Month Year Issue

October 2001 Issue: 22

Journal of Conceptual Modeling
www.inconcept.com/jcm

August 2001 Problem Reprint
by Dr. John Sharp

This is a reprint of the August 2001 Analysis Problem. The original version has one duplicate row of data that is not required. The duplicate row of data does not alter the solution, but may have been confusing. This is reprinted with the duplicate row removed for your opportunity to verify nothing has changed as a result.

Sharp Informatics is providing an analysis problem for each issue. These problems will consist of only variables so analysts will not be able to rely on their own subject matter expertise to determine a solution. Analysis results will be published the following issue of the Journal of Conceptual Modeling at www.inconcept.com/JCM and at www.sharp-informatics.com

Scoring will be based on the number of tables and the number of keys that are required by the problem. Correct solutions must be fully normalized. Correct tables will receive 2 points each. Correct keys in correct tables will receive 1 point each. Partial credit will not be given for "correct" keys in incorrect tables.

A solution should be sent to John at Sharp Informatics and it must arrive by the 20^th of the month before publication to be included in the published solution statistics.

Sharp Informatics
1604 Vassar SE
Albuquerque, NM 87106
505-243-1498
fax 505-248-0345
john@sharp-informatics.com

Assumptions: Each string means exactly one thing. The populated instances are significant.

August 2001 Analysis Problem:

Analysis results (only tables and keys are needed):

A	B	C
a1	b1	c1
a2	b1	c1
a1	b2	c1
a1	b2	c1
a3	b1	c2
a1	b3	c3

Dr. John Sharp is the founder and principal consultant for Sharp Informatics.Before starting Sharp Informatics in 1997 he was employed by Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, NM for 18 years. While at Sandia he held staff and management positions in all areas of information technology, including analysis, design, implementation, maintenance, information architecture, data administration, and information technology research. He has worked closely with Prof. Shir Nijssen of The Netherlands to improve the NIAM analysis methodology. Dr. Sharp is the creator of the first information analysis procedure known to be mathematically precise.This procedure reformulates the usual (imprecise and inaccurate) statements and examples from a subject area into verified fact types. The output of this productivity enhancing process (a set of information requirements) is compatible with all the latest and most productive database application creation tools. John is the editor of the international standard for conceptual schemas. He has co-chaired two international conferences on natural language modeling and he has presented numerous papers and seminars at professional conferences.

Contact information:

Dr. John Sharp
Sharp Informatics
1604 Vassar SE
Albuquerque, NM 87106
sharp@sharp-informatics.com
505-243-1498
fax 505-248-0345
http://www.sharp-informatics.com