SYSTEM DESIGN (notes)

Design is a meaningful engineering representation of something that is to be built. Structured

design is a data flow based methodology. This approach begins with a system specification that
identifies inputs and outputs and describes the functional aspects of the system.

The parts of system design process are or the elements of system design are:-

a)Output design b) Input design c) File design

d) Procedure design e) Database design f) Control design

The result of system design process is a document known as system specification. It serves as a
blue print and helps in developing and implementing the new system.

Software design deals with transforming the customer requirements as described in the SRS
document into a form that is implementable using a programming language.

Characteristics of good software design are as follows :-

a) Correctness :- A good design should correctly implement all the functionalities of the
system.
b) Understandability :- A good design should be easily understandable.
c) Efficiency :- It should be efficient
d) Maintainability :- It should be easy to accommodate any change.

Modularisation:- In structure design a program is segmented into small independent modules.

Decomposition of a problem into modules facilitates the design by taking advantage of the divide
and conquer principle. This minimizes the complexity of the problem and make it manageable by
sub-dividing it into smaller segments.

What is a cohesive module?

A cohesive module performs only “one task” in software procedure with little interaction with
other modules. In other words cohesive module performs only one thing.

What is Coupling?
Coupling is the measure of the degree of interdependence among modules in a program structure.

Clean decomposition :- It means that the modules in a software design should display high
cohesion and low coupling. A module having high cohesion and low coupling is said to be
functionally independent of other modules. By the term functional independence, we mean that a
cohesive module performs a single task or function. A functionally independent module has
minimal interaction with other modules. Functional independence is a key to any good design
primarily due to the following reasons :-

a) Error isolation:- If a module is functionally independent, its degree of interaction with

other modules is less. Therefore, any error existing in a module would not directly affect
the other modules.
b) Scope for reuse:- Reuse of a module becomes possible.

Input design:-
The input data to a computer can be either on-line or off-line. In on –line data entry the user
directly enters data into the computer’s secondary storage, namely, a disk file. This entry is

Dolon Mukherjee….(Lecturer…George College of Management and Science-Kolkata) 1

through a terminal connected to a computer. Any errors in data entry are checked immediately
and the operator is sent a message within one or two seconds to correct the input data.

In off-line data entry, data are entered on forms manually at the point where the transaction
originates. Many forms are collected to form a batch, and subsequently entered bya data entry
operator into a computer’s disk. Errors in data entry are found much later when they occur.

Important points to be considered for input design are as follows:-

a) What inputs are needed?

b) How and where is the input created ?
c) How the data should be arranged or coded?
d) What data validations are need to detect errors?

Input verification and control:- If incorrect data enters the system, it is usually very costly to
make the necessary corrections. There are many methods which are commonly used to verify
data entering the system as input. Some of them are:-

a) Key verification :- The same set of data records are entered by two different operators
and two files are created. Corresponding records in these two files are compared by a
program. Any difference in two corresponding records indicates an error.
b) Use of self checking numbers:- Computers can be programmed to reject numbers that
have one or more wrong digits.

Most commonly used input devices are :- Mouse, Keyboard, touch screens, scanners, light
pen etc.

Output design:-
Outputs refer to the results and information that are generated by the system.

The most common output devices are Monitor, Printer, Speakers etc.

Important points to be considered for input design are as follows:-

a) Determine what information to present.

b) Decide whether to display or print or “speak” the information.
c) Arrange the presentation of information in an acceptable format.
d) What is the volume of the output?
e) How often is the output needed?

The output design is specified on layout forms or reports.

The general principles to be used in designing output reports are:-

a) Too many details should be avoided.

b) All pages must have heading and a page number.
c) The date on which the report is prepared should also be printed.

The general principles to be used in designing forms are:-

a) The form title must clearly identify its purpose.

b) Columns and rows should be labeled.

Dolon Mukherjee….(Lecturer…George College of Management and Science-Kolkata) 2

 c) The materials should be arranged in a logical order so that it becomes easy to fill up.

Dolon Mukherjee….(Lecturer…George College of Management and Science-Kolkata) 3