Adapting Structured Analysis & Design Tools for Event-Driven Systems

Abstract

Structured analysis and design provides essential tools and techniques for undergraduate MIS curricula. Most textbook discussions represent tools such as data flow diagrams for a COBOL environment. However, educational institutions are increasingly using object-oriented/event-driven environments to teach analysis and design, database, and programming concepts. The conflict between the procedural structured analysis tools and the event-driven environment can make it difficult for students to understand how to apply the tools and their relevance to the analysis and design effort.This article offers modified structured analysis and design tools that support analysis and design for the event-driven environment of Access. The article begins by describing the more popular structured analysis tools and techniques. The modified structured analysis and design tools and techniques for an object-oriented/event-driven environment are then given and illustrated on a problem from a widely used undergraduate MIS text. The article concludes with a discussion on the benefits of the modified techniques.