DATABASE DEVELOPMENT LIFE CYCLE - Database Design and Development: An Essential Guide for IT Professionals - page 102

planning process. Nevertheless, as a general rule, the planning phase should not last
longer than four to six months.
The planning phase ends with a clear report that can be used and referred to in
later phases. This planning document serves as a guide and reference throughout
the project. It articulates the management's view and understanding of a database
system; it states the expectations; it communicates the opportunities. The planning
document, as soon as it is completed, confirms the management's commitment to
the database project.

Scope of Overall Planning

Planning a database system translates into planning for the current and future infor-
mation requirements of the users in several organizational units performing
different business functions and residing at various geographic locations. They need
information about business objects that are relevant to the organization's goals
and objectives. The organization's long-term business plan provides input for the
planning phase. Again, the business plan is grounded in the company's core busi-
ness. The blend of all these planning objects is the overall database plan for the
project.
Figure 4-8 illustrates the overall planning process. Note how the organization's
business plan provides input for the planning process. Observe the elements of the
core business that go into the planning. Note how the business plan and the factors
of the core business lead into the user requirements and how all of these are tied
together in the database plan.

Core Business

Business Plan

•Set strategic
direction
•Involvement of
senior management

Database Plan

•Processes

•Applications and
functions
•Data files

•Information needs of
functional areas,
management levels,
geographic locations

•3 or 5 years duration
•Goals, success
factors, problem
areas

•Data volumes by
location
•Preliminary cost
estimates of
hardware/software

Planning
Objects

•Organizational units
•Business functions
•Locations
•Business objects

•DB project team
•Time schedule

Figure 4-8 Overall planning.