technology in action


Technology in ActionTechnology in Action

Chapter 11Chapter 11

Behind the Scenes: Behind the Scenes: Databases and Information SystemsDatabases and Information Systems


Chapter TopicsChapter Topics

• Databases and their usesDatabases and their uses

• Database componentsDatabase components

• Types of databasesTypes of databases

• Database management systemsDatabase management systems


Chapter Topics (cont.)Chapter Topics (cont.)

• Relational databasesRelational databases

• Data warehouses and data martsData warehouses and data marts

• Information systemsInformation systems

• Data miningData mining


Databases Databases

• Collections of related dataCollections of related data• Easily stored, sorted, organized, and queriedEasily stored, sorted, organized, and queried• Turn data into informationTurn data into information


Advantages of Using DatabasesAdvantages of Using Databases

• Store and retrieve Store and retrieve large quantities of large quantities of informationinformation

• Enable information Enable information sharingsharing

• Provide data Provide data centralizationcentralization

• Promote data Promote data integrityintegrity

• Allow for flexible Allow for flexible use of datause of data


Disadvantages of DatabasesDisadvantages of Databases

• Complex to constructComplex to construct

• Time consuming Time consuming

• ExpensiveExpensive

• Privacy concernsPrivacy concerns


Database TerminologyDatabase Terminology

• Field: Category of information, displayed Field: Category of information, displayed in columnsin columns


Database TerminologyDatabase Terminology• Data types: Type of data that can be stored Data types: Type of data that can be stored

in the fieldin the field



• RecordRecord– A group of related fieldsA group of related fields

Record



• TableTable– A group of related recordsA group of related records

Table



• Primary keyPrimary key– A field value unique to a recordA field value unique to a record

Primary Key


Database TypesDatabase Types

• Relational databasesRelational databases– Organize data in tablesOrganize data in tables– Link tables to each other through their primary Link tables to each other through their primary

keyskeys

• Object-oriented databasesObject-oriented databases– Store data in objectsStore data in objects– Also store methods for processing dataAlso store methods for processing data– Handle unstructured dataHandle unstructured data


Database TypesDatabase Types

• Multidimensional databasesMultidimensional databases– Stores data in multiple dimensionsStores data in multiple dimensions– Organize data in a cube formatOrganize data in a cube format– Can easily be customizedCan easily be customized– Process data much fasterProcess data much faster


Database Management Database Management Systems (DBMS)Systems (DBMS)

• Application software designed to capture Application software designed to capture and analyze dataand analyze data

• Four main operations of a DBMS are:Four main operations of a DBMS are:1.1. Creating databases and entering dataCreating databases and entering data

2.2. Viewing and sorting dataViewing and sorting data

3.3. Extracting dataExtracting data

4.4. Outputting dataOutputting data


Creating Databases and Creating Databases and Entering DataEntering Data

• Create Create field field names:names:– Identify Identify

each type each type of dataof data

– Data Data dictionarydictionary


Creating Databases and Creating Databases and Entering Data (cont.)Entering Data (cont.)

• Create Create individual individual records:records:– Key-inKey-in– ImportImport– Input form Input form


Data ValidationData Validation

• Validation Validation – Process of ensuring data entered into the database Process of ensuring data entered into the database

is correct (or at least reasonable) and completeis correct (or at least reasonable) and complete

• Validation rulesValidation rules– Range checkRange check– Completeness checkCompleteness check– Consistency checkConsistency check– Alphabetic/numeric checksAlphabetic/numeric checks


Data ValidationData Validation

• Example of completeness checkExample of completeness check


Viewing and Sorting DataViewing and Sorting Data• Browse Browse

through through recordsrecords

• Sort Sort records by records by field namefield name

Before sort

After sort


Extracting or Querying DataExtracting or Querying Data

• Query Query – A question or A question or

inquiryinquiry– Provides Provides

records based records based on criteriaon criteria

– Structured Structured query query language language (SQL)(SQL)


Outputting DataOutputting Data

• Reports:Reports:– PrintedPrinted– Summary data reportsSummary data reports

• Export dataExport data


Relational Database OperationsRelational Database Operations• Organize data Organize data

into tablesinto tables

• Relationships Relationships are links are links between between tables with tables with related datarelated data

• Common Common fields between fields between tables need to tables need to existexist


Relational Database OperationsRelational Database Operations

• Normalization of data (recording data Normalization of data (recording data once) reduces data redundancyonce) reduces data redundancy

• Foreign key: The primary key of one table Foreign key: The primary key of one table included in another to establish included in another to establish relationships with that other tablerelationships with that other table


Data StorageData Storage

• Data warehousesData warehouses– A large scale A large scale

repository of datarepository of data– Organizes all the Organizes all the

data related to an data related to an organizationorganization

– Data is organized Data is organized by subjectby subject


• Source dataSource data– Internal Internal sourcessources

• Company databases, etc.Company databases, etc.

