Operations, Database Administration, and Environmental Requirements

In addition to requirements that relate directly to the structure and processing of database objects, there are likely to be requirements for the support of applications, including operational, administrative, and environmental requirements and constraints.

In addition to requirements that relate directly to the structure and processing of database objects, there are likely to be requirements for the support of applications, including operational, administrative, and environmental requirements and constraints. For example, a system dealing with highly sensitive data might be required to be run by professional computer operators in a secure computer room. Another system might require that users operate the system themselves. Beyond the question of who will operate the applications lies another question: What are the operations requirements? Must the system be operational during certain periods of the day? For example, an online bank teller system must be available during banking hours. Must the system not be operational during certain periods of the day? For example, at Eastcoast State University, the microcomputer lab system was not to be available while the lab was shut down. Other operational requirements include how backup activities will be accomplished and how recovery will be done. There may also be database administration requirements addressing such questions as: How will the database be managed? How will change take place? If there are problems between the applications, how will they be resolved? How will the growth of the database be managed? . In a larger context, this database resides in a university that presumably already has information systems. Does this database need to conform to established standards? Will data be imported from another system to be used in this one? Will this system export data in bulk to another system? If so, what are the requirements for such transfers? There may also be requirements for the environment of this application. Perhaps the database will have to reside in a particular computer. Maybe the processing computer must be physically located within a certain distance of an office or a work group. Perhaps the university has already installed a DBMS and a local area network, and this system must use those products. Perhaps the database development team is familiar with only certain hardware and programs, or the university allows only certain hardware and programs, so these products must be used. There are often many other system requirements. However, you should keep in mind that when you develop a database system you must consider the entire system, not just the stored data component.

The Requirements Review

The requirements are the blueprint from which the database and its applications are designed and implemented. If the requirements are correct, then developers have a good chance of building effective applications. If the requirements are incorrect, there is little likelihood of successful application development. Thus, an accurate statement of requirements is essential. To be sure that the team fully understands the system requirements, it must review what it has learned with the users. Users can evaluate both the accuracy and the completeness of the requirements statement. For a requirements review to be effective, the requirements must be documented in such a way that users can understand them.

Requirements Documentation

Requirements documentation serves two purposes. First, it states to the users the development team's understanding of the needs for the database and its applications. Second, the requirements documentation defines the goal of the entire development project it is a model of what is to be constructed. During design and implementation, the development team will repeatedly refer to the requirements documentation.

The Evolution Phase

The development process has five stages. After the second stage, requirements definition, there are three more steps: evaluation, design, and implementation.

Imran Zafar writes articles about computer basics and database management such as file organization and free computer dictionary.

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