Department of Computer Science & Engineering
CS-502
DATABASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
CASE STUDY ON E-R DIAGRAMS
CASE STUDY1
Understanding and applying er diagrams in student
database systems
Introduction
Entity-Relationship (ER) diagrams are foundational tools in database design,
used to visually represent the structure and relationships within a data
system. For students studying computer science, information systems, or
data management, understanding ER diagrams is crucial for both academic
and professional success. This case study explores the concept of ER
diagrams through the development of a Student Management System
(SMS), demonstrating their role in organizing and simplifying complex data
relationships.
What Is an ER Diagram?
An ER diagram is a type of flowchart that illustrates how entities such as
people, objects, or concepts relate to each other within a system. It uses three
primary components:
1. Entities: Represent real-world objects or concepts (e.g., Student, Course,
Instructor).
2. Attributes: Describe properties or details of an entity (e.g., Student
Name, Course ID).
3. Relationships: Indicate how entities interact with each other (e.g., a
student "enrolls in" a course).
Department of Computer Science & Engineering
Symbols used in ER diagrams typically include:
Rectangles for entities
Ovals for attributes
Diamonds for relationships
Lines to connect these elements
Understanding these components and how they interact is critical in
designing any database.
Problem Statement
Universities often face difficulties managing student records due to
inefficient, inconsistent, or unstructured databases. Challenges include:
* Redundant data
* Poor data integrity
* Limited scalability
* Difficulty tracking student performance or course enrollment
To solve these problems, universities need well-structured databases.
Creating an ER diagram is the first and most important step toward building
such a system.
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Case Study Scenario:
Student Management System (SMS)
Objective:
Design an ER diagram for a Student Management System to manage data
related to:
1. Students
2. Courses
3. Instructors
4. Departments
5. Enrollment
6. Grades
This system should allow administrators to:
Add or remove students and courses
Track enrollment
Assign instructors
Manage grades
Step 1: Identify Entities
From the scenario, we identify the following entities:
Student
Course
Instructor
Department
Enrollment
Step 2: Define Attributes for Each Entity
Student
a) Student\_ID (Primary Key)
b) Name
c) Date\_of\_Birth
d) Email
e) Phone
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Course
a) Course\_ID (Primary Key)
b) Title
c) Credits
d) Department\_ID (Foreign Key)
Instructor
a) Instructor\_ID (Primary Key)
b) Name
c) Email
d) Department\_ID (Foreign Key)
Department
a) Department\_ID (Primary Key)
b) Name
c) Location
Enrollment (Associative Entity – more on this below)
a) Student\_ID (Foreign Key)
b) Course\_ID (Foreign Key)
c) Grade
Step 3: Define Relationships
Now, define how entities interact:
A student can enroll in many courses, and a course can have many students
→ Many-to-Many relationship
An instructor can teach many courses, but each course is taught by one
instructor → One-to-Many
A department can have many courses and instructors, but each course and
instructor belongs to one department → One-to-Many
Since ER diagrams don't handle many-to-many relationships directly, we use
an associative entity (Enrollment) to resolve this.
Department of Computer Science & Engineering
ER Diagram Description
1. Entities: Student, Course, Instructor, Department, Enrollment
2. Relationships:
Student —< Enrollment >— Course (Many-to-Many via Enrollment)
Instructor — Teaches —> Course (One-to-Many)
Department — Offers —> Course (One-to-Many)
Department — Employs —> Instructor (One-to-Many)
3. Attributes:
Primary keys (Student\_ID, Course\_ID, etc.) underlined
Foreign keys marked appropriately
This ER diagram provides a logical view of the database that can now be
translated into a relational schema and ultimately built in an RDBMS like
MySQL or PostgreSQL.
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Practical Applications for Students
1. Hands-On Learning
Creating ER diagrams enhances understanding of how data is related and
stored. Students learn to:
a) Analyze requirements
b) Break down systems into entities and relationships
c) Normalize data structures
2. Project Work
Most university projects involving applications or systems (like Library
Management, Hostel Allotment, or Online Portals) benefit from a strong ER
model during planning stages.
3. Career Readiness
ER diagrams are used widely in the IT industry for:
a) Software development
b) Database administration
c) Data modeling in business intelligence
Employers often expect new graduates to be proficient in designing and
interpreting ER models.
Department of Computer Science & Engineering
Tools to Create ER Diagrams
Students can use various tools to design ER diagrams:
Draw\.io (free online tool)
Lucidchart
Microsoft Visio
MySQL Workbench
ERDPlus (education-focused)
These tools allow for easy drag-and-drop of entities and relationships,
making diagram creation more intuitive.
Challenges and Best Practices
Common Challenges
Misidentifying entities (e.g., treating attributes as entities)
Overcomplicating relationships
Ignoring cardinality (1:1, 1\:N, M\:N)
Forgetting to resolve many-to-many relationships
Best Practices
Always start with a requirements document
Use naming conventions (e.g., PascalCase or snake\_case)
Keep the diagram clean and readable
Validate the model with real data scenarios
Outcome of the Case Study
By designing the ER diagram for the Student Management System:
a) Redundancies in data are minimized
b) Relationships are clearly mapped
c) The database can now be implemented effectively
d) Future modifications (e.g., adding attendance or feedback systems)
are easier due to structured planning
