D. Hughes & Co. systems analysis training using structured techniques
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Placeholder Fall 2010 Blended Learning Schedule

Blended Learning Online
November 8-9, 2010
Online. Two sessions. AM Eastern time.
November 8-9, 2010
Online. Two sessions. PM Eastern time.
December 8-9, 2010
Online. Two sessions. AM Eastern time.
December 8-9, 2010
Online. Two sessions. PM Eastern time.

Register for public classes Register for public classes
Placeholder Fall 2010 Public Class Schedule

Philadelphia metro
October 13, 2010

New York City metro
November 30, 2010
December 7, 2010

Washington, D. C. metro
September 29, 2010
November 3, 2010

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Systems Analysis Using Structured Techniques

This course teaches the practical techniques for dynamic (behavioral) and static (structural) visual modeling using the structured techniques of data flow diagramming (DFD) and information engineering (IE).

Course Specifications

Course identifier: SAST.

Course duration: 8.0 hours / 8.0 PDUs.

Delivery schedule: One day.

Course Description

Structured techniques for system modeling matured in the 1980s. Today, the fundamental principles of visual modeling are well-established and supported by a rich set of tools, techniques, and approaches. This course teaches the practical techniques for dynamic (behavioral) and static (structural) visual modeling using the structured techniques of data flow diagramming (DFD) and information engineering (IE).

Course Objective: Students will discover and apply the techniques of system abstraction, requirement classification as specified by IEEE standards 830 and 1233, and visual modeling using DFD and IE approaches. Emphasis is placed on separating conceptual and logical modeling from physical modeling. The bridge from raw requirements to well-formed requirements is built through the integration of visual with textual system models.

Target Student: This course is designed for business analysts, business system analysts, and information technology specialists.

Prerequisites: Students should complete the following course or should possess equivalent knowledge:

Business Analysis Fundamentals

Delivery Method: Instructor led, group-paced, classroom-delivery learning model with structured hands-on activities.

Performance-Based Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

delineate the advantages and disadvantages of various structured techniques;
develop skill in abstracting multiple system perspectives in a context diagram and validating them through iterative analysis;
apply the best-practice recommendations for well-formed requirements as specified in IEEE standards 830 and 1233;
iteratively develop a system conceptual design by drilling down from a DFD context diagram to lower levels;
produce a conceptual data model and refine it into an attributed logical data model;
separate conceptual and logical modeling from physical modeling;
convert raw requirements into well-formed requirements by integrating visual and textual system models.

Course Content

Lesson 1: Introduction

Topic 1A: Objectives
Topic 1B: Logistics and materials

Lesson 2: The Language of Structured Analysis and Design

Topic 2A: Why Modeling Is Important
Topic 2B: Fundamental Principles of Abstraction
Topic 2C: The Art of Systems Thinking
Topic 2D: The History of Data Flow Diagramming
Topic 2E: DFD Syntax
Topic 2F: DFD Semantics
Topic 2G: The History of Information Engineering
Topic 2H: IE Syntax
Topic 2I: IE Semantics

Lesson 3: Requirement Modeling

Topic 3A: Requirements and the System Development Life Cycle
Topic 3B: Requirement Types
Topic 3C: Requirement Traceability
Topic 3D: Visualizing Requirements
Topic 3E: Well-formed Requirements

Lesson 4: DFD Building Blocks

Topic 4A: Process Bubble
Topic 4B: External
Topic 4C: Data Flow
Topic 4D: Data Store
Topic 4E: Data Flow Diagram (DFD)

Lesson 5: IE Building Blocks

Topic 5A: Things: Entity, Attribute
Topic 5B: Relationship
Topic 5C: Cardinality
Topic 5D: Entity Relationship Diagram (ERD)

Lesson 6: Dynamic Model Analysis

Topic 6A: Context Diagram
Topic 6B: DFD Levels
Topic 6C: DFD Quality Rules
Topic 6D: Model Elaboration
Topic 6E: The Requirement Repository

Lesson 7: Static Model Analysis

Topic 7A: The Three Levels of ERD
Topic 7B: ERD Quality Rules
Topic 7C: Attribution
Topic 7D: Key-NonKey Partitioning
Topic 7E: Primary Key Designation
Topic 7F: Key Migration
Topic 7G: Normalization
Topic 7H: Semantic Analysis
Topic 7I: The Requirement Repository

Lesson 8: Case Study Completion

Topic 8A: Team-based Work
Topic 8B: Formal Presentation
Topic 8C: Best-practice Review and Lessons Learned

Lesson 9: Conclusion