What is Information?
Information is everywhere in an organization
Information is stored in databases
Database – maintains information about various types of objects (inventory), events (transactions), people (employees), and places (warehouses)
Relational Database Fundamentals
Database models include:
Hierarchical database model – information is organized into a tree-like structure (using parent/child relationships) in such a way that it cannot have too many relationships
Network database model – a flexible way of representing objects and their relationships
Relational database model – stores information in the form of logically related two-dimensional tables
Entities and Attributes
Entity – a person, place, thing, transaction, or event about which information is stored
The rows in each table contain the entities
In Figure 7.1 CUSTOMER includes Dave’s Sub Shop and Pizza Palace entities
Attributes (fields, columns) – characteristics or properties of an entity class
The columns in each table contain the attributes
In Figure 7.1 attributes for CUSTOMER include Customer ID, Customer Name, Contact Name
Keys and Relationships
Primary keys and foreign keys identify the various entity classes (tables) in the database
Primary key – a field (or group of fields) that uniquely identifies a given entity in a table
Foreign key – a primary key of one table that appears an attribute in another table and acts to provide a logical relationship among the two tables
Relational Database Advantages
Database advantages from a business perspective include :
Increased flexibility
Increased scalability and performance
Reduced information redundancy
Increased information integrity (quality)
Increased information security
Increased Flexibility
A well-designed database should:
Handle changes quickly and easily
Provide users with different views
Have only one physical view
Physical view – deals with the physical storage of information on a storage device
Have multiple logical views
Logical view – focuses on how users logically access information
Increased Scalability and Performances
A database must scale to meet increased demand, while maintaining acceptable performance levels
Scalability – refers to how well a system can adapt to increased demands
Performance – measures how quickly a system performs a certain process or transaction
Reduced Information Redundancy
Databases reduce information redundancy
Redundancy – the duplication of information or storing the same information in multiple places
Inconsistency is one of the primary problems with redundant information
Increase Information Integrity
Information integrity – measures the quality of information
Integrity constraint – rules that help ensure the quality of information
Relational integrity constraint
Business-critical integrity constraint
Increased Information Security
Information is an organizational asset and must be protected
Databases offer several security features including:
Password – provides authentication of the user
Access level – determines who has access to the different types of information
Access control – determines types of user access, such as read-only access
Database Management System
Database management systems (DBMS) – software through which users and application programs interact with a database
Data Driven Websites
Data-driven Web sites – an interactive Web site kept constantly updated and relevant to the needs of its customers through the use of a database
Data Driven Website Business Advantages
Development
Content Management
Future Expandability
Minimizing Human Error
Cutting Production and Update Costs
More Efficient
Improved Stability
Integrating Information among Multiple Databases
Integration – allows separate systems to communicate directly with each other
Forward integration – takes information entered into a given system and sends it automatically to all downstream systems and processes
Backward integration – takes information entered into a given system and sends it automatically to all upstream systems and processes
THE END !
