The information about vendors, inventory draw down reorder points and so on.
  • It has many purposes in the inventory management.
• Report about the customer activity.
  • It contains activities of customers that breakdowns of the customer based on location, activity scheduled for maintenance, balances and credits available.
  • They could offer services based on demand by forecasting promotional mails about the maintenance schedule as remainder and provide special kind of requirements based on the customer needs.