This chapter applies the specific development techniques of other chapters to a moderatesize case. By carefully following the case and its solution, you should reinforce your design skills, gain insights about the database development process, and obtain a model for database development of comparable cases.
This chapter presents a case derived from discussions with information systems professionals of a large commercial processor of student loans. Servicing student loans is a rather complex business owing to the many different kinds of loans, changing government regulations, and numerous billing conditions. To adapt the case for this chapter, many details have been omitted. The database for the actual information system is more than 150 tables. The case presented here preserves the essential concepts of student loan processing but is understandable in one chapter. You should find the case challenging and informative. You might even learn how to have your student loans forgiven!