The analysis model must achieve three primary objectives: (1) to describe what the customer requires, (2) to establish a basis for the cr...
The analysis model must achieve three primary objectives: (1) to describe what the customer requires, (2) to establish a basis for the creation of a software design, and (3) to define a set of requirements that can be validated once the software is built. To accomplish these objectives, the analysis model derived during structured analysis takes the form illustrated in figure below.
At the core of the model lies the data dictionary—a repository that contains descriptions of all data objects consumed or produced by the software. Three different diagrams surround the the core. The entity relation diagram (ERD) depicts relationships between data objects. The ERD is the notation that is used to conduct the data modeling activity. The attributes of each data object noted in the ERD can be described using a data object description.
The data flow diagram (DFD) serves two purposes: (1) to provide an indication of how data are transformed as they move through the system and (2) to depict the functions (and subfunctions) that transform the data flow. The DFD provides additional information that is used during the analysis of the information domain and serves as a basis for the modeling of function. A description of each function presented in the DFD is contained in a process specification (PSPEC).
The state transition diagram (STD) indicates how the system behaves as a consequence of external events. To accomplish this, the STD represents the various modes of behavior (called states) of the system and the manner in which transitions are made from state to state. The STD serves as the basis for behavioral modeling. Additional information about the control aspects of the software is contained in the control specification (CSPEC).
