Definition of the systems analyst's role and responsibilities.
Systems Development Lifecycles.
Structured Methodologies, Data Flow Diagrams, Entity Relationship diagrams, Structured English, Decision Tables and Cohesion/coupling.
Data analysis: identification of data requirements from different user perspectives, Data definition, documenting results from data analysis, data models/notation, data dictionaries, use of supportive software including database products and data modelling software tools.
Top-down analysis: entity analysis techniques, entities, attributes, key identifiers, relationship types and enterprise rules, entity relation diagrams (ERDs), degrees of a relationship. Use of Yourdon
Relational Model: the relational model and relational operation, bottom-up analysis, introduction to problems of redundancy, update anomalies, purpose of normalisation, functional dependency, determinacy diagrams and identification of unnormalised data structures, development of first, second and third normal forms
Query: query languages and use of query by example (QBE) to extract meaningful data, including formatting and use of functions/ formulae Data manipulation: use of query languages and visual tools for database maintenance, inserts, updates and amendments of data.
Relational Algebra: common functions of SQL language (Union, Intersection, difference and product)
Implement a design: select suitable data types, entity and referential constraints, convert logical database design to physical implementation using appropriate visual tools and structured query languages.
Teaching and Learning Strategies
Formal lectures will be used to introduce each topic within the module and students will explore them through web-based training, supervised exercise sessions, directed practicals and unsupervised workshop sessions. Learning and practical sessions will be fully integrated with all units and will hence supplement and complement each other.