The correct situation where an outer join could be useful is: c.) When a bike mechanic wants to see all bike parts in their inventory, whether they are being utilized for a particular bike model or not.
In the provided data model with "part," "bike," and "bike part" relationships, the situation where an outer join could be useful is option (c).
When a bike mechanic wants to see all bike parts in their inventory, whether they are being utilized for a particular bike model or not, an outer join ensures that every bike part in inventory is included in the result, even if it is not associated with a specific bike model.
This comprehensive view assists in inventory management by displaying all available bike parts, aiding in decision-making regarding stock levels, usage, and potential shortages across various bike models in the mechanic's inventory.