Everything about office supplies and products
 

Welcome to our office supplies Archive. Have fun browsing!

 

(Browse for more articles)

 

Boxes and Lines

"Documentation is an inherent part of the documentation as an inherent part of the
design process." - Bryce's Law design process.
INTRODUCTION Today, documentation of any kind is
I recently overheard a Business Analyst considered a taboo (particularly among
say there was more to systems the Agile Methodology people). Small
architecture than drawing boxes and wonder the IT Industry is experiencing
arrows on a piece of paper. This may be the same type of problems today that we
true to a degree, but the ultimate experienced 35 years ago in terms of
deliverable of any engineering managing design complexity.
architectural practice is a set of BLUEPRINTING
drawings from which to build a product. It is a myth that one type of diagramming
Architects and engineers do not spend all technique can be used for all development
of their time drawing diagrams; for work. This would be like suggesting to
example, they have to specify use a wiring diagram to represent a floor
requirements and analyze such things as plan. Different needs, different
the stress of components to determine the graphics, different purposes. There are
suitability of materials for use in actually four types of graphics to be
design. But aside from this, the end used to the different levels of system
result of engineering or architecture, design. This implies a blueprinting
their deliverable, is a set of drawings, approach with various levels of
be it a blueprint, a floor plan, wiring abstraction, from general to specific.
diagram, plumbing, or a set of As we have discussed in the past, the
flowcharts. "PRIDE"-Information Systems Engineering
Such drawings basically consist of boxes Methodology (ISEM) looks at a system as a
and arrows. Boxes (be it squares, product that can be engineered and
rectangles, polygons, circles, etc.) manufactured like any other product and,
represent tangible objects and lines as such, defines four levels of detail in
represent relationships between such a system's hierarchy:
objects. Flowcharts are similar; here, LEVEL 1 SYSTEM
boxes represent specific types of LEVEL 2 SUB-SYSTEMS (Business Processes)
processes or decisions or objects such as LEVEL 3 PROCEDURES (Administrative and
inputs/outputs/files, and lines represent Computer)
dependencies between them (comes from LEVEL 4 PROGRAMS (for Computer
goes to). Procedures) OPERATIONS (for
Although drawings typically consist of Administrative Procedures)
geometric shapes, it is not uncommon to Four different levels, four different
include tables or indices to represent graphics used:
decisions or to provide a LEVEL 1 SYSTEM CONCEPT DIAGRAM -
cross-reference. Nonetheless, boxes and represents a freeform architectural
lines represent the principal means to rendering of the overall system.
visualize and communicate a design LEVEL 2 SYSTEM FLOWCHART - defines the
regardless of the structure to be built, SUB-SYSTEMS of the System.
and have been used since time immemorial. LEVEL 3 SUB-SYSTEM FLOWCHART - defines
In addition to diagramming techniques, the PROCEDURES in a Sub-System (aka
engineers and architects have found it "Process Diagram").
useful to develop models and prototypes LEVEL 4
to evaluate the overall physical aspects COMPUTER PROCEDURE FLOWCHART - defines
of their design. These are useful but the PROGRAMS in a Computer Procedure.
let us not forget they are all ultimately Each level provides the specifications
based on a design of some kind (boxes and for the next (this is also known as
lines). From the models and prototypes, "stepwise refinement"). With the
designs can be adjusted as required. exception of the System Concept Diagram,
I guess what I'm driving at is that all of the flowcharts make use of ANSI
despite all of this peripheral activity, standard symbols. As to the internal
and to refute my Business Analyst friend, processing logic of a program, since
the principal thrust of the engineer or there are many ways to skin a cat, the
architect is to produce and maintain a software structure diagram du jour is
reliable set of drawings. It all comes used, hopefully a standard one. However,
down to boxes and lines. Interestingly, a graphic may not be necessary to express
today's analysts and programmers think the processing logic of a program.
drawings are "old-hat" or passé. I Instead, specifications may be
don't care whether you draw it with interpreted by a program generator of
pencil and paper or by computer, some kind. Its a "fielder's choice."
documentation is an inherent part of the CONCLUSION
design process. Failure to recognize Until such time as we can master the
this is to deny reality. Vulcan "mind meld," whereby we can
In terms of the Information Systems transfer knowledge telepathically, there
industry, flowcharts have been used for will always be a need for documentation.
years, well before the introduction of Its an inherent part of the design
the commercial computer in business. process and the principal deliverable
Originally they included process produced by engineers and architects.
diagrams; later they were used by Don't deny it, accept it.
programmers as a convenient means to I am definitely not one for excessive
document program logic. Such flowcharts documentation thereby becoming a
typically made use of ANSI standard burdensome task. Instead, documentation
flowcharting symbols. But as the should be a natural byproduct of the
Structured Programming movement design process. Just as blueprinting is
flourished in the late 1970's, ANSI an inherent part of the design process to
symbols were considered archaic, and many architects and engineers, so should
new types of diagramming techniques flowcharting be to system developers.
emerged, including Bubble Diagrams, Data And you shouldn't have to be a rocket
Structure Diagrams, E/R Diagrams, HIPO, scientist to draw a flowchart, keep it
VTOC, etc. (anybody remember simple and try to use standard techniques
Nassi-Schneiderman Charts?). I could for consistency instead of reinventing
argue the pros and cons of the various graphics every five minutes. As for me,
techniques but that is not the point. I have no problem with ANSI standards; it
What is important is that all of these works.
diagramming techniques acknowledged




www.quartetmfg.com keyword stats [2008-06-20-2008-06-20]



Daily top traffic source : MSN
Most current MSN search phrases:

Quartet skokie il


Other search engines trends:



Other search phrases:

patterson office supplies hewlett packard ink
discounted office equipment office supply stores dallas
office furniture suppliers office furniture supplier
medical office supplier discount office supplies code
Alpikord Alpi spa office 2003 product key serial
second hand used QUARTET MFG
adjustable office chair parts desktop search product
registration code for active desktop global office supplies
office supplies company desktop security products
microsoft windows 2003 product key medical office suppliers
office accessories catalog better office products
office supply stores louisville product key for microsoft office 2003
office supply stores columbus forms office supplies online
office supply wholesalers vikings office supplies
ch products desk microsoft office 2003 product keys
desktop computers consumer china stationery and office supply
arvey paper & office products mazda
microsoft office word 2003 cd key boston store corporate office
office equipment for sale office supply





1- A- B- C- D- 2- 3- 4- 5- 6- 7- 8- 9- 10- 11- 12- 13- 14- 15- 16- 17- 18- 19- 20- 21- 22- 23- 24- 25- 26- 27- 28- 29- 30- 31- 32- 33- 34- 35- 36- 37- 38- 39- 40- 41- 42- 43- 44- 45- 46- 47- 48- 49- 50- 51- 52-