Chapter 1 Introduction INDE 513 Information Systems
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CHAPTER 1 - Introduction
INITIAL TERMINOLOGY
§ Data - facts that are recorded and can be accessed
• Data formats – text, numbers, figures, graphics, images, audio/video
recordings and more
• Data is recorded and kept because it is considered to be of use to an
intended user
§ Information - refers to the data that is accessed by a user for
some particular purpose
• Typically, getting the needed information from a collection of data
requires performing an activity, such as searching through, processing,
or manipulating the data in some form or fashion
§ The terms “data” and “information” are often interchanged and
used as synonyms for each other (information is simply the
data that we need)
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INITIAL TERMINOLOGY
§ Metadata - data that describes the structure and the
properties of the data
• Metadata is essential for the proper understanding and use of the data
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INITIAL TERMINOLOGY
Data without metadata - example
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Chapter 1 Introduction INDE 513 Information Systems
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INITIAL TERMINOLOGY
Data with metadata - example
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INITIAL TERMINOLOGY
§ Database - structured collection of related data stored on a
computer medium
• Organizes the data in a way that facilitates efficient access to the
information captured in the data
§ Database metadata – represents the structure of the
database
• Database content that is not the data itself (data about the data)
• Contains:
o Names of data structures
o Data types
o Data descriptions
o Other information describing the characteristics of the data
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INITIAL TERMINOLOGY
§ Database management system (DBMS) - software used for:
• Creation of databases
• Insertion, storage, retrieval, update, and deletion of the data in the
database
• Maintenance of databases
§ Database system - computer-based system whose purpose is
to enable an efficient interaction between the users and the
information captured in a database
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INITIAL TERMINOLOGY
Typical database system architecture
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INITIAL TERMINOLOGY
§ Front-end applications - provide a mechanism for easy
interaction between the users and the DBMS
§ End-users (business-users) - users using a database system to
support their tasks and processes
§ Indirect interaction - end-user communicating with the
database through front-end applications
§ Direct interaction - end-user communicating with the database
directly through DBMS
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INITIAL TERMINOLOGY
Direct vs. Indirect Interaction
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STEPS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF DATABASE SYSTEMS
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STEPS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF DATABASE SYSTEMS
§ Requirements collection, definition, and visualization -
results in the requirements specifying which data the future
database system will hold and in what fashion, and what the
capabilities and functionalities of the database system will be
• The collected requirements should be clearly defined and stated in a
written document, and then visualized
§ The first and most critical step in the development of the
database.
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STEPS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF DATABASE SYSTEMS
§ Requirements collection, definition, and visualization
• Conceptual database model – a visualization of requirements by using
a conceptual data modeling technique (such as entity-relationship [ER]
modeling)
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STEPS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF DATABASE SYSTEMS
Iterative nature of the database requirements collection,
definition, and visualization process
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STEPS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF DATABASE SYSTEMS
§ Requirements collection, definition, and visualization
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STEPS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF DATABASE SYSTEMS
§ Database modeling (logical database modeling ) - creation of the
database model that is implementable by the DBMS software
• Logical database modeling follows conceptual database modeling
A database has two models:
§ Conceptual model - created as a visualization of requirements during
the requirements collection, definition, and visualization step and
serves as a as a blueprint for the actual (logical) database model
§ Logical model - actual database model, created during the database
modeling step to be used in the subsequent step of database
implementation using the DBMS
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STEPS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF DATABASE SYSTEMS
§ Database modeling (logical database modeling )
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STEPS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF DATABASE SYSTEMS
§ Database implementation - using a DBMS to implement the
database model as an actual database
• Most modern databases are implemented using a relational DBMS
(RDBMS) software
• SQL (Structured Query Language) is a language used by most RDBMS
packages.
• SQL includes commands for creating, modifying and deleting database
structures (these commands are used during database
implementation).
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STEPS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF DATABASE SYSTEMS
§ Database implementation - using a DBMS to implement the
database model as an actual database
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STEPS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF DATABASE SYSTEMS
§ Developing front-end applications - designing and creating
applications for indirect use by the end-users
• Front-end applications are based on the database model and the
requirements specifying the front-end functionalities
• Front-end applications contain interfaces (such as forms and reports)
accessible via a navigation mechanism (such as a menu)
• The design and creation of front-end applications can commence and
proceed in parallel with database implementation.
