Data Flow Diagram (DFD)

• Presented by: Isagani R. Tabangay

What is a Data Flow Diagram (DFD)?

• A Data Flow Diagram (DFD) is a graphical representation of how data flows within a system or a
process

• It is a visual tool used to model and analyze the flow of data from its sources to its destinations,
including data storage and data transformations

Why Use Data Flow Diagrams (DFD)?

• DFDs are widely used in system analysis and design to understand, document, and communicate
how data moves through a system

• They provide a clear and concise representation of the data flow, allowing stakeholders to easily
understand the system's functionality and interactions

• DFDs help in identifying potential bottlenecks, redundancies, and inefficiencies in data flow,
enabling effective system optimization and improvement

Components of Data Flow Diagram (DFD)

• There are four main components of a Data Flow Diagram (DFD):

1. Processes: Represented by rectangles, processes are the activities or functions that manipulate
data, such as data inputs, data transformations, and data outputs.

2. Data Flows: Represented by arrows, data flows are the paths through which data travels from
one process to another, or from a process to an external entity (e.g., data inputs, data outputs).

3. Data Stores: Represented by open-ended rectangles, data stores are the repositories where data
is stored within the system.

4. External Entities: Represented by squares, external entities are the sources or destinations of
data that interact with the system.

Types of Data Flow Diagram (DFD)

• There are two main types of Data Flow Diagram (DFD):

1. Context Diagram: It provides an overview of the system and its interactions with external
entities. It shows the external entities, processes, and data flows, without going into detail about the
internal processes or data stores.

2. Detailed DFD: It provides a more detailed representation of the system's internal processes, data
stores, and data flows. It can be used to analyze and optimize the system's functionality and interactions
in more detail.

How to Create a Data Flow Diagram (DFD)?

• Follow these steps to create a Data Flow Diagram (DFD):

1. Identify the system boundaries: Define the scope of the system and identify the external entities
that interact with the system.

2. Identify the processes: Identify the processes or activities that manipulate data within the
system.

3. Identify the data flows: Identify the paths through which data moves from one process to
another or from a process to an external entity.

4. Identify the data stores: Identify the repositories where data is stored within the system.

5. Create the DFD: Use standard DFD symbols (processes, data flows, data stores, and external
entities) to create the DFD, starting with the context diagram and then creating detailed DFDs as needed.

Example of Data Flow Diagram (DFD)

• [Include a visual example of a Data Flow Diagram (DFD) to illustrate the concepts discussed]

• Explain the example and how it represents the flow of data within a system or a process.

Benefits of Data Flow Diagram (DFD)

• Data Flow Diagram (DFD) has several benefits, including:

1. Easy to understand: DFDs use simple graphical notations that are easy to understand, making it
accessible to stakeholders with varying levels of technical knowledge.

2. Effective communication: DFDs provide

Example problem statement for dataflow diagram Please write in English language.

Sure! Here's an example problem statement for creating a Data Flow Diagram (DFD):

Problem Statement: A company XYZ is a global e-commerce platform that sells various products online.
They are facing challenges in managing their order processing system efficiently. Currently, the system is
manual and involves multiple steps for order placement, order verification, order fulfillment, and order
delivery. Due to the lack of a streamlined process, there are delays in order processing, inventory
management issues, and customer complaints about incorrect or delayed deliveries.

The company wants to analyze and optimize their order processing system by creating a Data Flow
Diagram (DFD) to understand the flow of data within the system, identify bottlenecks, redundancies, and
inefficiencies, and propose improvements to streamline the process and enhance customer satisfaction.

Objectives:

1. Identify the current system boundaries, including external entities (e.g., customers, suppliers,
delivery partners).
2. Analyze the existing processes involved in order placement, order verification, order fulfillment,
and order delivery.

3. Identify the data flows between the processes and external entities, and data stores (e.g.,
customer data, order data, inventory data).

4. Create a Data Flow Diagram (DFD) to visually represent the current order processing system.

5. Analyze the DFD to identify potential bottlenecks, redundancies, and inefficiencies.

6. Propose improvements to streamline the order processing system, optimize inventory

management, and enhance customer satisfaction.

7. Create a revised Data Flow Diagram (DFD) to represent the optimized order processing system.

By creating a Data Flow Diagram (DFD), XYZ Company aims to gain a clear understanding of their order
processing system, identify areas of improvement, and optimize the process to enhance efficiency,
reduce delays, and improve customer satisfaction.