Deck 5: Data and Process Modeling

Question 1

In a data dictionary, a(n) ____ is the smallest piece of data that has meaning within an information system.

A) field
B) index
C) record
D) pixel

Answer 1

A

Question 2

A spontaneous generation process is a process that has ____.

A) no input
B) at least one output and one input, but the output obviously is insufficient to generate the input shown
C) no output
D) at least one input and one output, but the input obviously is insufficient to generate the output shown

Answer 2

A

Question 3

A black hole process is a process that has ____.

A) no input
B) at least one output and one input, but the output obviously is insufficient to generate the input shown
C) no output
D) at least one input and one output, but the input obviously is insufficient to generate the output shown

Answer 3

C

Question 4

A DFD shows ____.

A) what the system does
B) how data moves through an information system
C) how a system transforms input data into useful information
D) all of the above

Question 5

____ is/are logically impossible in a DFD because a process must act on input, shown by an incoming data flow, and produce output, represented by an outgoing data flow.

A) Spontaneous generation
B) Gray holes
C) Black holes
D) All of the above

Question 6

If processes must be performed in a specific sequence, you document the information in the ____.

A) leveling guide
B) process descriptions
C) data dictionary
D) DFD

Question 7

Leveling ____.

A) uses a series of increasingly detailed DFDs to describe an information system
B) ensures that the input and output data flows of the parent DFD are maintained on the child DFD
C) uses a series of increasingly sketchy DFDs to describe an information system
D) ensures that the input and output data flows of the child DFD are maintained on the parent DFD

Question 8

In a DFD, the Gane and Sarson symbol for a process is a ____.

A) rectangle with rounded corners
B) line with a single or double arrowhead
C) flat rectangle that is open on the right side and closed on the left side
D) rectangle, which may be shaded to make it look three-dimensional

Question 9

____ is the process of drawing a series of increasingly detailed DFDs, until all functional primitives are identified.

A) Leveling
B) Balancing
C) Indexing
D) Exploding

Question 10

DFD symbols are referenced by using all ____ letters for the symbol name.

A) capital
B) lowercase
C) italicized
D) boldfaced

Question 11

Balancing ____.

A) uses a series of increasingly detailed DFDs to describe an information system
B) ensures that the input and output data flows of the parent DFD are maintained on the child DFD
C) uses a series of increasingly sketchy DFDs to describe an information system
D) ensures that the input and output data flows of the child DFD are maintained on the parent DFD

Question 12

In a DFD, the Gane and Sarson symbol for an entity is a ____.

A) rectangle with rounded corners
B) line with a single or double arrowhead
C) flat rectangle that is open on the right side and closed on the left side
D) rectangle, which may be shaded to make it look three-dimensional

Question 13

A data ____ is a central storehouse of information about a system's data.

A) glossary
B) knowledgebase
C) content bank
D) repository

Question 14

Because diagram 0 is a(n) ____ version of process 0, it shows considerably more detail than a context diagram.

A) contracted
B) exploded
C) condensed
D) extrapolated

Question 15

Using ____, an analyst starts with an overall view, which is a context diagram with a single process symbol, and then the analyst creates diagram 0, which shows more detail.

A) balancing
B) indexing
C) exploding
D) leveling

Question 16

In data and process modeling, a(n) ____ model shows what the system must do, regardless of how it will be implemented physically.

A) operational
B) physical
C) logical
D) relational

Question 17

A gray hole process is a process that has ____.

A) no input
B) at least one output and one input, but the output obviously is insufficient to generate the input shown
C) no output
D) at least one input and one output, but the input obviously is insufficient to generate the output shown

Question 18

In a DFD, the Gane and Sarson symbol for a data flow is a ____.

A) rectangle with rounded corners
B) line with a single or double arrowhead
C) flat rectangle that is open on the right side and closed on the left side
D) rectangle, which may be shaded to make it look three-dimensional

Question 19

In a DFD, the Gane and Sarson symbol for a data store is a ____.

A) rectangle with rounded corners
B) line with a single or double arrowhead
C) flat rectangle that is open on the right side and closed on the left side
D) rectangle, which may be shaded to make it look three-dimensional

Question 20

____ maintains consistency among DFDs by ensuring that input and output data flows align properly.

A) Balancing
B) Indexing
C) Leveling
D) Exploding

Question 21

A ____ description documents the details of a functional primitive, which represents a specific set of processing steps and business logic.

