Final answer:
The database design step that involves defining fragmentation and allocation strategy is the distributed database design phase.
Step-by-step explanation:
The step in the context of the database design process that defines the fragmentation and allocation strategy is distributed database design. This step involves considering how the data is to be stored across multiple locations and how it will be accessed efficiently.
After the database analysis and requirements have been determined and the ER modeling and normalization have been completed, and once the data model verification ensures consistency and correctness, the next phase is to consider the distributed nature of the database.
The goal of distributed database design is to refine the design to meet criteria and constraints, which may include testing and evaluation to identify any weaknesses or necessary improvements.