MNG 3204: Foundation of Business Intelligence

Flashcards about Database and Information Management

Database Management System (DBMS)

Software that permits an organization to centralize data, manage them efficiently, and provide access to the stored data by application programs.

Accurate Information

Accurate information is free of errors.

Timely Information

Information is timely when it is available to decision makers when it is needed.

Relevant Information

Information is relevant when it is useful and appropriate for the types of work and decisions that require it.

Data Hierarchy

A computer system organizes data in a hierarchy that starts with bits and bytes and progresses to fields, records, files, and databases.

Bit

The smallest unit of data a computer can handle.

Byte

A group of bits that represents a single character.

Traditional File Environment Problems

Problems with traditional environment: Data Redundancy and Inconsistency, Program-Data Dependence, Lack of Flexibility, Poor Security, Lack of Data Sharing and Availability

DBMS and Data Redundancy

DBMS reduces data redundancy and inconsistency by minimizing isolated files in which the same data are repeated; helps to control redundancy.

Relational Database Operations

Three basic operations used to develop useful sets of data in a relational database: select, join, and project.

Select Operation

Creates a subset consisting of all records in the file that meet stated criteria; a subset of rows that meet certain criteria.

Join Operation

Combines relational tables to provide the user with more information than is available in individual tables.

Project Operation

Creates a subset consisting of columns in a table, permitting the user to create new tables that contain only the information required.

Data Manipulation Language

A specialized language used to add, change, delete, and retrieve data in a database.

Conceptual (Logical) Design

An abstract model of the database from a business perspective.

Physical Design

Shows how the database is actually arranged on direct-access storage devices.

Conceptual Data Model

High-level representation of a database design that explains how data interrelate and what kind of data should be stored.

Logical Data Model

Used to build the database structure and explain the data from a technical perspective; serves as the basis for the creation of a physical data model.

Physical Data Model

Specific to the application and database to be incorporated; used to design the tables and fields that store database data; represents a database design for a specific DBMS.

Normalization

The process of creating small, stable, yet flexible and adaptive data structures from complex groups of data to minimize redundant data elements and awkward many-to-many relationships.

Data Warehouse

A database that stores current and historical data of potential interest to decision makers throughout the company; consolidates and standardizes information from different operational databases.