A) logic
B) primitive
C) process
D) function-based

Question 22

In a data dictionary, some data elements have ____ rules, such as an employee's salary must be within the range defined for the employee's job classification.

A) domain
B) range
C) validity
D) mastered

Question 23

Decision trees show the logic structure in a ____.

A) vertical form that resembles a tree with the roots at the bottom and the branches at the top
B) horizontal form that resembles a tree with the roots at the left and the branches to the right
C) vertical form that resembles a tree with the roots at the top and the branches at the bottom
D) horizontal form that resembles a tree with the roots at the right and the branches to the left

Question 24

The selection structure is the completion of ____.

A) one or more process steps based on the results of a test or condition
B) steps in a chronological order, one after another
C) a process step that is repeated until a specific condition changes
D) a specific condition that is repeated until a process changes

Question 25

The data dictionary usually records and describes a default value, which is the ____.

A) specification of the set of values permitted for the data element
B) identification of the user(s) responsible for changing values for the data element
C) specification for the origination point for the data element's value
D) value for the data element if a value otherwise is not entered for it

Question 26

In the accompanying figure, the sequence structure is the completion of ____.

A) one or more process steps based on the results of a test or condition
B) steps in a chronological order, one after another
C) a process step that is repeated until a specific condition changes
D) a specific condition that is repeated until a process changes

Question 27

In a data dictionary, ____ refers to whether the data element contains numeric, alphabetic, or character values.

A) value
B) type
C) valence
D) domain

Question 28

A data dictionary specifies a data element's ____, which is the set of values permitted for the data element.

A) range
B) domain
C) array
D) any of the above

Question 29

____ is based on combinations of the three logical structures, or control structures (one of which is shown in the accompanying figure), which serve as building blocks for the process.

A) Modular design
B) General design
C) Global design
D) Total design

Question 30

In a data dictionary, any name other than the standard data element name is called a(n) ____.

A) clone
B) cipher
C) alias
D) index

Question 31

A(n) ____ table shows a logical structure, with all possible combinations of conditions and resulting actions.

A) pseudo
B) logic
C) decision
D) validity

Question 32

Structured English might look familiar to programming students because it resembles ____, which is used in program design.

A) pseudocode
B) a decision tree
C) iterative code
D) decision code

Question 33

____ also is called looping.

A) Sequence
B) Selection
C) Iteration
D) All of the above

Question 34

Typical process description tools include all of the following EXCEPT ____.

A) context diagrams
B) decision trees
C) structured English
D) decision tables

Question 35

The major benefit of ____ is that it gives a clear picture of current system functions before any modifications or improvements are made.

A) the four-model approach
B) balancing
C) leveling
D) both b and c

Question 36

The disadvantage of the four-model approach is ____.

A) it gives an unclear picture of the current system functions before any modifications or improvements are made
B) the requirements of a new information system always are different from the current information system
C) the added time and cost needed to develop a logical and physical model of the current system
D) all of the above

Question 37

In a data dictionary, data elements are combined into ____, which are meaningful combinations of data elements that are included in data flows or retained in data stores.

A) fields
B) columns
C) records
D) decimals

Question 38

A decision ____ is a graphical representation of the conditions, actions, and rules found in a decision table.

A) base
B) tree
C) icon
D) index

Question 39

The iteration structure is the completion of ____.

A) one or more process steps based on the results of a test or condition
B) steps in a chronological order, one after another
C) a process step that is repeated until a specific condition changes
D) a specific condition that is repeated until a process changes

Question 40

In a data dictionary, ____ is the maximum number of characters for an alphabetic or character data element or the maximum number of digits and number of decimal positions for a numeric data element.

A) domain
B) valence
C) length
D) index

Question 41

A decision tree is read from left to right, with the conditions along the various branches and the actions at the far left. _________________________

Question 42

In a DFD, a data flow must have a process symbol on at least one end.

Question 43

An auto parts store inventory record might include ____.

A) part number
B) supplier code
C) description
D) minimum stock levels

Question 44

A DFD does not show the external entities that provide data to the system or receive output from the system.

