Forums for the Business Analyst

 
  Modern Analyst Forums  Business and Sy...  Structured Anal...  Data Flow Diagrams Are HOT!
Previous Previous
 
Next Next
New Post 11/10/2009 11:06 AM
User is offline Tony Markos
493 posts
5th Level Poster


Data Flow Diagrams Are HOT! 

Hi:

Well the authors of the BABOK 2.0 were wise enough to recognize the asychronous nature of systems:  That many tasks\processes can be occuring at the same time or that they can often occur in any possible sequence.   That is why they used input\process\output diagrams to organize the BABOK 2.0. 

(In case you have not noticed: The BABOK 2.0 is largely a functional spec on how to create a functional spec.   The "system" being spec'd is the series of interrelated tasks that a BA typically performs in do his/her work.)

Data flow diagrams are simply integrated input\process\output diagrams.  Soooo, as the BABOK authors lay claim to setting our certification criteria, and as actions speak louder than words, let it henceforth be know to all in BA lands everywhere that DFDs are no longer a "dated" or old technique, but that they are once again the latest and greatest (read: hip, modern, cool, neato, etc, etc).  

Tony Markos

 

 

 
New Post 1/16/2010 6:07 PM
User is offline Marc Thibault
7 posts
10th Level Poster


Re: Data Flow Diagrams Are HOT! 

Go back to DFDs after a decade of using rich, expressive UML diagramming?!  From my cold dead hands....

 
New Post 2/8/2011 11:33 PM
User is offline SteveBoulanger
38 posts
9th Level Poster


Re: Data Flow Diagrams Are HOT! 

Use a DFD because it is describe how a data should flow and how it’s related to Entities and Processes. You can use a flowchart when you want to explain how things suppose to work.

 
New Post 7/24/2012 4:22 AM
User is offline xtremeux
1 posts
No Ranking


Re: Data Flow Diagrams Are HOT! 

 Use of DFD help to slove system requirment problem more effectively and accurately.

 
New Post 7/24/2012 6:58 AM
User is offline Tony Markos
493 posts
5th Level Poster


Re: Data Flow Diagrams Are HOT! 

Steve:

You can use only flow charts for smallish efforts.  But if you have a complex system - and business systems tend to be complex - you need decomposition from higher levels of abstaction to the more detailed level.   Problem:  At the bigger picture level, more complex systems are not sequential, and therefore sequence based flow charts can not be used to model them.    Once one decomposes downward to detailed levels, then, one switches over to sequence based flow charts to handle the detailed logic.

The above are the basics of DFD's, although sooooo very few now the real basics of DFDs.

Latest update:  Some "people in the know" have recently told me that BPMN, a sequence based modeling technique, can handle deep decomposition.   They told me such is explained in a book (that I have on order).  If the BPMN does in fact handle deep decomposition, then DFD's are obsolete, as DFD's are harder to create.

But, if BPMN does not handle deep decomposition, then, the BA community has a problem:   People who do not have the work experience to often  coming across as they do.

Tony

 

 

 
Previous Previous
 
Next Next
  Modern Analyst Forums  Business and Sy...  Structured Anal...  Data Flow Diagrams Are HOT!

Community Blog - Latest Posts

Are you testing your product in the most effective way?
Today covid-19 pandemic has completely flipped the business model. Various conventional Business models like banking and health had to adopt the digital era. Even the school and colleges have to create various applications so that they can provide online learning for their students. All these statements justify the modern business model as complete...
Offshore development has become an increasingly popular model for businesses looking to expand their reach and reduce costs. With this model, businesses can hire a team of developers located in a different country or continent, often in regions where labor is cheaper. However, managing an offshore development team can be challenging, especially ...
Context:  Intro Change Request Definition Reasons for CRs Adaptive, predictive and mixed projects Flow of processing change requests Change Management Workflow Tools and Techniques 1. Intro  The World will never stop changing, as well as human needs and desires. The business environment evolves continually. An or...

 






 

Copyright 2006-2023 by Modern Analyst Media LLC