FIT9132 Introduction to Databases
Week 3 Tutorial Suggested Solution
CONCEPTUAL MODELLING
FIT Database Teaching Team
FIT9132 2020 S1
FIT9132 Introduction to Databases
Author: FIT Database Teaching Team
License: Copyright © Monash University, unless otherwise stated. All Rights Reserved.
COPYRIGHT WARNING
Warning
This material is protected by copyright. For use within Monash University only. NOT FOR RESALE.
Do not remove this notice.
Page 1 of 6
3.1. Conceptual Design - Lead Tutor Explanation
Step 1: identify entities
Step 2: identify key attribute for each entity
Step 3: draw the relationships
Page 2 of 6
Step 4: add non-key attributes
project_noofemp → derived attribute
emp_degrees → multivalued attribute
Step 5: remove multivalued attribute and create a new entity
Page 3 of 6
3.2. Using Tools to draw an Entity Relationship Diagram
3.2.4 Drawing ER Diagram Using Lucidchart
(i) Basic ERD showing only key attribute
The cardinality of the places relationship at the ORDER end could also be (1,N) rather than (0,N)
as illustrated – this is a business rule ("What constitutes a customer for the company")
(ii) Complete ERD showing all attributes
Page 4 of 6
3.3. Conceptual Modelling Exercise
Your solution to this task may be slightly different, this is a "starting point". In this model we have
some issues which need further attention, for example what happens if the same type of
maintenance needs to be carried out on a given property - for example a burst pipe is fixed at
10am and then again a further pipe bursts at 3pm in the same property?
Page 5 of 6
The case study as provided is thus missing important data related to several issues, these are the
types of items you need to seek clarification from your client.
● How do you regard a large shopping center from a property point of view - client response:
we treat each sub property as a property in its own right and assign each a property
number
● What if a tenant wishes to negotiate a new lease agreement on the same property when
their lease expires - client response: we also record a lease start date
● Do you record damage which is not caused by tenants - client response: no, the only
damage which is recorded is that caused by tenants so that the damage can be
appropriately charged to the tenant who is responsible for it (the tenant is required to make
one payment to cover the damage)
● How is the same damage which occurs twice in one day recorded - client response: we
also record the time of the damage as well as the date
With this additional data we would arrive at a model of the form:
Page 6 of 6