Question 45

Using Gane and Sarson symbols, a DFD represents processes as rectangles with rounded corners. _________________________

Question 46

Systems analysts call an entity that receives data from the system a source.

Question 47

When DFDs are drawn, which of the following conventions should be followed?

A) each context diagram must fit on one page
B) use the same names within each set of symbols
C) do not cross lines
D) use a unique reference number for each process symbol

Question 48

A DFD shows the structure and detailed contents of a data flow.

Question 49

When structured English is used, which of the following rules must be conformed to?

A) use only the three building blocks of sequence, selection, and iteration
B) use indentation for readability
C) use a limited vocabulary
D) avoid standard terms used in the data dictionary

Question 50

In a DFD, a process symbol can have only one outgoing data flow.

Question 51

The primary purpose of pseudocode is to describe the underlying business logic of code. _________________________

Question 52

Later in the systems design phase, you build a logical model that describes how a system will be constructed. _________________________

Question 53

Many valuable reports can be obtained from a data dictionary, including a(n) ____.

A) alphabetized list of all data elements by name
B) report by user departments of data elements that must be updated by each department
C) report of all data flows that use a particular data element
D) detailed report showing all characteristics of data elements

Question 54

Leveling also is called ____.

A) exploding
B) partitioning
C) decomposing
D) indexing

Question 55

When a context diagram is expanded into DFD diagram 0, all the connections that flow into and out of process 0 must be retained.

Question 56

Two data stores can be connected by a data flow without an intervening process.

Question 57

Data stores are shown in a context diagram because data stores are external to the system.

Question 58

Systems analysts call an entity that supplies data to the system a sink. _________________________

Question 59

What makes one system more complex than another is the number of components, the number of levels, and the degree of interaction among its processes, entities, data stores, and data flows.

Question 60

In a DFD, processes contain the business logic, also called business rules, that transform the data and produce the required results.

Question 61

Analysts use ____________________ modeling techniques to show how a system transforms data into useful information.

Question 62

When a DFD is exploded, the higher-level diagram is called the child diagram, and the lower-level diagram is referred to as the parent diagram.

Question 63

DFDs are balanced if each internal process is numbered to show that it is a child of the parent process.

Question 64

Two DFDs are leveled, for example, if the child diagram at the bottom has the same input and output flows as the parent process at the top of the diagram.

Question 65

More complex systems have fewer processes, and analysts need only work through very few levels to identify the functional primitives.

Question 66

When documenting a process, the documentation includes a description of the process's characteristics and, for functional primitives, a process description, which is a model that documents the processing steps and business logic.

Question 67

A disadvantage of the four-model approach is that the requirements of a new information system always are quite different from the current information system, especially when the proposal is based on new computer technology rather than a large number of new requirements.

Question 68

Many systems analysts create a physical model of the current system and then develop a logical model of the current system before tackling a logical model of the new system.

Question 69

In most data dictionaries, records are defined together with the data flows and data stores.

Question 70

In addition to the Gane and Sarson symbol set, another popular symbol set is ____________________.

Question 71

When drawing DFDs, a data store is shown only when two or more processes use the data store.

Question 72

Deciding whether to explode a process further or determine that it is a functional primitive is a matter of experience, judgment, and interaction with programmers who must translate the logical design into code.

Question 73

During the systems design phase, a physical model of the new information system is created that follows from the logical model and involves operational tasks and techniques.

Question 74

In modular design, a rectangle represents a condition or decision, a diamond shape represents a step or a process, and the logic follows the lines in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Question 75

In DFDs, a process resembles a(n) ____________________, where the inputs, outputs, and general functions of the process are known, but the underlying details are not shown.

Question 76

In addition to describing each data element, data flow, data store, record, entity, and process, the data dictionary documents the relationships among these components.

Question 77

In a typical company, ____________________ might include calculating sales trends, filing online insurance claims, ordering inventory from a supplier's system, or verifying e-mail addresses for Web customers.

Question 78

In modular design, each logical structure must have multiple entry and exit points.

Question 79

A(n) ____________________ uses various symbols to show how the system transforms input data into useful information.

Question 80

Whether to use a decision table or a decision tree often is a matter of personal preference.