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chaPter 7 • Using Data Flow Diagrams 203

CONSULTING OPPORTUNITY 7.1

There’s No Business Like Flow Business

The phone at Merman’s Costume Rentals rings, and Annie the bear suits, and they’ll be taken to you directly by our courier.
Oaklea, head of costume inventory, picks it up and answers a query As always, prompt return will save enormous trouble for us all.”
by saying, “Let me take a look at my inventory cards. Sorry, it looks Merman’s costume rental enterprise is located in London’s
as if there are only two male bear suits in inventory, with extra world-famous West End theatre district. When a theatre or
growly expressions at that. We’ve had a great run on bears. When do television production company lacks the resources (either time
you need them? Perhaps one will be returned. No, can’t do it, sorry. or expertise) to construct a costume in its own shop, the cry
Would you like these two sent, regardless? The name of your estab- goes up to “Ring up Merman’s!” and it proceeds to rent what
lishment? Manhattan Theatre Company? London branch? Right. it needs with a minimum of fuss.
Delightful company! I see by our account card that you’ve rented Merman’s shop (more aptly visualized as a warehouse)
from us before. And how long will you be needing the costumes?” goes on for three floors full of costume racks, holding thou-
Figure 7.C1 is a data flow diagram that sets the stage for pro- sands of costumes hung together by historical period, then
cessing of costume rentals from Merman’s. It shows rentals such as grouped as to whether they are for men or women, and then
1
the one Annie is doing for Manhattan Theatre Company. by costume size. Most theatre companies are able to locate
After conversing for another few moments about shop policy on precisely what they need through Annie’s capable assistance.
alterations, Annie concludes her conversation by saying, “You are Now tailor-make the rental return portion of the data flow
very lucky to get the bears on such short notice. I’ve got another com- diagram given earlier. Remember that timely returns are critical
pany reserving them for the first week in July. I’ll put you down for for keeping the spotlight on costumes rented from Merman’s.

Costumes in Figure 7.C1
D1 Inventory y
A data flow diagram for
Availability Shipping Details Merman’s Costume Rentals.
Information

1
Order Valid Order
Customers Edit
Order

D3 Customer
Order

Credit Order
Approval Details

Customer
D2 Information 2
Gather
Shipment
of Rental
Costumes
Customer
Address Shipping
Information

3
Shipping
Process Invoice
Shipping Customers
Invoices

1 Western Costume Company in Hollywood, California, is said to have more than 1 million costumes, worth about $40 million.