Chapter 3: Data and business intelligence

Question 1

Database

Answer 1

an organized collection of structured information, or data, typically stored electronically in a computer system.
- collection of related data

Question 2

Benefits of a database

Answer 2

1. Improved data management
2. Data redundancy is eliminated or minimized
3. Storage space is used more efficiently

Question 3

Feilds

Answer 3

columns

Question 4

Records

Answer 4

rows

Question 5

File Access methods

Answer 5

1. Sequential access = records are organized sequentially. (used for archives and backups)
2. Random access = not in any order. Faster for accessing few records
3. Indexed sequential access = combination

Question 6

Two ways information is viewed in a database

Answer 6

1. Physical view = how data is stored and retrieved. (only one type of physical view)
   2.Logical view = how information appears to users. (can be more than one logical view)

Question 7

Data models 3 components

Answer 7

1. Data structure = describes how data is organized
   2.Operations = describes methods and calculations that can be preformed
2. Integrity rules = defines boundaries of a database

Question 8

Database design models (3)

Answer 8

1. Hierarchical model = the relationship among records from a tree like structure
2. Network model
3. Relational model = 2 dimensional table of records and columns

Question 9

Primary key

Answer 9

uniquely identifies each record in a relational database

Question 10

Foreign key

Answer 10

A field in a relational table that matches the primary key field of another table. It is used to reference the tables and attach them.

Question 11

Normalisation

Answer 11

Improves database efficiency by eliminating redundant data

Question 12

DBMS = database management system

Answer 12

Software for creating , storing and maintaining and accessing database files

Question 13

Database engine

Answer 13

the underlying software component that a database management system (DBMS) uses to create, read, update and delete (CRUD) data from a database.
- The heart of the DBMS

Question 14

Data manipulation

Answer 14

the process of organizing or arranging data in order to make it easier to interpret. (adding, deleting, retrieving records from a database)

Question 15

components of a DBMS

Answer 15

1. Database engine
2. Data definition
3. Data manipulation
4. Application generation
5. Data administration

Question 16

Distributed databases

Answer 16

Data is stored on more than one server throughout the company

Question 17

Object oriented databases

Answer 17

1.Both data and their relationships are contained in a single object.
2.An object consists of attributes and methods that can be performed on the object’s data.

Question 18

Data warehouse

Answer 18

Collection of data from different sources used to support decision-making applications and generate business intelligence

Question 19

Characteristics of data in a data warehouse (Functions)

Answer 19

1.Subject oriented – focus on specific area
2.Integrated – comes from variety of sources
3.Time variant – categorized based on time
4.Type of data – captures aggregated data
5.Purpose – used for analytical purposes

Question 20

Components of a data warehouse

Answer 20

1. Input
2. Extraction, transformation and loading (ETL)
   3.Storage
   4.Output

Question 21

Extraction as a component of a data warehouse

Answer 21

extraction = collecting data from a variety of sources
- converting data into the format that can be used in the transformation process

Question 22

Transformation processing as a component of data warehousing

Answer 22

makes sure data meet the data warehouse’s needs

Question 23

Ways information is organized in a data warehouse

Answer 23

1. Raw data = original form
2. Summary data
3. Metadata = data about data”. Metadata is defined as the data providing information about one or more aspects of the data

Question 24

Output

Answer 24

Data warehouse supports different types of analysis and generates reports for decision making.

1.Online analytical processing
2.Data mining analysis
3.Decision making reports

Question 25

Data mart

Answer 25

a simple form of a data warehouse that is focused on a single subject or line of business, such as sales, finance, or marketing

Question 26

Types of business analytics

Answer 26

1. Descriptive
2. Predictive
3. Prescriptive

Question 27

Other types of analytics

Answer 27

1.Web analytics
2.Mobile analytics

Question 28

Big data

Answer 28

Massive volumes of data
(to large data for normal computing tools)

Question 29

Big data : 5 V’s

Answer 29

1. Volume = large number of transactions
   2.Variety = different types of data
2. Velocity = speed at which things happen
3. Veracity = trustworthiness and accuracy
4. Value = what it can be used for