A diagram that shows where data comes from, where it is stored, how it is processed and where it goes
Which term describes someone or something that interacts with the system shown in a data flow diagram?
Entity
What is meant by a process in a data flow diagram?
Something that happens to the data as it moves through the system
Which component of a data flow diagram shows where processed records are held?
Data store
What is meant by a manual data store in a data flow diagram?
A store that is non-electronic, for example a paper file
Which term describes an arrow that shows records moving from one component of a system to another?
Data flow
Which form of notation is often used by database developers to explain how different data is connected?
A data flow diagram
A data flow diagram shows a rectangle labelled 1.0 Stock check. What does this symbol represent?
A process that data passes through
A data flow diagram includes a store labelled M1 Borrower records. What does the M1 tell you about this store?
The records are kept on paper
A process takes in only a customer surname but outputs a full invoice with items and prices. Which rule does this break?
Output data cannot contain more data than the input data
A data flow diagram shows a process box with three arrows going in and none coming out. Which rule has been broken?
A process must have at least one input and one output
A team is deciding exactly what a new system will include and what it will leave out. What can a data flow diagram help them to do?
Define the boundaries of the system
A bank's data flow diagram has dozens of processes and data stores. What is the main disadvantage of this diagram?
It can be very complex and difficult to understand
In a data flow diagram, an arrow points from a data store to a process. What does this show?
Data being taken out of the store
On a data flow diagram, an arrow goes straight from one entity to another entity. Why is this not allowed?
Every data flow must go to or from a process
Which piece of information about a system can a data flow diagram not show?
The hardware and software it needs
A process in a data flow diagram takes in a list of customer names and outputs exactly the same list of customer names. Which rule has been broken?
A process must change the data it receives
Which term describes a diagram that shows the sequence of actions that happen to data as it enters, flows through and leaves a system?
Flowchart
What is meant by a terminator in a flowchart?
A symbol that shows where a system starts or where it stops operating
Which term describes the diamond-shaped symbol that asks a question with a yes or no answer and sends the flow along one of two paths?
Decision
What is meant by a process in a flowchart?
An action or check the system carries out on the data
What is meant by a data input or output symbol in a flowchart?
A symbol that shows data entering the system or information being given back to a user
Which term describes the part of a flowchart where the flow returns to a step that has already been carried out, so an action is repeated?
Loop
Which shape is used to draw the decision symbol in a flowchart?
Diamond
A flowchart includes the step 'Convert the mark to a percentage'. Which symbol represents this step?
Process
In a flowchart, a decision symbol asks a question such as 'Password correct?'. What do the two labelled exits from this symbol show?
The Yes path and the No path
A flowchart converts a mark out of 30 into a percentage, then checks if the score is 40% or greater. A student scores 21. What message is produced?
You passed
A flowchart has a Start terminator and several process and input symbols, but no symbol shows where the system stops operating. What is missing?
End terminator
In a system, a step such as returning a card to its owner must happen whether the answer to a decision is Yes or No. Where must this step be shown?
On both the Yes and No paths
Which of these is a disadvantage of using a flowchart to represent a system?
It may need to be redrawn when a system changes
A system lets a user re-enter a password until it is correct. What must the flowchart include to show this?
A path returning to the password input step
A flowchart joins its symbols with lines that have no arrowheads. Why does this make the flowchart difficult to follow?
The direction in which the flow moves is not shown
A flowchart shows a decision symbol with one line leaving it towards an output. What is missing from this flowchart?
The other exit from the decision
A company wants to explain the steps of a new system to its staff. Why is a flowchart a suitable form of notation for this?
It shows the order in which tasks are carried out
A flowchart checks a PIN. The No exit from the decision 'PIN correct?' leads back to the step where the PIN is keyed in, and the Yes exit leads to the menu. A user keys in a wrong PIN and then a correct one. Which step happens next?
The menu is displayed
Which of these steps would be shown in a flowchart using the input or output symbol?
A receipt is printed for the customer
What are system diagrams often used by computer technicians to explain?
Technologies and interfaces
In a system diagram, what do the lines and arrows show?
Connections between different parts
Which statement about how system diagrams are constructed is correct?
There is no set method for building them
Why might written descriptions be added to a system diagram?
To explain what the different parts of the system do
Why do organisations use system diagrams?
To show the parts of a system and the resources needed
In a system diagram of a helpdesk, an arrow runs from the customers to the helpdesk. What does this arrow show?
