Data-flow Models

 Data-flow Models

Data-flow models are an intuitive way of showing how data is processed by a system. At the analysis level, they should be used to model the way in which data is processed in the existing system. The use of data-flow models for analysis became widespread after the publication of DeMarco's book (DeMarco, 1978) on structured systems analysis.

They are an intrinsic part of structured methods that have been developed from this work. The notation used in these models represents functional processing (rounded rectangles), data stores (rectangles), and data movements between functions (labeled arrows).

Data-flow models are used to show how data flows through a sequence of processing steps, For example, a processing step could filter duplicate records in a customer database. The data is transformed at each step before moving on to the next stage. These processing steps or transformations represent software processes or functions when data-flow diagrams are used to document a software design.

However. in an analysis model. people or computers may carry out the processing. A data-flow model, which shows the steps involved in processing an order for goods (such as computer equipment) in an organization.

This particular model describes the data processing in the Place equipment order activity in the overall process model. The model shows how the order for the goods moves from process to process. It also shows the data stores (Orders file and Budget file) that are involved in this process.

Data-flow models are valuable because tracking and documenting how the data associated with a particular process moves through the system helps analysts understand what is going on. Data-flow diagrams have the advantage that, unlike some other modeling notations, they are simple and intuitive. It is usually possible to explain them to potential system users who can then participate in validating the analysis.

In principle, the development of models such as data-flow models should be a 'top-down' process. In this example, this would imply that you should start by analyzing the overall procurement process. You then move on to the analysis of sub-processes

such as ordering. In practice, analysis is never like that. You learn about several levels at the same time. Lower-level models may be developed first and then abstracted to create a more general model.

Data-flow models show a functional perspective where each transformation represents a single function or process, They are particularly useful during the analysis of requirements as they can be used to show end-to-end processing in a system.

That is, they show the entire sequence of actions that take place from an input being processed to the corresponding output that is the system's response. It is a diagram of the processing that takes place in the insulin pump system.