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Using entity relationship diagrams (ERD) after brainstorming key elements of a system is appropriate because ERDs are designed to effectively illustrate the relationships between different entities within a system. After identifying key components and their attributes during a brainstorming session, an ERD helps in visualizing and structuring these components by clearly defining their relationships and how they interact with one another.

Entity relationship diagrams are fundamental in the early stages of system design, as they provide clarity and a foundation for understanding the data requirements of the system. This clarity is essential for ensuring that all stakeholders have a shared understanding of what the system encompasses and how its components are interlinked.

While other options like root cause analysis, data flow diagrams, and organization charts have their own specific uses in business analysis, they do not serve the primary function of modeling the relationships and data structure derived from a brainstorming session to the same extent as ERDs do. Root cause analysis focuses more on identifying underlying problems rather than structural relationships, while data flow diagrams represent the flow of data between processes, which may come later in the process. Organization charts, on the other hand, depict organizational structures rather than data relationships. Hence, using an ERD is the most logical next step after brainstorming.