Minicases 183

MINICASES

1. The Hatcher Company is in the process of developing a new the errors. Redraw the DFD to more correctly represent the
inventory management system. One of the event handling Receive Supplier Shipments process.
processes in that system is Receive Supplier Shipments. The 2. In this exercise, you will “explode” an event handling process
(inexperienced) systems analyst on the project has spent time into a level 1 DFD. The exercise focuses on the process used
in the warehouse observing this process and developed the to complete a purchase at the “self‐checkout lane” at a retail
following list of activities that are performed: getting the new store. The basic process should be familiar to you. To sim‑
order in the warehouse, unpacking the boxes, making sure plify the scenario, we assume that only credit/debit card
that all the ordered items were actually received, putting the payments are allowed in this lane (no cash, checks, or
items on the correct shelves, dealing with the supplier to rec‑ food stamps).
oncile any discrepancies, adjusting the inventory quantities We start with a DFD fragment that has been created
on hand, and passing along the shipment information to the for this situation. This fragment shows one event‐handling
accounts payable office. He also created the accompanying process and the data flows it receives and sends to external
Level 1 data flow diagram for this process. Unfortunately, entities and data stores. This fragment was extracted from the
this DFD has numerous syntax and semantic errors. Identify Level 0 diagram to help us focus just on this event.

Credit Card
CC Payment Clearing
House

CCCH
Response

Item UPC
Item UPC 1 D1 Items
Item Details
Amount Due
Customer Payment Check Items
Out Purchased D2 Inventory On Hand
Receipt
Process Debit
Payment

Final Automated
ACH Clearing
D3 Sales Transactions Transaction Response
Details House

The event handling process includes four subprocesses: 3. Professional and Scientific Staff Management (PSSM) is a
1.1 Process purchase items unique type of temporary staffing agency. Many organiza‑
tions today hire highly skilled technical employees on a
1.2 Update inventory on hand
short‐term, temporary basis to assist with special projects or
1.3 Process payment
to provide a needed technical skill. PSSM negotiates con‑
1.4 Record sales transaction details. tracts with its client companies in which it agrees to provide
Draw the level 1 diagram for Process 1. Use the suggested temporary staff in specific job categories for a specified cost.
subprocesses listed above as the process components of the For example, PSSM has a contract with an oil and gas explo‑
level 1 diagram. Remember that all data flows and data stores ration company, in which it agrees to supply geologists with at
on the parent diagram must also appear on the child diagram, least a master’s degree for $5,000 per week. PSSM has con‑
but you will likely add more data flows on the child diagram. tracts with a wide range of companies and can place almost
184 Process Modeling

any type of professional or scientific staff members, from is valid. The staffing request is valid if the contract has
computer programmers to geologists to astrophysicists. not expired, the type of professional or scientific employee
When a PSSM client company determines that it will requested is listed on the original contract, and the
need a temporary professional or scientific employee, it requested fee falls within the negotiated fee range. If  the
issues a staffing request against the contract it had previ‑ staffing request is not valid, the contract manager sends
ously negotiated with PSSM. When a staffing request is the staffing request back to the client with a letter stating
received by PSSM’s contract manager, the contract number why the staffing request cannot be filed, and a copy of the
referenced on the staffing request is entered into the letter is filed. If the staffing request is valid, the contract
contract database. Using information from the database, manager enters the staffing request into the staffing request
the contract manager reviews the terms and conditions of database, as an outstanding staffing request. The staffing
the contract and determines whether the staffing request request is then sent to the PSSM placement department.

Inventory Discrepancies
Supplier Shipment

5.1 New
inventory
Unpack
Shipment
D2 Inventory on Hand

New
Warehouse
inventory
Inventory Manager
received
5.2
Inventory
Place Item discrepancies
on
Warehouse
Shelves 5.4 5.3

Notify Reconcile
New Accounts Shipment
inventory Payable

Received
Hatcher Company shipment
inventory manage­ Warehouse
ment system D4 Accounts Payable
level 1 DFD.

In the placement department, the type of staff member, a memo that explains the inability to meet the staffing request
experience, and qualifications requested on the staff‑ and attaches it to the staffing request. All staffing requests are
ing request are checked against the database of available then sent to the arrangements department.
professional and scientific staff. If a qualified individual is In the arrangement department, the prospective temporary
found, he or she is marked “reserved” in the staff database. employee is contacted and asked to agree to the placement.
If a qualified individual cannot be found in the database or is After the placement details have been worked out and agreed
not immediately available, the placement department creates to, the staff member is marked “placed” in the staff database.