Module 1 Flashcards
What is Information Management?
Information Management is collecting and managing information from 1 or more sources and distributing that information to one or more audiences.
What is a Table
A list of rows and columns that store information about a particular subject
What is a field
field refers to an individual piece of data within a table
What is a record
A record can be considered a set of fields put together to form a complete data statement.
What is a Database?
A database is a collection of data you want to manage, rearrange, and later add to/edit. It is a collection of structured data that is organized so that its content can be easily accessed, managed, and updated.
What is a DBMS
A database management system is a software or collection of programmes that enables a person to store, modify, and extract information from a database in an organized way.
What is the traditional file process and the Database approach to file processing?
Traditional file processing involves carrying out a task such as transaction handling or record keeping manually, usually for a particular functional area.
Database approach to file processing involves an integrated structure of database and information flow that optimizes the collection, transfer, and presentation of information throughout a multi-level organisation.
What are the advantages of the Database approach compared to the Traditional approach?
Speed, Efficency, Data Quality, Completeness, Consistency, Accuracy, Data handling, Data processing, Validity.
What the frick is a master file and transaction file?
A master file is a file that is used as a reference for a particular application. This can be updated.
A transaction file is a temporary file of data that is being used to update the master file.
What are the types of file organization?
Sequential- Allows you to store data in a specific order. This order determines how it is accessed.
Index Sequential- Stored in ‘some order’ and is accessed using an index or primary key value.
Direct Access- Literally accessing it directly.
What are the types of DATABASE organization? (Very different from FILE)
. Hierarchical Database
Data is arranged like a family tree (one parent, many children).
Fast but rigid—only one path to access data.
Relational Database
Data is stored in tables (like Excel sheets).
Uses keys to link tables (e.g., customer IDs connecting orders to customers).
Most common type (e.g., MySQL, SQL Server).
Network Database
Like hierarchical but more flexible—children can have multiple parents.
Rare today, but useful for complex connections.
Object-Oriented Database
Stores data like objects in programming (with attributes and methods).
Good for apps like games or design software.
How are files and databases used in organisations?
including store, organise, search, and retrieve;
eliminate redundancies; data mining, data marts
and data warehouses.
What is Data Mining?
Data mining is the searching of information that fits a specific criteria. It is the act of analyzing a database/data warehouse and searching for new information based on the required data.
What is a data warehouse?
A data warehouse is the place where scattered data from existing operational corporate files and databases is collected.
What is data warehousING?
Data warehousing refers to a storage location for a copy of transactional data/ operational files, and databases. It involves moving operational fields and databases from multiple applications.
What is a data mart?
A data mart is a subset of the data warehouse that is used to get data out to the users.
What is data redundancy?
Refers to duplicate data, which takes up space and increases inconsistencies and errors.
What is a DFD
A DFD (Data Flow Diagram) is a visual tool used to show how data moves throughout an organization
How does the absence of data quality, accuracy, and timeliness impact organisations?
loss of revenue, sales, and competitive
advantage, loss of customers; poor decision-making due to poor data quality; missed opportunities; impact on problem solutions.
What is Normalization?
Normalization is the process of organizing data efficiently in a database to minimize redundancies
What are the benefits of Normalization
-Improves redundancy
-Creates data consistency
-Improves data integrity
-Saves space
-Improves Overall efficiency.
What is an anomaly? insert Spider-Man theme
Anomalies are errors caused when there is too much redundancy in the database’s information
What is the purpose of normalization?
Purpose of normalisation: (Including improving
performance, data consistency, data integrity);
attribute redundancy and anomalies.
What is 1nf, 2nf and 3nf?
First normal form (1NF): removal of attribute
redundancy and anomalies.
Second normal form(2NF): repeating groups of data (or attributes).
Third normal form (3NF): partial and non-key
dependencies. (Columns not fully dependent on primary key are removed.)
