Rob & Coronell - Chapter 1 Flashcards
What is the difference between data and information?
Data: Raw facts that have not yet been processed to reveal their meaning
Information: The result of processing raw data to reveal its meaning.
What is knowledge?
The body of information and facts about a specific subject. Knowledge implies familiarity, awareness and understanding of information.
What are the 5 key points of data/information/knowledge?
- Data constitute the building blocks of information
- Information is produced by processing data
- Information is used to reveal the meaning of data
- Accurate, relevant, and timely information is the key to good decision making
- Good decision making is the key to organizational survival in a global environment
What is data management?
The discipline that focuses on the proper generation, storage, and retrieval of data.
–> It is a core activity for any business, government agency, service organization or charity.
What is a database system?
An organization of components that define and regulate the collection, storage, management, and use of data within a database environment
Of which 5 components is a database system comprised, according to a general management view?
- Hardware
- Software
- People
- Procedures
- Data
What does hardware refer to?
All of the system’s physical devices.
-> Think about computers, storage devices, network devices
Which 3 types of software are needed to make a database system function fully?
- Operating system software
- DBMS software
- Application programs and utility software
What does the operating system software do?
It manages all hardware components and makes it possible for all other software to run on the computers
What does the DBMS software do?
It manages the database within the database system”
-> Think about Microsoft SQL server, Oracle
What do application programs and utility software do?
They are used to access and manipulate data in the DBMS and to manage the computer environment in which data access and manipulation take place.
For example to make reports.
Which five types of users can be identified in a database system?
- System administrators
- Database administrators
- Database designers
- System analysts and programmers
- End-users
What does a system administrator do?
He oversees the database systems general operations
What does a database administrator do?
He manages the DBMS and ensures that the database is functioning properly
What does a database designer do?
He designs the database structure. -> The architects of the database
What do system analysts and programmers do?
They design and implement the application software. They design and create the data entry screens, reports etc.
What are end-users?
The people using the application programs to run the organizations daily operations.
What do procedures refer to in a database system?
The instructions and rules that govern the design and the use of the database system.
They enforce the standard by which business is conducted.
They ensure there is an organized way to monitor and audit data, and the information derived from data.
What is meant by data in a database system?
The collection of facts stored in the database.
What are three considerations managers have to take into account if they think about implementing a new DBMS?
- Database complexity varies per company, and is partly a result of the organization’s management structure
- Database solutions must be cost-effective, but also tactically and strategically effective.
- The database technology in use is likely to affect the selection of a database system
What are the 9 main functions of a DBMS?
- Data dictionary management
- Data storage management
- Data transformation and presentation
- Security Management
- Multi-user access control
- Backup and recovery management
- Data integrity management
- Database access languages and application programming interfaces
- Database communication interfaces
What is meant with data dictionary management as a function of a DBMS?
The DBMS stores definitions and relationships from and between data elements. Changes made in database structure are recorded in the dictionary as well and applied.
-> The DBMS provides data abstraction and removes the structural and data dependence from the system.
What is meant with data storage management as a function of a DBMS?
- It creates and manages the complex structures required for data storage.
- It provides storage for related data entries as well, such as entry forms, screen defintions, report definitions etc.
- It is also important for database performance tuning
What is database performance tuning?
The activities that make the database perform more efficiently in terms of storage and access speed.
What is meant with data transformation and presentation as a function of a DBMS?
The transformation of the entered data to conform to required data structures.
Think about the way dates are formatted
What is meant by security management as a function of a DBMS?
The DBMS creates a security system that enforces user security and data privacy.
-> Who can access what etc.
What is meant by multi-user access control as a function of a DBMS?
The use of sophisticated algorithms to ensure that multiple users can access the database concurrently without compromising the integrity of the database
What is meant by backup and recovery management as a function of a DBMS?
The provision of backup and data recovery to ensure data safety and integrity.
What is meant by data integrity management as a function of a DBMS?
The promotion and enforcement of integrity rules, so that data redundancy is minimized and data consistency is maximized.
What is meant by database access languages and application programming interfaces as a function of a DBMS?
A DBMS provides data acccess through a query language.
What is a query language?
A nonprocedural language that lets the user specify what must be done without having to specify how it has to be done.
-> SQL
What is database communication interfaces as a function of a DBMS?
Having interfaces for end-users’ requests that are using different network environments .
- Screen forms for different browsers
- Having pre-defined reports
- Connect to third-party systems
What are five disadvantages of a database system?
- Increased cost
- Management complexity
- Maintaing currency (keep it up to date)
- Vendor dependence
- Frequent upgrade/replacement cycles
What is meant with management complexity?
Managing the different technologies and the impact that they have on a company’s resources and culture.