– External External sources sources • Suppliers, vendors, etc.Suppliers, vendors, etc.

– Customers or Web site visitors Customers or Web site visitors • Clickstream dataClickstream data

Populating Data WarehousesPopulating Data Warehouses


• Data stagingData staging

– Extract data from sourceExtract data from source

– Reformat the dataReformat the data

– Store the dataStore the data

• Software programs/procedures created Software programs/procedures created to extract the data and to reformat it for to extract the data and to reformat it for storagestorage

Data StagingData Staging


• Small slices of dataSmall slices of data

• Data of a single departmentData of a single department

Data MartsData Marts


Data Warehouse ProcessData Warehouse Process


Managing Data: Managing Data: Information SystemsInformation Systems

• Information systemsInformation systems– Software-based solutions used to gather and Software-based solutions used to gather and

analyze informationanalyze information

• Functions performed by information Functions performed by information systems includesystems include– Acquiring dataAcquiring data– Processing data into informationProcessing data into information– Storing dataStoring data– Providing output optionsProviding output options


Information Systems CategoriesInformation Systems Categories

• Office support systemsOffice support systems

• Transaction processing systemsTransaction processing systems

• Management information systemsManagement information systems

• Decision support systemsDecision support systems


Office Support Systems (OSSs)Office Support Systems (OSSs)

• Assist employees in day-to-day tasksAssist employees in day-to-day tasks

• Improve communicationsImprove communications

• Example: Microsoft OfficeExample: Microsoft Office

• Include e-mail, word processing, Include e-mail, word processing, spreadsheet, database, and presentation spreadsheet, database, and presentation programsprograms


Transaction Processing Transaction Processing Systems (TPSs)Systems (TPSs)

• Keeps track of Keeps track of everyday everyday business business activitiesactivities

• Batch Batch processingprocessing

• Real-time Real-time processingprocessing


Management Information Management Information Systems (MISs)Systems (MISs)

• Provide timely and accurate information for Provide timely and accurate information for managers to make business decisionsmanagers to make business decisions

• Detail report:Detail report:– Transactions that Transactions that

occur during a occur during a period of timeperiod of time

• Summary report:Summary report:– Consolidate detailed Consolidate detailed

datadata• Exception report:Exception report:

– Show unusual Show unusual conditions conditions


Decision Support Systems Decision Support Systems (DSSs)(DSSs)

• Help managers develop solutions for Help managers develop solutions for specific problemsspecific problems


Model Management Systems Model Management Systems

• Software that assists in building Software that assists in building management models in DSSs management models in DSSs

• Can be built to describe any business Can be built to describe any business situation situation

• Typically contain financial and statistical Typically contain financial and statistical analysis tools analysis tools


Knowledge-Based SystemsKnowledge-Based Systems

• Expert system: Replicates human experts Expert system: Replicates human experts

• Natural language processing (NLP) Natural language processing (NLP) system: Enables users to communicate system: Enables users to communicate with computers using a natural spoken or with computers using a natural spoken or written language written language

• Artificial intelligence (AI): Branch of Artificial intelligence (AI): Branch of computer science that deals with computer science that deals with attempting to create computers that think attempting to create computers that think like humans like humans


Data MiningData Mining

• Process by which Process by which great amounts ofgreat amounts of data data are analyzed and investigatedare analyzed and investigated

• Objective is to spot patterns or trends Objective is to spot patterns or trends within the datawithin the data


Data Mining MethodsData Mining Methods

• ClassificationClassification– Define data classesDefine data classes

• EstimationEstimation– Assign a value to dataAssign a value to data

• Affinity grouping or association rulesAffinity grouping or association rules– Determine which data goes togetherDetermine which data goes together

• ClusteringClustering– Organize data into subgroupsOrganize data into subgroups

• Description and visualizationDescription and visualization– Get a clear picture of what is happeningGet a clear picture of what is happening


Chapter 11 Summary QuestionsChapter 11 Summary Questions

• What is a database, and why is it What is a database, and why is it beneficial to use databases?beneficial to use databases?



• What components make up a database?What components make up a database?



• What types of databases are there?What types of databases are there?



• What do database management systems What do database management systems do?do?



• How do relational databases organize and How do relational databases organize and manipulate data?manipulate data?



• What are data warehouses and data What are data warehouses and data marts, and how are they used?marts, and how are they used?



• What is an information system, and what What is an information system, and what types of information systems are used in types of information systems are used in business?business?



• What is data mining, and how does it What is data mining, and how does it work?work?

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