Tools and Techniques

Of
Structured Systems Analysis
and Design
 Structured Systems Analysis
and Design

Structured Systems Analysis and Design

Method (SSADM) is a systems approach to
the analysis and design of information
systems.
History
1980: Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency (CCTA) evaluate
analysis and design methods.

1983: SSADM made mandatory for all new information system developments

1984: Version 2 of SSADM released

1986: Version 3 of SSADM released.

1990: Version 4 launched

1995: SSADM V4+ announced, V4.3 launched

Objectives
•
• Improvements in communication.
•
• Ensure the maintainability of the system to
be analyzed.
•
• Useful tools for representing the system.
•
• Must be able to effectively partition a
complex problem.
•
Benefits of SSADM
• Usability
• Timelines
• Respond to changes in the business
environment
• Effective use of skills
• Better quality
• Improvement of productivity
• Cuts costs
 Disadvantages of SSADM

• SSADM puts special emphasis on the analysis of the

system and its documentation. This causes the
danger of over-analysing, which can be very time
and cost consuming. Due to various types of
description methods, checks of consistence cannot
be carried out. Especially with large systems, the
outline diagram can become very unclear, because
all relevant data flows have to be included.
•
 SSADM Tools

• Data Flow Diagram (DFD).

• Data Dictionary.
• Structured English.
• Decision Trees.
• Decision Tables.
•
•

•
Data Flow Diagram:

• Shows processes and flow of data in and out of

these processes.
• Contains 5 graphic symbols.
• Can be used to show logical and physical .
• Still used today to document business and/or
other processes.
• Data flow refers to the movement of data
through a system from entry to destination
Data Flow Diagram: Signs

• Symbol:
•
• Meaning: Process
•
• Description: A series of one or more steps that
converts inputs to outputs. Each process is followed
by a mini-spec
•
•
 Data Flow Diagram: Signs

• Symbol:
•
• Meaning: Data Flow
•
• Description: Shows a data path (flow of data)
 Data Flow Diagram: Signs

• Symbol:
•
• Meaning: External Agent.
•
• Description: A source or sink of data. Lies
outside the system
Data Flow Diagram: Signs

• Symbol:
•
• Meaning: Data Store.
•
• Description: Data at rest, usually a file or
database table
•
•
Data Flow Diagram: Signs
• Symbol:
•
•
• Meaning: Real-time link
•
• Description: A communication link. This
symbol added later. When ???
 Rules for drawing the DFD:--
• Process should be named and numbered .
Name should represent the process.
• The direction of flow is from top to bottom and
from left to right.
• Sources cannot leak data directly to a data
store.
• The name of data stores, sources and
destinations are written in capital letter.
Process and data flow names have the first
letter capitalized.
• cont…..
•
 Rules for drawing the DFD:--

• A data store cannot pass the data directly to the

destination.
• Each sub-system must be a process on the next
higher level diagram.
• A data flow out of a data store is read only.
• Data cannot flow from one data store to another.
•
•
 Levels Of DFD
•

Ø The level-0 partitions the entire system. It has only one process (the
system), and from it, the data flows to/from the external agents.
Ø
Ø The level 1 diagram- decomposes the system into 3 processes: Schedule
Courses, Enrol Student, and Product Class List.
Ø
Ø The level 2 diagram decomposes the Schedule Course process into 3 sub-
process.
Ø
Ø Note that the data flow Schedule Data from level 0 is broken into 2 sub data
flows in the level 1: Course and Available Faculty. Also note that the
Offered Course file is still preserved.

•
 DATA DICTIONARY
•Meaning
•Data dictionary contains definition of

“DATA”, used in system

•

•It contains accurate definition of all

•DFDs, data elements & data structure

•
 Features Of Data Dictionary:

Ø Structured repository of data

Ø Reference Work of data
Ø Support Documentation
Ø Improve Communication
Ø Describe Interrelationship
•
 Data Dictionary Contains Mainly Three
Items:

Ø Data element
Ø
Ø Data structure
•

Ø Data flow and data store

•
•
 Structured English
Ø Structured English is the use of the
English language with the syntax of
structured programming
Ø structured English aims at getting the
benefits of both the programming logic
and natural language. Program logic
helps to attain precision while natural
language helps in getting the
convenience of spoken languages.
• cont…..
 Structured English consists of the
following elements:

Ø Operation statements written as English

phrases executed from the top down
Ø Conditional blocks indicated by keywords
such as IF, THEN, and ELSE
Ø Repetition blocks indicated by keywords
such as DO, WHILE, and UNTIL
•
 Guidelines when writing
Structured English
• Statements should be clear and
unambiguous.
• Use one line per logical element.
• All logic should be expressed in
operational, conditional, and repetition
blocks.
• Logical blocks should be indented to show
relationship.
• Keywords should be capitalized.
•
 Example
• If customer purchase > Rs 1000
•
• Then give 10% discount
•

• Else do not provide any discount

•

• End- if
•

•
 Decision tree

• A decision tree is a decision support tool

that uses a tree-like graph or model of
decisions and their possible
consequences
 A decision Tree consists of 3
types of nodes:-
• 1. Decision nodes - commonly
represented by squares
2. Chance nodes - represented by circles
3. End nodes - represented by triangles
•
 Advantages

• Are simple to understand and interpret.

•
• Have value even with little hard data.
•

• Can be combined with other decision

techniques.
 Decision table

• Decision tables are a precise yet

compact way to model complicated logic.
Decision tables, like if-then-else and
switch-case statements, associate
conditions with actions to perform.
 Decision table Structure

• The four quadrants

• Conditions
• Condition alternatives
• Actions
• Action entries
•
 Example
Printer trouble shooter
Rules
Conditions Printer does not print Y Y Y Y N N N N

A red light is flashing Y Y N N Y Y N N

Printer is unrecognised Y N Y N Y N Y N

Actions Check the power cable X

Check the printer- X X

computer cable

Ensure printer software X X X X

is installed

Check/replace ink X X X X

Check for paper jam X X

 SSADM Techniques
• The 3 most important techniques that are
used in SSADM are:
•

Ø Logical Data Modelling.

•

Ø Data Flow Modelling.

•

Ø Entity Behaviour Modelling.

Ø
•
 Logical Data Modelling

• This is the process of identifying,

modelling and documenting the data
requirements of the system being
designed. The data are separated into
entities (things about which a business
needs to record information) and
relationships (the associations between
the entities).
•
 Data Flow Modelling
• This is the process of identifying,
modelling and documenting how data
moves around an information system.
Data Flow Modelling examines
processes (activities that transform data
from one form to another), data stores
(the holding areas for data), external
entities (what sends data into a system
or receives data from a system), and
data flows (routes by which data can
flow).
 Entity Behaviour Modelling

• This is the process of identifying,

modelling and documenting the events
that affect each entity and the sequence
in which these events occur.
 How is SSADM Structured
• SSADM consists of 5 main modules,
which are in turn broken down into a
complex hierarchy of stages, steps and
tasks.
•
• Feasibility Study.
•
• Requirements Analysis.
• Cont…..
 How is SSADM Structured

• Requirements Specification.
•
• Logical System Specification.
•
• Physical Design.
•
Conclusion
THANK YOU