Practical Oracle Systems Analysis

© 2007 by Burleson Consulting

This course is taught at your Company site with up to 20 students.  Click here for on-site course prices

* Learn the basic goals of systems analysis. * Identify and gather business rules from end-users. * Create and model a data dictionary. * Understand event-driven models. * Extend a class hierarchy to provide polymorphism.

At last, a concise and understandable course to teach systems analysis without all of the theoretical jargon and double-talk. This seminar teaches you systems analysis from the ground-up and do it today. Using real-world examples, and in-class exercises, the student builds a firm foundation that can be applied to any system, regardless of the complexity. This course is indispensable for anyone faced with the challenge of analyzing a system who does not have time to earn a master degree in Information Systems and wade through the complex and obtuse world of systems analysis theory. What You Will Learn The first day of this seminar will introduce the basic concepts of Oracle systems analysis, including data flow diagrams, process logic specifications and data dictionaries. Complex analysis techniques such as decision support analysis and object-oriented analysis will be explained in plain English, and the student will gain an in-depth understanding of how to create a sound logical foundation for systems design. What Makes this Seminar Unique? Unlike other "overview" seminars or university courses, this session explains a complex and difficult subject in plain English. In addition to being a practicing systems analyst, your instructor is a seasoned Professor who has taught systems analysis to thousands of students. Consequently, the course meshes theory with practicality, and brings a simple perspective to a very complex topic. N/A This course is designed for practicing Oracle professionals who have basic experience with Oracle. Prior experience with Oracle is not required, but experience using Oracle database is highly desirable.

Practical Systems Analysis
Syllabus

Unlike other theoretical courses on systems analysis, this course emphasizes the pragmatic application of real-world analysis techniques. Through numerous in-class exercises, the attendees will internalize proven techniques to create an effective analysis document and understand how to predict the ramifications of changes to the analysis. The course also covers the issues involved in analyzing an event-driven model and describes how to add object technology constructs to an existing analysis.

This course has been specifically designed to be a practical, hands-on way to learn systems analysis. It is indispensable for professionals who want to objectively explore how to leverage their skills and quickly maximize their effectiveness as a systems analyst.

Schedule:

DAY 1

9:00 - 10:15 Introduction

• • Historical overview of systems development techniques. DeMarco, Yourdon, Gane & Sarson.
  • General concepts review - the basic goals of systems analysis.
  • In-class exercise - basic systems analysis

10:15-10:30 Break

10:30-11:45 Setting the foundation

• • Decomposing the analysis - functional departitioning of data flow diagrams, context-level diagrams, functional primitives. Leveling of DFD’s, and introduction to process logic specifications.
  • Modeling the data - Introducing the tools for describing a data dictionary.
  • In-class exercise - Job application.
  • Introduction to process logic specifications - decision trees, structured English, and decision tables.

11:45-1:00 Lunch

1:00-2:15 A "Formal" systems analysis methodology

• • Why theory? Introducing logical systems analysis. Introduce techniques for proper data flow diagrams, data dictionaries and process logic specification tools.
  • Identifying and gathering business rules from end-users.
  • In class exercise - DFD Analysis review.
  • Involving end-users in the systems analysis process.
  • In-class exercise - Logical movement of data.

2:15-2:30 Break

2:30-3:45 Modeling the data stores and processes.

• • Creating and modeling a data dictionary.
  • Dealing with optional data items, repeating data, and other data structures in systems analysis.
  • Tools for process modeling - Procedure flowcharts, decision trees, structured English.
  • In-class exercise - Create decision trees and decision table.

3:45-4:00 Break

4:00-5:00 Introduction of data model analysis.

• • Extending the data dictionary by determining relationships between data - one-to-many and many-to-many relationships.
  • In-class exercise - Data modeling.
  • Homework assignment - systems analysis for a small business.

DAY 2

9:00-9:30 Completing the analysis model

• • Homework review
  • Understanding event-driven models
  • Handling highly complex systems.

9:30-10:15 The Object-oriented analysis model - extending the analysis

• • Introducing data aggregates and class hierarchies.
  • What is object-orientation? Polymorphism and inheritance.
  • Introducing class hierarchies (the ISA relationship)
  • In-class exercise - add a class hierarchy to a logical analysis.
  • In-class exercise - Coupling processes and data

10:15-10:30 Break

10:30-11:45 Analyzing the Data Model

• • Basic one-to-many and many-to-many data relationships.
  • Understanding data normalization. First, second, and third normal forms.
  • In-class exercise - Data modeling analysis.
  • Modeling many-to-many and recursive data relationships.

11:45-1:00 Lunch

1:00-2:45 Planning a generalization hierarchy in systems analysis.

• • Planning for inheritance.
  • Extending a class hierarchy to provide polymorphism.
  • In-class exercise - Object vs. traditional E/R data model.
  • Modeling for aggregate entities

2:45-3:00 Break

3:00-5:00 Putting it all together.

• • Modeling for OLAP and decision support systems.

  In-class exercise - Creating attribute classification hierarchies.

  • Modeling distributed systems.
  • In-class exercise - Distributed Systems Analysis.
  • Summary wrap-up and future trends.