can be reused in different presentations or diagrams, and detailed information
can be captured on the object that may contain rules, definitions, history details,
and other useful data about the object. This software is normally used by
developers of systems to communicate data designs, but for this analysis of the
Mau Mau oath, it fits since it too is a complicated system.
The model consists of objects, lines, and descriptions. Each object is
represented as a rectangular shape, and it can have attributes that describe the
object. The attributes in bold are key to Identifing the object. In other words, they
are dominant and important characteristics of the object.1 The objects relate to
each other through relationship lines. However, the tool is limited in its visual
representation. It is unable to clearly show some of the relationship rules
because they are instead embedded in the tool, but the application of color in the
diagram has worked to visually represent new objects and relationships. With this
background, we can now turn to the Mau Mau oath model as a solution to
understanding this dynamic system.
1 These dominant attributes have PK (primary key) or FK (foreign key) by the name, but for this historical
analysis the key structures are not as important.
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