The project team at Williams Specialty Company reached the point of completing the process model and data model for the to-be system. The four staff members who are most familiar with the business have been heavily involved in defining needed improvements in the system and sharing their ideas for the way they’d like to see things work in the new system. The users role played the new logical process model and were pleased with the way the new system’s processes were outlined.

As project manager, you are anxious to keep the project moving into the design phase. You know, however, that your team should be sure and check to see that the process model and data model are balanced before proceeding with the design phase work. Your newest team member did a good job in balancing the data flow diagrams. You believe it would be a valuable learning experience for him to work through balancing the process and data models now.

Explain to your new team member why balancing the DFDs and ERDs is important. Explain exactly what he should be looking for as he reviews the diagrams.