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Step 4: Identifying the Business Rules

The rules of a business govern the execution of business functions against the database. Additionally, they define data integrity concerns that must be addressed during the course of database design. The business rules for your organization can be derived from the analysis of the company description, the function lists, the DFDs, and the HIPO diagrams. Compile a complete list of these rules.

Business rules for the Commonweather Corporation

The following is a list of business rules for the Commonweather Corporation.

   1.  There are currently five offices; expansion plans allow
       for a maximum of ten.
 
   2.  Employees can change position, department, or office.
 
   3.  There are 560 employees; allow for a maximum of 1000.
 
   4.  Records are maintained for an employee's previously held
       positions.
 
   5.  Each department has one department head and several members
       with supervisory positions with hiring authority.
 
   6.  Each office has a maximum of three telephone numbers.
 
   7.  When an employee is hired, his or her level of expertise
       in each of several skills is identified.
 
   8.  When an employee is hired, he or she automatically becomes a
       member of a particular department, and a particular office,
       and reports to a particular supervisor.
 
   9.  Each job description has several salary grades associated
       with it.
 
   10. When hired, an employee is automatically covered by life
       insurance.