Database Development Life Cycle — First Step In the standard database development process, what is the very first step that should be performed before logical and physical design?

Introduction:
Starting correctly is critical for database success. This question checks whether you know the proper sequence of activities, beginning with a high-level view of the enterprise before drilling down to schemas and storage choices.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• We must identify the very first step in a typical database life cycle.
• Later steps include logical design, physical design, and implementation.
• Operational work occurs after deployment.

Concept / Approach:
Enterprise data modeling clarifies scope, identifies major subject areas, and aligns stakeholders on terminology and boundaries. Only after this foundation is set should teams proceed to logical design (detailed attributes, relationships, normalization) and subsequently to physical design and implementation on a chosen DBMS.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1) Establish the organizational context with enterprise data modeling.2) Translate that context into a conceptual/logical schema.3) Map logical elements to DBMS-specific structures in physical design.4) Implement and test the system, then operate and tune.

Verification / Alternative check:
Methodologies and textbooks consistently list enterprise modeling or requirements analysis as the first step, preceding detailed schema design.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Logical database design: Follows after enterprise-level scoping.
• Physical database design and definition: Depends on the logical model; not first.
• Database implementation: Occurs after physical design.
• Operational monitoring and tuning: Post-deployment activity.

Common Pitfalls:
Jumping into table creation before clarifying enterprise scope leads to rework and inconsistent semantics.

Final Answer:
Enterprise data modeling