What is structured analysis often referred to as due to its focus on processes that transform data?

Structured analysis is often referred to as process-centered because it emphasizes the processes that manipulate data within a system. This methodology is centered around understanding and documenting the processes that take input data, transform it through defined operations, and produce output data. By focusing on the flow of data through various processes, structured analysis helps in creating a clear model of how the system functions.

In structured analysis, tools such as data flow diagrams (DFDs) are commonly used to represent the relational flow between processes and data stores. This emphasis on the processes and their interactions allows analysts to clarify system requirements and ensure that every aspect of how data is used and transformed is well understood.

The other choices highlight different aspects of systems analysis but do not encapsulate the primary focus of structured analysis. For instance, while data-driven approaches prioritize the data itself, the process-centered approach notes the critical transformations that data undergoes in a well-defined sequence. Hence, the term "process-centered" accurately reflects the core principles underlying structured analysis.