The Database Environment and Development Process

Flashcards reviewing database environments, development processes, key concepts, and historical evolution, based on lecture notes.

What is happening to the amount of data being generated, stored, and processed?

The amount of data generated, stored, and processed is rapidly increasing.

Name some domains that utilize data.

Healthcare, airlines, fast-food industry, and railway.

What has data become for organizations across various sectors?

Data has become a strategic asset.

What are databases essential for?

Databases are essential for storing, manipulating, and retrieving data.

What should information systems professionals be able to do with databases?

Analyze database requirements, design and implement databases, and consult with end users on data management technologies.

What is a database?

An organized collection of logically related data.

What is structured data?

Facts concerning objects and events that are recorded and stored in a tabular form.

What does unstructured data include?

Documents, e-mails, tweets, Facebook posts, GPS information, maps, photographic images, sound, and video segments.

What is the difference between data and information?

Data are raw facts, while information is data processed to increase the user's knowledge.

What is metadata?

Data that describe the properties or characteristics of end-user data and the context of that data.

What are the disadvantages of File Processing Systems?

Program-data dependence, Duplication of data, Limited data sharing, Lengthy development times, Excessive program maintenance

What are entities?

Objects about which information is maintained.

What are relationships?

Connections between entities in a database.

How do relational databases work?

Establish relationships between entities using common fields in a structure called a relation.

What is a Database Management System (DBMS)?

A software system that facilitates the creation, updating, storage, and retrieval of data in a database.

What is Program-Data Independence?

Data descriptions (metadata) are stored separately from application programs in a central repository, allowing data to change without altering application programs.

What is Planned Data Redundancy?

Integrates separate data files into a single structure, recording each primary fact in one place to control redundancy and improve performance.

What is Improved Data Consistency?

Reduces opportunities for inconsistency by controlling redundancy, simplifying updates, and avoiding wasted storage space.

Multi-user database management systems are…

Complex and expensive.

What type of technologies does Data Warehousing use?

Relational technologies, mature and well-developed.

What characterizes Big Data Technologies?

Large volumes, variety, and high velocity of data.

What are the components of the database environment?

Data modeling and design tools, repository, DBMS, database, application programs, user interface, data and database administrators, system developers, and end users.

What are Data Modeling and Design Tools?

Automated tools used to design databases and application programs.

What is a repository?

A centralized knowledge base for all data definitions, relationships, screen and report formats, and other system components, containing an extended set of metadata.

What is DBMS (Database Management System)?

Software used to create, maintain, and provide controlled access to user databases.

What is a Database?

An organized collection of logically related data designed to meet the information needs of multiple users.

What are the phases within the Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC) related to database development?

Enterprise data modeling, conceptual data modeling, logical database design, physical database design and definition, and database implementation.

What are alternative information systems development approaches?

Rapid Application Development (RAD), Prototyping, and Agile Software Development.

What does Agile Software Development emphasize?

Emphasizes individuals and interactions, working software, customer collaboration, and responding to change over rigid processes and documentation.

What does the Three-Schema Architecture concern?

The database development process.

What does the External Schema do?

Represents the views of managers and other database users.

What does the Conceptual Schema do?

Integrates different external views into a single, comprehensive definition of the enterprise’s data.

What does the Logical Schema do?

Represents data for a specific type of data management technology (e.g., relational).

What does the Physical Schema do?

Describes how data are stored in secondary storage using a particular DBMS (e.g., Oracle).

What are the evolution of database systems?

Hierarchical Model, Network Model, Relational Model, Object-Oriented Model, Object-Relational Databases, Multidimensional Databases, Big Data Approach.

When did database management systems (DBMS) have notable paradigm/technology shifts?

1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, and Beyond.

Which models are considered first-generation DBMS?

Hierarchical and network DBMS.

What does a Multi-tier database consist of?

Client, Application server, and Database server

What does an application program consist of?

Graphical User Interface (GUI) and Business Logic

What are Personal Databases?

Used by a single user or a small group.

What are Enterprise databases?

Support larger organizations with complex data needs.

What are Data Warehouses used for?

Collect data from various operational databases to provide historical data for identifying patterns and trends and Used for strategic business questions.

What are Data Lakes?

Integrated repositories of data from various sources without predefined models or schemas.