Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Data dictionary
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
Analysts document both processing logic and data definitions. Process description tools express the flow of decisions and actions so developers and testers can implement and verify behavior. A different class of tools captures the meaning, format, and ownership of data elements. Distinguishing these helps choose the right artifact for the job.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
Pseudocode outlines algorithms in structured, language-agnostic steps. Decision tables enumerate conditions and actions systematically. Structured English uses restricted grammar to define logic. A data dictionary, by contrast, lists field names, definitions, types, lengths, valid values, sources, and stewardship—vital for consistency but not a process description.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Verification / Alternative check:
Ask: does this artifact answer 'what to do in each condition?' If not, it is unlikely to be a process description. The data dictionary answers 'what does this data element mean?' instead.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Common Pitfalls:
Placing validation rules only in code and not aligning them between decision tables and the data dictionary leads to mismatches.
Final Answer:
Data dictionary.
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