REI 413 MM van den Heever 22795189

18/02/2014
Chapter 10
1.a)
1. Interview the shop manager
2. Interview the mechanics
3. Obtain a general description of company operations
4. Create a description of each system process
5. Create a conceptual model using E-R diagrams
6. Draw a data flow diagram and systems flowcharts
7. Normalize the conceptual model
8. Create the file structures
9. Load the database
10. Create the application programs
11. Test the system
b)
The system should include an Inventory list, the payroll of the employees (along with their
hours worked), general employee information, customer information including billing
information as well as a work order.
c)
A data dictionary places the focus on simplicity rather than storing an abundant of
information. The data dictionary only stores basic information about the files within a
database (examples may include names, the types, etc) and may thus be used as a fast and
efficient method to determine for example how many employees there is. This can be quite
handy when working on maintaining the information within the database.
d)
I would recommend that he/she considers employing the database in such a manner that all
the centres are able to access the information about the other centres as well as their own
centre. This would help to determine whether and where more employees are required as
well as track their overall performance better. This may also give a clearer view about the
financial status of ABC Car Service & Repair Centre.
e)
When approaching the task of the database design, it is important to consider and design
the database according to the decision made whether it be a bottom-op v/s top-down and/or
centralized or decentralized database. A thorough walkthrough about all the steps involved
should be conducted in order to obtain an clear idea about the problem at hand and about
which data should essentially appear within the database, before the design of the database
takes place. Along with this walkthrough it is important to accurately identify entities as well
as the relations and keep these in mind during the conceptual database design.
REI 413 MM van den Heever 22795189
18/02/2014
f)
For the sake of this question I will consider the reports previously discussed. The Inventory
information will be used by the manager for general stock taking , i.e. to help determine
when new stock should be purchased as well as how frequently certain items disappear from
this inventory list.
Concerning the Employee reports, it is important to know how an employee is performing as
well as the amount of hours the employee has worked to help determine the appropriate
salary/loan.
The Payroll report will be used by the manager or an accountant to help monitor the
company expenses due to the salaries/loans that are paid.
The Billing report will also be used by the manager, accountant or person responsible of the
company finances to determine the income the company receive through client payments.

2. The different categories of items produced and how these categories compare in the
overall production chain. It will be important to inquire about the current operating
environment of the company and how it previously managed its filing/database structure.
How does the ordering and payment of the produced items work. What type of regular
expenses occur within the company environment. How the staff employment, working hours
and payment is currently handled and how would the company prefer to handle these points.
I would continue to discuss the company and obtain as much information about the company
as possible. The more information obtained about the company the better the picture I as
database designer will have and the better and more efficient the final database design
would result in.