systems analysis training

This content is an extract from GetAhead in Business Analysis - the FULL course is in eBook and multimedia CD-Rom format.

Drawing Part of the Level 1 Diagram
These give rise to the following data stores: Using the ‘Roadhire Case Study’ in the full systems analysis training course, identify the main communication paths and draw the level 1 business process diagram for this area of the system. Remember, that drawing business process diagrams is not an exact science and the layout of your diagram may vary from the one shown. However, use the ‘Roadhire Case Study’ to verify the main elements and the communications that connect them. Where these documents are held within files or other storage media, data stores should be added to the diagram.

Identifying Level 1 Processes.
The functions of those areas of the organization highlighted have been identified as being of interest to the investigation in this systems analysis training course. Now, using the organizational structure chart in conjunction with the case study text, the level 1 processes need to be identified. The system boundary already drawn on the document flow diagram should be referred to, in order to determine the major functional areas that are of interest. Identification of the processes relies on analyzing the information in the case study text.

These are pertinent extracts from the case study text…
1. The case study includes 'If a suitable vehicle is not available then the booking is passed to HO who use ...'
2. The case study includes s 'The accounts section is based at HO and uses micro-computer accounts package to produce invoices and to hold customer records.'
3. The case study includes 'Customers may make telephone or written bookings of vehicles to reception staff in Local Offices.'
4. The case study includes 'These are passed to the local booking staff who check against the local customer list to ...'
5. The case study includes 'If a driver is required the driver administration staff are notified.' And Page 4 'If a driver is required then the local office find a suitable one from the driver/agency register held at each local office and ...'
6. The case study includes 'The activities concerned with the departure and return of vehicles are performed by the local depot staff.' And ' When a vehicle is returned ...'

Numbering Level 1 Processes.
Six level 1 processes have been identified and these need to be numbered. Your own analysis of the case study text may well reveal other pointers to these processes. It may also indicate processes which are either outside the agreed system boundary or are too detailed to be depicted on a level 1 diagram. Remember, level 1 diagrams should only show the major functional processes of the system under investigation.
It is important to note that level 1 processes are given a unique but arbitrary integer (in other words they could be numbered in any order – e.g. 1,3,6,4,2,5). No processing sequence is implied by the numbers allocated to level 1 processes.
The numbering of level 1 processes is only of significance in relation to the lower level diagrams that can be derived from them. This will become apparent later in the course.
So, now we can allocate each of these processes an arbitrary integer, and whilst these can be any numbers, for the six processes identified using the range 1 to 6 would make sense.

Level 1 Diagram – Roadhire.
The document flow diagram shows the external entities outside of the system boundary. Remember, the sources and recipients that lie outside the system boundary on the document flow diagram become external entities on the level 1 business process diagram. Now, using that part of the document flow diagram you converted in the previous section, add the external entities and the processes you have identified and continue this conversion for the remaining areas of the document flow diagram. By following the method previously described, continue to develop the level 1 business process diagram for the system portrayed in the ‘Roadhire Case Study’. Only when you have completed this should you go to the next page, to see the suggested solution.

This content is an extract from GetAhead in Business Analysis - the FULL course is in eBook and multimedia CD-Rom format. TOP