A link between the customers and the helpdesk
System diagrams can show how people interact with computing resources. In an internet service provider's diagram, which part best shows this?
Customers contacting the helpdesk by phone
A technician is creating a system diagram of a small office network. Which information is the diagram most likely to include?
The computers, printers and how they connect
In a system diagram, what name is given to the individual parts of a system, such as a server or a printer?
Components
In a system diagram, what is meant by a physical resource?
A piece of equipment used by the system
A system diagram of an internet service provider includes the step where fault reports are recorded in a database. What does this part of the diagram show?
A process carried out by the system
A company is installing a new computer system and wants to show its staff which equipment will be used and how it will be linked. What should the company produce?
A system diagram
A manager needs to compare the exact delivery costs from six suppliers. Which form of notation is most suitable?
A table, because exact values can be read and compared
A table lists the number of visits to each page but has no column headings. Why is this a problem?
Readers cannot tell what each column of figures means
A company wants managers to spot the pattern in its sales over two years quickly. Which form of notation is best?
A chart, because trends are easier to see at a glance
A chart of monthly sales is included in a report. Why is written information added next to it?
To give the chart context and explain what it shows
What is a drawback of presenting data in a chart instead of a table?
A chart can hold less detail than a table
A written description of a new system is full of technical terms that staff do not know. Why is this a problem?
Staff may not understand how the system works
A table shows the number of online orders for January to April as 220, 260, 240 and 235. Which statement about the orders is correct?
The highest number of orders was in February
A table shows that sales fell sharply in March. The manager now needs to know why sales fell. Which form of notation is most suitable?
Written information, because the reasons can be explained in words
A written description of a new system says only that the system is modern and easy to use. Why is this description not effective?
It does not explain what the system can actually do
Which term describes a way of organising data in rows and columns so that exact values can be found and compared?
Table
What is meant by an executive summary?
A short section of text at the start of a document that outlines its main points
Which term describes a visual summary of information that allows patterns and trends to be understood quickly?
Chart
What is meant by a trend in data?
A general direction in which data changes over a period of time
Which term describes the short pieces of writing that are added to a table or chart to give it context?
Text description
Which term describes the text used to document a system, including executive summaries and text descriptions?
Written information
What is the name for each person, department or organisation that takes part in a transfer of information?
Entity
What is the name for the drawn connection with an arrowhead that shows the direction information travels between two boxes?
Flow line
What is meant by a data flow diagram?
A diagram that shows the processes and stores that data passes through
What is the name for an exchange in which a message passes from one department to another and a reply then comes back the other way?
Two-way communication
What is meant by the destination of an information flow?
The person or department that receives the information that has been sent
What is meant by the source of an information flow?
The person or department that starts a transfer of information
What is the main purpose of an information flow diagram?
To show information sent from a source to a destination
In an information flow diagram, how are the people, departments and organisations shown?
As boxes, ellipses or circles with the name inside
In an information flow diagram, what does the arrow on a flow line show?
The direction in which the information is sent
Why is each flow line in an information flow diagram given a label?
To name the information or document being sent
Why do organisations usually create an information flow diagram first when designing a new system?
To identify the information flows before working out the data needed
An information flow diagram shows an arrow labelled 'Invoice request' pointing from the warehouse to the finance department. What does this mean?
The warehouse asks finance to create an invoice
An information flow diagram shows one arrow from sales to warehouse and one back from warehouse to sales. What does this show?
Information is sent in both directions between the two departments
Which statement describes how an information flow diagram differs from a data flow diagram?
It shows who sends information rather than how data is processed
A student is drawing an information flow diagram from a written scenario. What should each flow line represent?
One transfer of information between two entities
Why do organisations usually use an information flow diagram rather than a written description of the same system?
The diagram is quicker and easier to read
The sales department needs to ask the finance department to raise an invoice. A line labelled invoice request has been drawn between the two boxes. What else must be added to complete this flow?
An arrowhead pointing from the sales box to the finance box
A written scenario describes four transfers of information between departments, but a student's information flow diagram shows only three flow lines. What does this mean?
One of the transfers has been left out of the diagram
A student draws a rounded rectangle labelled start at the top of an information flow diagram. Why is this not appropriate?
Information flow diagrams do not show where a system starts and ends
An information flow diagram shows an arrow from the sales department to the finance department and another arrow from the warehouse to the finance department. What does this show?
Two different departments both send information to finance
A company sends a newsletter to its customers, and none of the customers reply. How should this be shown in an information flow diagram?
A single flow line with an arrow from the company to the customers
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