• The actual creation of a front-end application involves connecting it to
the database. Connecting front-end application to the database can
only be done once the database is implemented.
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STEPS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF DATABASE SYSTEMS
§ Developing front-end applications - designing and creating
applications for indirect use by the end-users
• Database front-end example
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STEPS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF DATABASE SYSTEMS
§ Database deployment - releasing the database system for use
by the end users
§ Typically, database deployment also involves populating the
implemented database with the initial set of data.
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STEPS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF DATABASE SYSTEMS
§ Database use - the insertion, modification, deletion and
retrieval of the data in the database system
§ The database system can be used indirectly, via the front-end
applications, or directly via the DBMS.
§ SQL includes commands for insertion, modification, deletion
and retrieval of the data. These commands can be issued by
• front-end applications (indirect use)
• or directly by the end-users themselves (direct use)
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STEPS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF DATABASE SYSTEMS
§ Database use - the insertion, modification, deletion and
retrieval of the data in the database system
• Example of data in a database that can be inserted, modified, deleted or
retrieved
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STEPS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF DATABASE SYSTEMS
§ Database administration and maintenance - performing
activities that support the database end user, including dealing
with technical issues, such as:
• Providing security for the information contained in the database
• Ensuring sufficient hard-drive space for the database content
• Implementing the backup and recovery procedures
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THE NEXT VERSION OF THE DATABASE
§ The new version of the database follows the same development
steps as the initial version
§ In most cases, after a certain period of use, the need for
modifications and expansion of the existing database system
becomes apparent, and the development of a new version of
the existing database system is initiated.
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DATABASE SCOPE
§ Databases can vary in their scope from small single-user
(personal) databases to large enterprise databases that can be
used by thousands of end-users
§ Regardless of their scope, all databases go through the same
fundamental development steps (requirements, modeling,
implementation, deployment, use, etc.)
§ The difference in the scope of databases is reflected in the
size, complexity and cost in time and resources required for
each of the steps.
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PEOPLE INVOLVED WITH DATABASE SYSTEMS
§ Database analysts, designers, and developers
• Database analysts - involved in the requirements collection, definition,
and visualization stage
• Database designers (a.k.a. database modelers or architects) - involved
in the database modeling stage
• Database developers – in charge of implementing the database model
as a functioning database using the DBMS software
§ It is not uncommon for the same people to perform more than
one of these roles.
• In fact (especially in smaller companies and organizations), the same
people may be in charge of all aspects of the database system,
including the design, implementation, administration, and maintenance.
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PEOPLE INVOLVED WITH DATABASE SYSTEMS
§ Front-end applications analysts and developers
• Front-end application analysts - in charge of collecting and defining
requirements for front-end applications
• Front-end applications developers - in charge of creating the front-end
applications
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PEOPLE INVOLVED WITH DATABASE SYSTEMS
§ Database administrators (DBAs) - perform the tasks related
to the maintenance and administration of a database system
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PEOPLE INVOLVED WITH DATABASE SYSTEMS
§ Database end users - use a database system to support their
work- or life-related tasks and processes
• Users differ in:
o Level of technical sophistication
o Amount of data that they need
o Frequency with which they access the database system
§ Arguably, database end users are the most important category
of people involved with database systems. They are the reason
for the existence of database systems.
§ The quality of a database system is measured by how quickly
and easily it can provide the accurate and complete
information needed by its end users.
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OPERATIONAL VERSUS ANALYTICAL DATABASES
§ Operational information (transactional information) - the
information collected and used in support of day to day
operational needs in businesses and other organizations
§ Operational database - collects and presents operational
information in support of daily operational procedures and
processes
§ Analytical information - the information collected and used in
support of analytical tasks
• Analytical information is based on operational (transactional)
information
§ Analytical database - collects and presents analytical
information in support of analytical tasks
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BOOK TOPICS OVERVIEW
§ Issues related to the development and use of operational
databases are covered in Chapters 2–6
§ Issues related to the development and use of analytical
databases are covered in Chapters 7–10
§ Chapter 11 provides an overview of some of the basic
functionalities of relational DBMS packages and illustrate how
those functionalities are used for administration and
maintenance of both operational and analytical databases
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