AUDIENCE:   This course is designed for analysts, designers and developers who need to understand the design process. Development team managers who will manage the design process should also attend. PREREQUISITES:   Some understanding of systems development gained in either an analyst/designer or programmer role. An understanding of entity modelling and functional analysis. Attendance on our Business Systems Analysis course would provide the ideal pre-requisite. DURATION:   5 days. Lecture-based with examples and a case study. OBJECTIVES:   The design of business systems must give solutions that fit the analysis requirements. Good design is essential for the successful implementation of a new or updated system. Development therefore needs a design specification detailing processes, data and the user interface. This course provides a comprehensive treatment of system design which is relevant to bespoke and package solutions and can be used in structured, RAD and incremental development. At the end of the course, participants will be able to: - Develop a fully normalised data model from user requirements which can then be used to construct a working, scalable relational database. - Normalise and validate an existing data model which has either been developed during analysis or reversed from a database. - Design process models for update and enquiry transactions which, along with a data model and user interface design, will form a design specification suitable for use by a programmer. - Develop prototypes for a user interface suitable for a hierarchical, Windows or Web-based software system. - Fully participate in a facilitated workshop and understand its benefits and format. COURSE CONTENT:   Data Design Concepts Types of Database Relational Database Origins Relational Model Steps in Database Design Why Build Models Introduction to Data Modelling Entities and Attributes Primary Key Types Relationships and Cardinality Many-to-Many Relationships Relationship Names Data Model Development Data Model Refinement Optional Attributes Mutually Exclusive Relationships Reflexive Relationships Entity Sub-types Multiple Sub-type Groups Data Integrity Data Integrity Types of Keys Foreign Keys Referential Integrity Attribute Data Types, Constraints and Default Values Relational Data Analysis Why Relational Data Analysis Properties of a Relation Selecting Sources for RDA Normalisation Steps TNF Tests Choosing Keys for UNF Key-Only TNF Relations Implied Data Multiple Repeating Groups Transitive Dependency Optimisation Constructing a TNF Data Model from Optimised Relations Data Model Validation Normalising a Data Model Implementation of Un-normalised Data Cross-Referencing of Data and Processing Volumetrics Physical Data Design Architecture Mapping Resolving Entity Sub-types and Exclusive Relationships De-normalisation Physical Data Model Database Creation Optimising for System Performance Facilitated Workshops What is a Facilitated Workshop? Benefits Key Attendees Guidelines for a Successful Workshop Responsibilities of a Facilitator The Workshop Process Knowing What to Record Managing Dysfunction Entity Life Histories (ELH) Benefits of Developing ELHs Basic Notation Events ELH Development Entity/Event Matrix Advanced Notation ELH Operations State Indicators Effect Correspondence Diagrams (ECD) Reasons for Developing ECDs ECD Notation ECD Development ECD Operations Update Process Models (UPM) UPM Notation Steps in UPM Development UPM Operations Enquiry Process Models (EPM) Enquiry Access Paths (EAP) EAP and EPM Development EPM Operations User Interface Design Prototypes and Prototyping Purpose of Prototyping Types of Prototype Prototyping Tools Target Environments Inputs to Interface Design Workflow Models Menu Control Structures Process Dialogue Structures User Object Models Identifying User Objects User Object Diagrams User Object Views Windows and Window Navigation Case Study A realistic case study runs throughout the course, giving delegates the chance to put theory into practice. JJ03/10