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Chapter 9 • proCess speCifiCations and struCtured deCisions 239

COnsUlting OppORtUnity 9.2

Kneading Structure

Kit Chen has risen to the occasion and answered your ques- into a new mold by rewriting the recipe for handling unfilled
tions concerning the policy for handling unfilled orders at Kit Chen orders in structured English. In a paragraph, describe how this
Kaboodle, Inc. Based on those answers and any assumptions you process might change if you used email for notification rather
need to make, pour Kit’s narrative (from Consulting Opportunity 9.1) than regular mail.

3. Indent blocks of statements to show their hierarchy (nesting) clearly.
4. When words or phrases have been defined in a data dictionary (as in Chapter 8), underline
those words or phrases to signify that they have a specialized, reserved meaning.
5. Be careful when using “and” and “or,” and avoid confusion when distinguishing between
“greater than” and “greater than or equal to” and like relationships. “A and B” means both
A and B; “A or B” means either A or B, but not both. Clarify the logical statements now
rather than waiting until the program coding stage.

Figure 9.4
Structured English for the
medical-claim processing system.
Underlining signifies that the
DO WHILE there are claims remaining
IF claimant has not sent in a claim terms have been defined in the
data dictionary.
THEN set up new claimant record
ELSE continue
Add claim to YTD Claim
IF claimant has policy–plan A
THEN IF deductible of $100.00 has not been met
THEN subtract deductible–not–met from claim
Update deductible
ELSE continue
ENDIF
Subtract copayment of 40% of claim from claim
ELSE IF claimant has policy–plan B.
THEN IF deductible of $50.00 has not been met
THEN subtract deductible–not–met from claim
Update deductible
ELSE continue
ENDIF

Subtract copayment of 60% of claim from claim
ELSE continue
ELSE write plan–error–message
ENDIF
ENDIF
IF claim is greater than zero
THEN print check
ENDIF
Print summary for claimant
Update accounts
ENDDO